Gilbert Álvarez

Gilbert Álvarez Vargas (born 7 April 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Wilstermann in Bolivia on loan from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hazem.

Gilbert Álvarez
Personal information
Full name Gilbert Álvarez Vargas
Date of birth (1992-04-07) 7 April 1992
Place of birth Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Wilstermann
Number 19
Youth career
2002 Club Destroyers
2002–2003 San Martin
2003–2005 Academia Tahuichi
2005–2009 Club Callejas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Club Callejas 0 (0)
2010–2011 Cruzeiro 0 (0)
2011 Standard de Liège 0 (0)
2011–2012 The Strongest 8 (0)
2014–2016 Real Potosí 63 (26)
2016–2018 Wilstermann 85 (36)
2018 Al-Hazem 9 (0)
2019– Wilstermann 64 (27)
National team‡
2009 Bolivia U-17 7 (3)
2009– Bolivia 23 (5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 March 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 October 2019

Club career

Álvarez played for several youth teams in his home city of Santa Cruz in Bolivia, including Club Destroyers and Club Callejas.[1]

In August 2010, Álvarez was signed by Cruzeiro of Brazil.[2][3] He did not play a first team game for Cruzeiro prior to the 2011 Copa America, and he was not named in Bolivia's squad for the tournament.[4]

In August 2011, Álvarez announced that he was considering a move to Europe, citing that talks between his agent and one club in Germany and another in Italy were underway.[5]

International career

During his time with Callejas, he was called up by the Bolivia under-17s to play as their lone striker in the 2009 South American Under-17 Football Championship. He scored three goals in the tournament, including a double against Ecuador under-17s in the final group stage.[6][7]

Later in 2009, as a 17-year-old, Álvarez was called up to the senior Bolivia side.[8] He made his first senior international appearance as a substitute against Venezuela in a qualifying match for the 2010 FIFA World Cup on 6 June 2009.[9] He gained a second cap the following year in a 5–0 friendly match defeat to Mexico in February 2010.[10]

International goals
Scores and results list Bolivia's goal tally first.[11]
NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.2 June 2017Nicaragua National Football Stadium, Managua, Nicaragua Nicaragua1–01–0Friendly
2.7 June 2017Estadio Provincial de Yacuíba, Yacuíba, Bolivia2–23–2
3.31 August 2017Estadio Monumental "U", Lima, Peru Peru1–21–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
4.10 October 2019Estadio Olímpico, Caracas, Venezuela Venezuela1–31–4Friendly
5.15 October 2019Estadio Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia Haiti3–13–1

Personal life

Álvarez comes from a large family, being the fifth of thirteen children. He harbours aspirations to play in Europe, declaring in a 2009 interview that he was delighted by reported interest in his signature from Lazio and that his ultimate ambition was to play for Manchester United.[12]

References
  1. "Cruzeiro sign promising Bolivian (Portuguese)". Cruzeiro. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  2. "Legend Marcelo Martins has high hopes for Gilbert Alvarez at Cruzeiro (Spanish)". El Deber. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  3. "Deals for Pablo and Alvarez confirmed (Portuguese)". Cruzeiro. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  4. "Bolivia squad preview: 2011 Copa America". The Independent. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  5. "Gilbert Alvarez considers leaving Cruzeiro" (in Spanish). Facetas Deportivas. 9 August 2011. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  6. "Brazil crowned continental champs". FIFA. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  7. "Gilbert Alvarez under-17 record (Spanish)". bdfa.com.ar. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  8. "Teenager Alvarez gets Bolivia call". FIFA. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  9. "Match report: Bolivia 0–1 Venezuela". FIFA. 6 June 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  10. "Gilbert Alvarez profile". soccerway.com. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  11. "G. Álvarez". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  12. "Bolivia's Alvarez reports transfer offer from Lazio (Spanish)". goal.com. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
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