Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Playing position | Current team Merida FC Name Diego Jimenez | |
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Full name Diego Octavio Jimenez Villa Date of birth (1986-04-07) April 7, 1986 (age 29) Place of birth Tepatitlan, Jalisco, Mexico | ||
Diego jimenez ovalle born to be wild
Diego Octavio Jiménez Villa (born 7 April 1986 in Tepatitlán, Jalisco) is a Mexican footballer, who plays as defender for Estudiantes Tecos of Ascenso MX. He is known as "Tepa".
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Club career
His career started with the Estudiantes reserve side, appearing in 29 matches and scoring one goal. He then went to Tecos 2A side, where he anchored the back line during the 2004 Clausura appearing in all 17 matches. His play in 2005 with Tecomán drew the attention of the Tecos UAG first team and Jiménez was quickly called up by Tecos. He debuted with Tecos in the Mexican First Division during the 2005 Apertura and made 11 appearances including seven starts.
After a lengthy pursuit for his signature, Jiménez was loaned to New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer during the July 2008 transfer window by UAG Tecos. After signing it took awhile for Jiménez to establish himself at the club. Suspensions and ineffective play by the team's starting central defenders, opened up an opportunity for Diego. Jiménez started both legs of the club's improbable 4-1 aggregate victory over defending champion Houston Dynamo in the 2008 MLS Playoffs, leading the backline in negating one of the league's most potent attacks. He then helped New York reach the 2008 MLS Cup by defeating Real Salt Lake 1-0 in Utah.
National team
Jiménez was a starter on Mexico’s Under-21 and Under-20 National Team, including playing in the Touloun Youth Tournament in France in 2006.