Chory Castro

Gonzalo "Chory" Castro Irizábal (born 14 September 1984) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who last played for Club Nacional de Football as a left winger.

Not to be confused with Gonzalo Castro Randón.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Castro and the second or maternal family name is Irizábal.
Chory Castro
Castro with Real Sociedad in 2015
Personal information
Full name Gonzalo Castro Irizábal
Date of birth (1984-09-14) 14 September 1984
Place of birth Trinidad, Uruguay
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Free agent
Number 11
Youth career
1998-2001 Porongos
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2007 Nacional 81 (21)
2007–2012 Mallorca 131 (23)
2012–2016 Real Sociedad 94 (13)
2016–2018 Málaga 71 (6)
2018–2021 Nacional 66 (6)
National team
2005–2013 Uruguay 5 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 November 2020

He started and ended his career at Nacional, but played mostly in La Liga after arriving in Spain at the age of 22, appearing in a combined 296 matches for Mallorca, Real Sociedad and Málaga over 11 seasons and scoring 41 goals.

During eight years, Castro won five caps for the Uruguayan national team.

Club career

Early years / Mallorca

Born in Trinidad, Flores Department, Castro was a product of Club Nacional de Football's youth ranks. He made his professional debut on 13 July 2002 in a 3–1 win over Central Español, going on to become an important first-team member and helping them to two Uruguayan Primera División titles while finishing in the scorer charts' top three in the 2005–06 season.

On 7 August 2007, Castro signed a five-year contract with La Liga club RCD Mallorca.[1] Rarely used during his first year, the same occurred in the 2008–09 campaign; however, during a week in March 2009, he managed to score in a 1–1 home draw against FC Barcelona in the Copa del Rey,[2] adding a brace in a league 3–3 home draw with Real Betis after coming from the bench as the Balearic Islands team trailed 0–2 (and eventually 0–3).[3]

In 2009–10, Castro finally beat competition from veteran Fernando Varela, starting most of the campaign and scoring six goals in 35 matches as Mallorca finished fifth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League (fourth until the last minute of the last matchday). On 23 October 2010 he netted twice at Valencia CF in a 2–1 win, opening the score with a seventh-minute penalty kick;[4] he scored five times in 33 games during that season, helping his team barely avoid relegation.

Real Sociedad

After leaving Mallorca in May 2012, Castro continued competing in the Spanish top flight, joining Real Sociedad for four years as a free agent.[5] On 19 January 2013, he netted two of his six goals during the campaign to help the hosts come from behind 0–2 and defeat Barcelona 3–2.[6]

Castro appeared in seven out of the Basques' eight matches in the 2013–14 edition of the UEFA Champions League – all rounds comprised – going scoreless in the process as the team exited in the group stage.[7]

Málaga

On 6 January 2016, Castro terminated his link (which was about to expire) with Real Sociedad and moved to fellow league side Málaga CF for two and a half seasons.[8]

International career

Castro made his debut for Uruguay on 17 August 2005, playing the first half of a friendly match against Spain in Gijón.[9] He was selected for a provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup by coach Óscar Tabárez, but eventually did not make the final cut.[10]

Personal life

Castro's younger sister, Juliana, is also a footballer. A striker, she had played for several clubs in her career including the Missouri Valley College in the United States, and also represents the Uruguay national team.[11]

Honours

Nacional

References
  1. Castro coming to Mallorca; UEFA, 7 August 2007
  2. Messi decide el destino (Messi seals fate); Marca, 4 March 2009 (in Spanish)
  3. Mallorca 3–3 Real Betis; ESPN Soccernet, 8 March 2009
  4. Valencia 1–2 Mallorca; ESPN Soccernet, 23 October 2010
  5. La Real Sociedad ficha a Chory Castro (Real Sociedad sign Chory Castro); Goal, 1 June 2012 (in Spanish)
  6. Liga BBVA: Real Sociedad 3 – Barcelona 2 (BBVA League: Real Sociedad 3 – Barcelona 2); La Voz de Galicia, 19 January 2013 (in Spanish)
  7. 'Chory' Castro: "No es imposible clasificarse, ni mucho menos" ('Chory' Castro: "It's not impossible for us to qualify, not by a long shot"); Diario AS, 25 November 2013 (in Spanish)
  8. Chory Castro refuerza al Málaga (Chory Castro strengthens Málaga); El Mundo, 6 January 2016 (in Spanish)
  9. Un paso adelante (One step forward); Mundo Deportivo, 18 August 2005 (in Spanish)
  10. Tabárez prescinde de siete jugadores que fueron al Mundial de Sudáfrica (Tabárez cuts seven players that went to South Africa World Cup); ESPN Deportes, 12 May 2014 (in Spanish)
  11. Fútbol Femenino: River Plate y Rampla Juniors prevalecieron sobre Nacional y Huracán Buceo (Women's football: River Plate and Rampla Juniors prevailed over Nacional and Huracán Buceo); Sociedad Uruguaya, 31 August 2009 (in Spanish)
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