Christian Castillo (footballer)

Christian Castillo

Personal information
Full name	Christian Giovanni Castillo Martínez
Date of birth	(1984-08-23) August 23, 1984
Place of birth	San Salvador, El Salvador
Height
Team information
Current team	Zeravani
Number	TBA
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2006	Telecom
2006–2008	Chalatenango	49	(3)
2008–2009	Alianza	34	(3)
2009	→ Club León (loan)	15	(1)
2009–2011	Club León	19	(3)
2010	→ D.C. United (loan)	10	(0)
2010	→ Alianza (loan)	13	(2)
2011–2013	Alianza	53	(6)
2013	Suphanburi FC	9	(2)
2013	Luis Ángel Firpo	4	(0)
2014–	Zeravani	0	(0)
International career‡
2008–2013	El Salvador	47	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 12, 2013 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of September 7, 2010

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Castillo and the second or maternal family name is Martínez.

Christian Giovanni Castillo Martínez (born August 25, 1984 in San Salvador) is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Zeravani SC in the Iraqi Premier League.

Club career

Telecom & early career

Castillo began his professional career in 2002 at the age of 18, when he signed with now defunct Segunda División club C.D. Telecom.

Chalatenango

After spending four years with the San Salvador side, Castillo then transferred to C.D. Chalatenango for the 2006 Apertura season.

He made his Primera División debut on August 20, 2006 in a league match against C.D. Águila. Castillo's speed, ball control and exciting dribbling skills quickly made him somewhat of a fan favourite, but unfortunately his first season with his new club saw him play most games off the bench. The following season things got worse for Castillo when he suffered an injury that led to him only being able to play one game the entire tournament. After having to watch most of the entire season from the sidelines, Castillo returned for the following season. This time he was able to prove himself and was consistently part of the club's starting eleven. This season also saw him score his first Primera División goal; it came on September 30, 2007 in a league match against Nejapa F.C..

Alianza

Controversially, Castillo then transferred to Alianza F.C. for the 2008 Apertura season, after the then C.D. Chalatenango club president Lisandro Pohl left the club and took all the players that he had helped to sign with him. After much dispute, it was decided that Castillo and the other players that Pohl had signed were eligible to transfer and they all officially became Alianza F.C. players.

At Alianza F.C., Castillo continued to impress and most importantly improved his game to become one of the most, if not the most important players at the club. He scored his first goal with his new club on November 26, 2008 in a league match against C.D. Águila. After being released from D.C. United before the end of the 2010 season, Castillo returned to Alianza for the Apertura 2010. On October 21, 2012 Castillo played his 100th game for Alianza in their 2-0 loss against Metapan [1].

León

On 15 June 2009, Castillo was one of the three Salvadoran footballers signed to Mexican club, Club León on a loan basis, the other two were Rodolfo Zelaya and Julio Enrique Martínez. On 3 December 2009, it was announced that Club León had permanently signed Castillo along with the other two Salvadorans with a three-year contract.

D.C. United

Castillo joined Major League Soccer side D.C. United on loan for the 2010 MLS season. On June 29, 2010, he was released by the club after a fall out over contract terms and left the club. He made a total of 10 league games with the club, and scored one goal in a U.S. Open Cup match against FC Dallas.

Suphanburi F.C.

In February 2013, Castillo decided to try a big leap. After bitter-sweet negotiations with Lisandro Pohl, Alianza F.C.owner, he rescinded his contract calling a clause that allowed him to transfer to Suphanburi F.C. of the Thai Premier League,sign contract 1 year with option more 1 year; leaving Alianza F.C. in amicable terms.

After nine games, he terminated his contract and returned to El Salvador to sign with Luis Angel Firpo.

Zeravani SC

In September 2014, thanks to the Iraqi Premier League not being recognised by FIFA, Castillo and his fellow banned Salvadoran teammate José Henríquez joined Zeravani SC. Another fellow banned Salvadoran teammate Ramón Sánchez subsequently joined Zakho FC, the former club of fellow Salvadoran teammate Josué Flores, which also plays in the Iraqi Premier League.

International career

Castillo officially received his first cap on April 23, 2008 in a friendly match against China. He scored his first goal for the national team on August 14, 2008 in a friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago. His second goal came almost eight months later on March 28, 2009 when he scored in a World Cup qualification match against the USA. His third goal came six months later on September 5, once again, against USA with a header above U.S goalkeeper Tim Howard. On September 20, 2013, Castillo was one of 14 Salvadoran players banned for life due to their involvement with match fixing.

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	August 14, 2008	RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., United States	Trinidad and Tobago	0–1	3–1	Friendly
2.	March 28, 2009	Estadio Cuscatlán, San Salvador, El Salvador	United States	2–0	2–2	World Cup 2010 Qualifying
3.	September 5, 2009	Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, United States	United States	0–1	2–1	World Cup 2010 Qualifying

See also

• List of current MLS players

External links

• El Grafico Profile (Spanish)
• Castillo Profile at Club Leon official website (Spanish)
• Cristian Castillo – FIFA competition record
• Castillo.html Christian Castillo at National-Football-Teams.com