Emiliano Alfaro

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Alfaroand the second or maternal family name is Toscano.

Emiliano Alfaro

Personal information
Full name	Emiliano Alfaro Toscano [1]
Date of birth	(1988-04-28) 28 April 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth	Treinta y Tres, Uruguay
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2012	Liverpool Montevideo	107	(41)
2010	→ San Lorenzo (loan)	18	(2)
2012–2015	Lazio	8	(0)
2012–2013	→ Al Wasl (loan)	24	(17)
2014–2015	→ Liverpool Montevideo (loan)	27	(21)
2016	Buriram United	0	(0)
2016–2017	NorthEast United	13	(5)
2017	Fujairah	12	(8)
2017–2019	FC Pune City	25	(10)
2018	→ ATK (loan)	0	(0)
2019–2021	Liverpool Montevideo	10	(0)
International career
2005	Uruguay U17	9	(1)
2007	Uruguay U20	2	(0)
2011	Uruguay	1	(0)
Managerial career
2024	Liverpool Montevideo
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Emiliano Alfaro Toscano (born 28 April 1988) is a Uruguayan football manager and former player who played as a striker.

Apart from his native country, Alfaro also played club football in India, UAE, Argentina, Italy, and Thailand. He is nicknamed as El Picaro, meaning The Thief in Spanish language. ^[2]

Club career

Liverpool Montevideo and loan to San Lorenzo

Alfaro started his professional career with Montevideo club Liverpool at the age of 18, becoming a first-team regular at a young age. After slowly developing as a footballer, Alfaro became a regular scorer for Liverpool. His best period at the club was the 2009–10 Apertura tournament, when he scored 13 times in 15 league matches.^{[ citation needed ]}

His excellent performances led him to be transferred on loan to the well-known Argentine club San Lorenzo de Almagro. ^[3] His time in Argentina was not particularly successful, as he only managed to score twice for San Lorenzo.^{[ citation needed ]}

Alfaro returned to Liverpool, where he again became a regular goalscorer. His performances were strong enough to draw the attention of Óscar Tabárez, coach of the Uruguay national team, for whom Alfaro made his debut.^{[ citation needed ]}

Lazio

His form also saw him attract interest from Europe, and on January 12, 2012, Alfaro moved to Italian Serie A club Lazio for a fee of 3 million euro. He chose the number 30 shirt, never before worn at Lazio. He made his debut on 19 February in the 5–1 away defeat, against Palermo. ^[4] He ended the season by making 8 appearances in total without scoring any goal.^{[ citation needed ]}

Al Wasl

On September 12, 2012 Alfaro was loaned to Al Wasl in the United Arab Emirates, with option to purchase value set at 3.5 million. ^[5] He made his debut on September 18, in the UAE President's Cup, scoring two goals against Al-Ittihad Kalba SC. ^[6] On September 23, 2012 he made his debut in the league, to mark the victory, 4–1, against Al-Wahda where he also scored a hat-trick. ^[7] After 33 appearances and 24 goals in total, he returned to Lazio.

Back to Liverpool

After spending the entire season of 2013–2014 in bench, on August 28, 2014 was loaned to his old club Liverpool Montevideo, the team that launched him in professional football. ^[8] On 13 September, he played first game of season against the Torque in which he also scored a goal, with the game ending 3–0 to Liverpool. ^[9] In the next game against Central Español on 27 September, he scored a brace that allowed his team to win the game 3–1. ^[10] On May 2, 2015, with a 2–1 victory against Cerro Largo, Liverpool earned the promotion to the Uruguayan Primera División. ^[11] On the May 23, with the closing of the season, he became the top scorer of the championship with a total of 21 goals scored in 27 games played.

Thailand

At the end of the loan period Alfaro went back to Lazio, but at the end of the summer transfer market summer he was sold to Thailand champions Buriram United. Due to injuries sustained in pre-season he never played for Buriram United, and finally his contract was mutually terminated. ^[12]

India

On 1 September 2016, Alfaro signed with Indian Super League franchise NorthEast United FC. ^[13] On 5 October, he scored both the goals in a match against FC Goa, in which NorthEast United emerged victorious with 2–0 scoreline. He scored the first goal in the 20 minute, taking advantage of a failure of Goa goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani to clear a backpass by Lúcio. He scored the second goal in the 63rd minute from a Holicharan Narzary assist. ^[14] Although he netted five times in his first seven matches, his form dipped since then as he failed to score any more goals in the remaining six matches. ^[15]

After a stint with Emirati second tier club Al-Fujairah where he scored eight goals in 12 matches, ^[16] Alfaro returned to the Indian Super League on 10 July 2017, and signed with FC Pune City; becoming the club's first foreign signing of the season. ^[17] On 23 November, he made his debut in a 2–3 loss against Delhi Dynamos FC, scoring a goal in the 67th minute. ^[18] Seven days later, he scored a brace against Mumbai City FC, which included the winning goal in the dying minute of the 2–1 victory. ^[19]

On 18 November 2018, Alfaro joined ATK on a loan deal as a replacement for the injured Kalu Uche. ^[20] On 20 November, he suffered an injury while training for his new club ATK. Eli Babalj was signed as a replacement of him.

Return to Liverpool and retirement

After joining his boyhood club Liverpool in July 2019, injuries regularly kept Alfaro out of action. He played 12 matches during the final stint for the club and scored a goal in 5–0 Copa Sudamericana win against Llaneros. ^[21] On 21 March 2021, he announced retirement from professional football. ^[22]

Managerial career

After retiring, Alfaro worked as a youth coordinator at his last club Liverpool, before being named first team manager on 21 December 2023, replacing Jorge Bava. ^[23] He left the club by mutual consent on 6 October 2024. ^[24]

Career statistics

Details correct to 24 November 2018

Season	Club	League			Cup			Continental			Other cups			Total
		Comp	Apps	Goals	Comp	Apps	Goals	Comp	Apps	Goals	Comp	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2005–06	Liverpool (Montevideo)	PD	6	0	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	6	0
2006–07		PD	12	1	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	12	1
2007–08		PD	28	4	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	28	4
2008–09		PD	21	10	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	21	10
2009–10		PD	15	13	–	–	–	CS	2	0	–	–	-	17	13
Jan.-Jun. 2010	San Lorenzo	PD	15	2	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	15	2
2010		PD	3	0	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	3	0
Total San Lorenzo		–	18	2		–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	18	2
2010–11	Liverpool (Montevideo)	PD	13	5	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	13	5
2011–12		PD	12	7	–	–	–	CL	2	1	–	–	–	14	8
2014–15		SD	27	21	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	27	21
Total Liverpool		–	134	61	–	–	–	–	4	1	–	–	–	138	62
Jan.-Jun. 2012	Lazio	A	8	0	CI	0	0	UEL	0	0	–	–	–	8	0
2012–13	Al Wasl	UPL	24	17	EC	8	6	–	–	–		–	–	32	23
2013–14	Lazio	A	0	0	CI	0	0	UEL	0	0	–	–	–	0	0
Total Al Wasl		–	24	17	–	8	6	–	–	–	–	–	–	32	23
2016	NorthEast United	ISL	13	5	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	13	5
2017–18	FC Pune City	ISL	25	10	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	25	10
2018–19	ATK	ISL	0	0	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	0	0
Total		–	222	95	–	8	6	–	4	1	–	–	–	234	102

International career

Alfaro first represented Uruguay at the 2005 South American Under-17 Football Championship held in Venezuela. The Uruguayans were runners-up to Brazil and qualified for the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship, which was hosted by Peru. Alfaro also played at the world championship, but Uruguay finished bottom of its group.

He then played with the Uruguayan under-20 team at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Canada alongside Edinson Cavani and Luis Suárez.

On November 7, 2011 he was named for a FIFA World Cup qualification match against Chile in Montevideo. ^[25]

Alfaro made his senior international debut for Uruguay against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on 15 November 2011.

National team Club Season Apps Goals Uruguay Liverpool 2011 1 0 Total 1 0

International appearances and goals # Date Venue Opponent Result Goal Competition 2011 1. November 15, 2011 Rome, Italy   Italy 0–1 0 Friendly

Playing style

Alfaro is a striker, who plays mainly near the opponent's goal. Not being endowed with great technique, he makes tenacity, competitive spirit and opportunism three of his best qualities. ^[26]

Personal life

Alfaro is of Italian heritage and holds an Italian passport, which allowed him to join Lazio as an EU player. His ancestors are from the Piedmontese town of Rorà, about 60 km southwest of Turin. ^[27]

Honours

Club

Liverpool

• Uruguayan Segunda División (1): 2014–15

Individual

• Top Scorer Uruguayan Segunda División (1): 2014–15

References

1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 5 July 2007. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2013.
2. http://www.laoraldeportiva.com.uy/emiliano_alfaro_nacional_liverpool.html ^{[ dead link ]}
3. "Emiliano Alfaro a San Lorenzo" (in Spanish). FIFA. 6 January 2010. Archived from the original on 10 January 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
4. "Palermo vs. Lazio - 19 February 2012 - Soccerway".
5. "Lazio, Alfaro ceduto in prestito all'Al Wasl". TUTTOmercatoWEB.com. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
6. "Kalba vs. Al Wasl - 18 September 2012 - Soccerway".
7. "Al Wasl vs. Al Wahda - 23 September 2012 - Soccerway".
8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
12. Chanapinijwong, Jedsada (5 July 2016). "THE INVISIBLE : 10 แข้งต่างชาติที่ไร้ตัวตนในไทยลีก" (in Thai). footballchannelasia. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
13. "NorthEast United rope in Emiliano Alfaro, Fabio Neves Florentino for ISL 3". Business Standard India. Business Standard. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
14. "ISL: Emiliano Alfaro inspires NorthEast United to victory against FC Goa". Hindustan Times. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
15. "Indian Super League: Emiliano Alfaro - 'FC Pune City offered me the best deal'". Goal. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
16. "Pune's Emiliano Alfaro has no qualms about missing Diego Maradona time". Times of India. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
17. "Pune City sign Emiliano Alfaro". ESPN. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
18. "ISL highlights, FC Pune City vs Delhi Dynamos: Delhi edge past Pune 3-2 in thriller". Hindustan Times. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
19. "ISL: Late Emiliano Alfaro brace helps FC Pune City edge past Mumbai City FC 2-1". Times Now. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
20. "Emiliano Alfaro joins ATK in loan deal". Indian Super League. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
21. "Liverpool se floreó con Llaneros: 5-0 y avanzó a la segunda ronda" . Retrieved 24 March 2021.
22. "Emiliano Alfaro le puso fin a su carrera". 21 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
23. "Liverpool tiene nuevo DT" [Liverpool have a new manager] (in Spanish). Tenfield. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
24. "Emiliano Alfaro dejó la dirección técnica de Liverpool" [Emiliano Alfaro left the technical direction of Liverpool] (in Spanish). La Diaria. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
25. "Emiliano Alfaro y Diego Rodriguez fueron citados a la selección de Uruguay" (in Spanish). Qualification for Brazil. 7 November 2011. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
26. "Emiliano Alfaro alla Lazio. Sosa: «È il nuovo Aguilera»". Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
27. "E' il momento di Alfaro" (in Italian). La Lazio Siamo Noi. 19 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.

External links

• Emiliano Alfaro at BDFA (in Spanish)
• Emiliano Alfaro at Soccerway