Place of birth Montevideo, Uruguay Number 10 Height 1.76 m | Playing position Years Team Current team Arema FC (#10 / Forward) | |
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Full name Cristian Gérard Alfaro Gonzáles Date of birth (1976-08-30) 30 August 1976 (age 40) Spouse Eva Nurida Siregar (m. 1995) Children Michael Gonzáles, Amanda Gonzáles, Fernando Gonzáles, Florencia Gonzáles Parents Eduardo Alfaro, Meriam Gonzales Similar Kurnia Meiga, Esteban Gabriel Vizcarra, Hamka Hamzah, Raphael Maitimo, Ahmad Bustomi | ||
Cristian Gérard Alfaro Gonzáles (born 30 August 1976) is an Uruguayan-Indonesian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Arema Cronus. He has been 4 times Liga Indonesia top scorer and has scored 191 goals in the Liga Indonesia. In his early career he played along with Álvaro Recoba in the Uruguay U20. As of 3 November 2010, he officially holds an Indonesian passport and has become the first naturalized player to be called up to the Indonesian national football team. And his most famous cousin Balla Nugraha become his motivation to become greatest football player in Indonesia
Contents
- Sud America
- Huracn Corrientes
- Back to Sud America
- Deportivo Maldonado
- PSM Makassar
- Persik Kediri
- Persib Bandung
- Persisam Putra Samarinda
- Arema Cronus
- International career
- International goals
- Personal life
- Controversies
- Trivia
- References
Sud America
In 1995, he joined the Uruguayan club Sud America. During the 28 months there, he played only once, scoring no goals.
Huracán Corrientes
He was loaned to Huracán Corrientes where he played three times without scoring a goal.
Back to Sud America
After being loaned to Huracán Corrientes, he went back to Sud America in the starting lineup. He played 12 times and scored one goal.
Deportivo Maldonado
In 2000, on expiry of his contract, he moved to Deportivo Maldonado on a free transfer. He played 22 times and scored one goal.
PSM Makassar
He started playing in Indonesia in 2003, joining PSM Makassar. In that season he scored 27 goals. PSM won the Liga Indonesia in that season. He was fined Rp20 million for hitting one of the officials from Persita Tangerang and was suspended.
Persik Kediri
Free from suspension, he joined and led Persik Kediri to become champions of Liga Indonesia in 2006. In 2008 he was sentenced to suspension by the PSSI for unsportsmanlike behaviour. A financial crisis at Persik Kediri led Persik management to rationalize salaries. Gonzáles was one of the few players who was against the decision and looked for another club.
Persib Bandung
On 30 January 2009, Persib Bandung management announced that they had recruited Gonzáles with remission from PSSI chairman Nurdin Halid. Gonzáles was contracted as a loan from Persik Kediri and was paid 60 million rupiahs per month by Persib Bandung.
He debuted as a starter in the Super League for Persib against Persipura Jayapura in a 1–1 draw thanks to a goal he scored. In 2008 he played 16 times in the League and scored 14 goals, making Gonzáles a top scorer in the Super League.
After his contract at Persik Kediri expired, he was immediately hired by Persib Bandung. In the 2009–10 pre-season, he scored a goal for Persib in the East Java Government Cup. In the 2009–10 season, he scored 51 goals.
Persisam Putra Samarinda
In September 2011, he joined Persisam.
Arema Cronus
After his contract at Persisam Samarinda expired. He joined Arema Cronus and wear number 10 on his jersey and he will be the striker of Arema Cronus
International career
Although Gonzales began his career in Indonesia as an Uruguayan, he became an Indonesian national on 3 November 2010 after a six-year wait, including not going home to his father's funeral. He is the first naturalized football player in Indonesia and the first to join the Indonesia national football team. His debut with the national team was on 21 November 2010, in a friendly game against Timor-Leste, where he scored twice in a 6–0 win.
International goals
Score and Result list Indonesia'a goal tally firstPersonal life
Gonzáles was born in Uruguay. He converted to Islam after he gained Indonesian passport in 2010.
Controversies
Gonzáles is known for his temper, and has been reprimanded by the PSSI on a number of occasions.
Trivia
He is one of the most lethal strikers in the history of the Indonesian football competition. His ability to kick, head, score, and in positioning and game vision are renowned, and he has a strong physique.
When playing in Uruguay, he was an attacking midfielder. He was not at his best before finally moving to Indonesia and joining PSM Makassar as a striker. Since then he has proved his quality as a powerful striker.
Cristian Gonzales is a popular figure among Indonesians and has starred in commercials speaking Bahasa Indonesia.
In 2006, he was the most expensive player in the Liga Indonesia according to the data from the Indonesian Football Association at Rp 1.2 billion
On 21 November 2010 Cristian Gonzales debuted as a member of Indonesia's national football team in a game against Timor Leste scoring two goals, and has now joined Indonesia's core national football team in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup.