Hugo Mallo

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Malloand the second or maternal family name is Novegil.

Hugo Mallo

Mallo with Celta in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Hugo Mallo Novegil [1]
Date of birth	(1991-06-22) 22 June 1991 (age 33) [1]
Place of birth	Marín, Spain
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) [1]
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Aris
Number	22
Youth career
	Porvir
	Pontevedra
1999–2009	Celta
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2023	Celta	396	(10)
2023–2024	Internacional	14	(1)
2024–	Aris	10	(1)
International career
2010	Spain U19	3	(0)
2011	Spain U20	6	(0)
2011–2012	Spain U21	3	(0)
2016	Galicia	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:00, 7 December 2024 (UTC)

Hugo Mallo Novegil (born 22 June 1991) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Super League Greece club Aris.

He spent most of his professional career with Celta, making 449 competitive appearances including a club record of 309 in La Liga. ^[2]

Club career

Celta

Born in Marín, Pontevedra, Galicia, Mallo played youth football for three local clubs, finishing his development with RC Celta de Vigo. ^[3] He was immediately inserted in the first-team setup, appearing in 25 Segunda División games in his first season, starting with a 2–1 home loss against CD Numancia on 29 August 2009 in which he came on as a half-time substitute for Roberto Lago. ^[4] The following 3 April, again from the bench, he was sent off for conceding a penalty kick with a foul on Juan Domínguez which resulted in the only goal of Real Unión's visit to Balaídos. ^[5]

On 16 October 2010, Mallo scored his first career goal in a 2–2 draw at Villarreal CF B. ^[6] He started in all 34 matches he appeared in the 2011–12 campaign, as the side finished second and returned to La Liga after five years; he made his debut in the competition on 18 August 2012, in a 0–1 home defeat to Málaga CF. ^[7]

On 9 January 2013, during a 4–0 Copa del Rey loss at Real Madrid (5–2 aggregate), Mallo – who was not being challenged – suffered an anterior cruciate ligament to his left knee, going on to be sidelined for the rest of the season. ^[8] He scored his first top-flight goal on 23 May 2015, opening the team's account in a 3–2 home win over RCD Espanyol. ^[9]

Mallo scored in the Galician derby on 23 October 2016, setting Celta up for a 4–1 victory against local rivals Deportivo de La Coruña. ^[10] He played 12 games in a run to the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League, his debut continental campaign; in the second leg of the last 16, he scored in a 2–0 away defeat of Russia's FC Krasnodar (4–1 aggregate). ^[11]

On 5 May 2018, Mallo made his 300th competitive appearance in another local derby, putting him sixth in their all-time veterans. ^[12] That August, he turned down a move to Premier League newcomers Fulham, ^[13] instead signing a new five-year contract with a buyout clause of €50 million. ^[14] On 24 November 2019 he moved joint-fourth on the list with a 350th appearance at Villarreal CF, and at 28 he became the youngest player to reach that figure for the club. ^[15]

By the time that he turned 30 in June 2021, Mallo had beaten Aleksandr Mostovoi's record of 235 top-tier games for Celta. ^[16] On 15 August that year, his added-time foul on Luis Suárez in a 2–1 home loss to Atlético Madrid caused a brawl which resulted in dismissals for himself, opponent Mario Hermoso and Atléti fitness coach Óscar Ortega. ^[17] He returned from suspension 13 days later in a 1–0 defeat at the same venue to Athletic Bilbao, his 400th match. ^[18]

Mallo left on 8 June 2023, after his contract expired; at the time of his departure, he was the club player with the most appearances in the main division at 309. ^[19]

Internacional

On 14 August 2023, the 32-year-old Mallo moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing a contract with Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Sport Club Internacional until December 2024. ^[20] Signed by former Celta manager Eduardo Coudet, he made his debut five days later as a 62nd-minute substitute for Vitão in a 1–0 home loss to Fortaleza Esporte Clube, becoming the Porto Alegre club's first European in over a century and first Spaniard. ^{[21] [22]}

Mallo's first goal came on 27 September 2023 in the first leg of the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores away to compatriots Fluminense FC at the Maracanã Stadium, a 2–2 draw with the eventual champions. ^[23] He played both legs of the tie at the expense of Fabricio Bustos, but then suffered a left-thigh muscle injury that ended his campaign. ^[24]

International career

Mallo earned three caps for Spain at under-19 level in 2010. In their run to second place at the 2010 UEFA European Championship, he played in the suspended Martín Montoya's absence in the final group game, a 3–0 win against Italy in Flers, Orne. ^[25]

Julen Lopetegui named Mallo in the under-20 squad for the 2011 FIFA World Cup in Colombia. He played all five games of a quarter-final campaign. ^[26]

In September 2011, Mallo made his first under-21 appearances in home and away wins over Georgia in European qualification. He then lost his place to Montoya, missed the 2012 Olympics and was edged from even his substitute place under Luis Milla for a year until being recalled against Italy in November 2012, his final international. ^[27]

Mallo played for the unofficial Galicia team on 20 May 2016, in a 1–1 draw with Venezuela at Riazor. ^[28]

Sexual abuse case

On 30 January 2024, Mallo was ordered to stand trial in Barcelona's Criminal Court number 19 for allegations that he inappropriately touched the breasts of a woman who wore a parakeet costume while working as an Espanyol mascot. The incident, which was caught on film, took place in a Celta match at the Cornellà-El Prat Stadium on 24 April 2019; due to the penal code which was in force at the time, he could be charged with sexual abuse rather than sexual assault, with the trial being scheduled to start on 11 July 2024. ^[29]

The accuser, who remained anonymous and used the alias "Ms. Ana," previously testified about the incident while appearing before the Court of First Instance and Instruction Number 2 of Cornellà de Llobregat on 27 June 2019. On 25 September, the court would give the case a provisional dismissal. However, on 14 November, it would deny Mallo a "free dismissal" which would have closed the case. On 31 May 2021, the Ninth Section of the Provincial Court of Barcelona revoked the court's dismissal; he maintained his innocence, claiming that he did not know the gender of the person in the parakeet costume at the time of the incident and that he greeted Espanyol's mascots and players normally. ^[29]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 October 2023 ^[30]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		International		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Celta	2009–10	Segunda División	25	0	5	0	—		—		30	0
	2010–11		28	1	0	0	—		2 [a]	0	30	1
	2011–12		34	0	3	0	—		—		37	0
	2012–13	La Liga	17	0	4	0	—		—		21	0
	2013–14		33	0	2	0	—		—		35	0
	2014–15		28	1	1	0	—		—		29	1
	2015–16		34	1	7	0	—		—		41	1
	2016–17		23	2	6	0	12 [b]	1	—		41	3
	2017–18		34	0	4	0	—		—		38	0
	2018–19		35	1	0	0	—		—		35	1
	2019–20		27	0	2	0	—		—		29	0
	2020–21		31	3	1	1	—		—		32	4
	2021–22		21	1	2	0	—		—		23	1
	2022–23		26	0	2	0	—		—		28	0
Celta total			396	10	39	1	12	1	2	0	449	12
Internacional	2023	Série A	6	0	0	0	3 [c]	1	0	0	9	1
Career total			402	10	39	1	15	2	2	0	458	13

1. Appearances in La Liga play-offs
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
3. Appearances in Copa Libertadores

Honours

Spain U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship runner-up: 2010 ^[31]

References

1. "Hugo Mallo". Diario AS . Retrieved 4 February 2024.
2. Bernardo, Julio (10 June 2023). ""Es un día triste, el peor de mi carrera"" ["This is a sad day, the worst of my career"]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 August 2023.
3. "Vecinos en Marín, laterales en Vigo" [Neighbours in Marín, full-backs in Vigo]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 9 January 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
4. Bravo, Alberto (29 August 2018). "'El Capitán', nueve años en el primer equipo" ['The Captain', nine years in the first team] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
5. "El Real Unión sigue soñando y pone al Celta en peligro de descenso" [Real Unión carry on dreaming and put Celta in danger of relegation]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 3 April 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
6. "Hugo Mallo marcaba su primer gol con el Celta hace nueve años" [Hugo Mallo scored his first goal for Celta nine years ago]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 16 October 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
7. "Olinga makes history". ESPN FC. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
8. "Hugo Mallo, seis meses de baja" [Hugo Mallo, six months out]. Marca (in Spanish). 10 January 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
9. "Celta despide la temporada con un triunfo ante Espanyol" [Celta sign off for the season with a triumph against Espanyol] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
10. Egea, Pablo (23 October 2016). "El derbi es de Aspas" [The derby belongs to Aspas]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 April 2020.
11. Farrell, Dom (16 March 2017). "Krasnodar 0 Celta Vigo 2 (1–4 agg): Mallo and Aspas down Russians". Goal . Retrieved 27 April 2020.
12. Bernardo, Julio (10 May 2018). "Tras los pasos del Gran Capitán" [In the footsteps of the Great Captain]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 April 2020.
13. "Celta Vigo's Hugo Mallo suggests he turned down Fulham move". Sky Sports. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
14. "Hugo Mallo renueva hasta el 2023" [Hugo Mallo renews until 2023]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 10 August 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
15. Bravo, Alberto (24 November 2019). "Hugo Mallo, el más joven en entrar en el Olimpo celeste" [Hugo Mallo, the youngest to enter the sky-blue Mount Olympus] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
16. Valero, Rafa (23 June 2021). "Hugo Mallo llega a la treintena batiendo récords" [Hugo Mallo gets to thirty beating records]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 August 2021.
17. "Mallo's challenge on Luis Suarez provokes huge brawl and two red cards". Marca. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
18. "Hugo Mallo alcanzó los 400 partidos oficiales" [Hugo Mallo reached 400 official matches]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 29 August 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
19. "Hugo Mallo se despide del Celta" [Hugo Mallo bids farewell to Celta]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 8 June 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
20. "Inter contrata lateral-direito Hugo Mallo" [Inter sign right-back Hugo Mallo] (in Portuguese). SC Internacional. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
21. "Hugo Mallo é o primeiro espanhol a vestir a camisa colorada; confira os números do lateral sob o comando de Coudet" [Hugo Mallo is the first Spaniard to wear the red shirt; see the full-back's numbers under Coudet's command] (in Portuguese). RDC TV. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
22. "Fortaleza vence Inter no Beira-Rio com direto a 'lei do ex'" [Fortaleza defeat Inter in the Beira-Rio via the 'law of the ex'] (in Portuguese). Jogada 10. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
23. "Mallo marca primeiro gol pelo Inter e cobra mais "malandragem" em empate com o Fluminense" [Mallo scores first goal for Inter and demands more "trickery" in draw with Fluminense] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
24. Ravazzolli, Bruno (20 October 2023). "Com lesão muscular, Hugo Mallo desfalca o Inter por três semanas" [With muscular injury, Hugo Mallo taken from Inter for three weeks] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
25. "Hugo Mallo debuta en la cómoda victoria ante Italia" [Hugo Mallo debuts in the comfortable victory against Italy]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 25 July 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
26. "El céltico Hugo Mallo se marchó a Colombia con la selección sub 20" [Celta's Hugo Mallo went to Colombia with the under-20 national team]. El Correo Gallego (in Spanish). 19 July 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
27. "La selección sub-21 recupera a Mallo" [Under-21 national team recalls Mallo]. Atlántico Diario (in Spanish). 10 November 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
28. Bouzas, Fabián (21 May 2016). "La selección gallega empata con Venezuela en su fiesta del fútbol" [Galicia national team draw with Venezuela in their football party]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 April 2020.
29. Molero, Iván (30 January 2024). "Hugo Mallo, a juicio acusado de abuso sexual antes de un Espanyol-Celta" [Hugo Mallo, to stand trial accused of sexual abuse before an Espanyol-Celta]. As (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 January 2024.
30. "Hugo Mallo". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
31. Haslam, Andrew (30 July 2010). "France fight back to claim U19 crown". UEFA. Retrieved 12 September 2020.

External links

• Hugo Mallo at BDFutbol
• Hugo Mallo at Futbolme (in Spanish)
• Hugo Mallo – FIFA competition record (archived)