Antonio de Nigris Guajardo (Spanish pronunciation: [anˈtonjo ðe ˈniɣɾis]; 1 April 1978 – 15 November 2009) was a Mexican professional footballer who played as a striker.
 de Nigris training with Mexico | |||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Antonio de Nigris Guajardo | ||||||||||
| Date of birth | 1 April 1978 | ||||||||||
| Place of birth | Monterrey, Mexico | ||||||||||
| Date of death | 15 November 2009 (aged 31) | ||||||||||
| Place of death | Larissa, Greece | ||||||||||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||
| 1995–1999 | Monterrey | ||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||
| 1999–2002 | Monterrey | 65 | (37) | ||||||||
| 2002 | América | 3 | (0) | ||||||||
| 2003 | → Villarreal (loan) | 15 | (2) | ||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Poli Ejido | 31 | (2) | ||||||||
| 2004 | Once Caldas | 19 | (1) | ||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Puebla | 13 | (1) | ||||||||
| 2005 | UNAM | 15 | (2) | ||||||||
| 2006 | Monterrey | 1 | (0) | ||||||||
| 2006 | Santos | 2 | (1) | ||||||||
| 2006–2007 | Gaziantepspor | 39 | (15) | ||||||||
| 2008 | Ankaraspor | 25 | (7) | ||||||||
| 2009 | Ankaragücü | 14 | (2) | ||||||||
| 2009 | AEL | 7 | (0) | ||||||||
| Total | 248 | (70) | |||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||
| 2001–2008 | Mexico | 17 | (4) | ||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||
During his career, which was cut short at 31 by a fatal heart attack,[1] he played in six countries, also representing twelve clubs in nine years.
Club career
editBorn in Monterrey, Nuevo León, de Nigris became interested in sports at a young age, and began his football career with C.F. Monterrey. In February 2003, he was loaned to Villarreal CF in Spain's La Liga, joining a team in 13th place but averaging under a goal a game.[2] He made his debut on 2 March, coming on as a 70th-minute substitute for Javier Farinós and scoring the last-minute winner for a 2–1 victory at home to Rayo Vallecano.[3]
De Nigris, who could play freely in the European Union due to his Italian passport, moved on a permanent deal to Polideportivo Ejido in the Segunda División in July 2003.[4] As with his time at Villarreal, he scored only twice in his one season in the province of Almería.[5]
De Nigris returned to the Americas with Once Caldas of Colombia, with whom, in the 2004 Intercontinental Cup, he scored in the penalty shootout defeat against F.C. Porto. After playing for Club Puebla, Club Universidad Nacional and Monterrey again back home, he was signed by Santos FC of Brazil on 20 March 2006,[6] making his debut against Brasiliense Futebol Clube in a Copa do Brasil match.
Later in 2006, de Nigris switched to Turkey, playing in quick succession for three teams in the country: Gaziantepspor, Ankaraspor and Ankaragücü. He was released from the latter due to heart problems, and his license was cancelled by the Turkish Football Federation. In 2009–10, he moved teams again, signing with Greek outfit AEL 1964 for two years.
International career
editA Mexican international since 2001, de Nigris represented his nation at that year's Copa América. His debut came on 7 March in a friendly against Brazil in Guadalajara, scoring the 2–0 goal in an eventual 3–3 draw.[7] Eighteen days later he scored twice in a 4–0 home win over Jamaica in 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification.[8]
After a seven-year absence in the national squad, de Nigris was called by national coach Hugo Sánchez for a friendly match against the United States, on 6 February 2008. He underperformed in that match and was substituted, but would also appear against Ghana in London; he totalled 17 appearances with four goals until his death, at 31.[9]
Personal life
editDe Nigris' younger brother Aldo was also a professional footballer who played as striker with Monterrey and the national team as well, while older sibling "Poncho" is a TV celebrity and influencer. He was of Italian descent and was given the nickname Tano by his Italian grandfather.[10]
On 16 November 2009, Jorge Urdiales, president of former club Monterrey, confirmed de Nigris had died, apparently from a heart attack.[11]
Career statistics
editInternational
edit- As of match played 25 March 2008[12]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 2001 | 14 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 17 | 4 | |
International goals
edit| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 7 March 2001 | Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico |  Brazil |
2–0 | 3–3 | Friendly | |
| 2. | 25 March 2001 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico |  Jamaica |
1–0 | 4–0 | 2002 World Cup qualification | |
| 3. | 25 March 2001 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico | Jamaica |
2–0 | 4–0 | 2002 World Cup qualification | |
| 4. | 23 August 2001 | Estadio Luis de la Fuente, Veracruz, Mexico |  Liberia |
5–4 | 5–4 | Friendly |
References
edit- ^ Larissa in mourning for de Nigris Archived 24 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Villarreal hope for striking change". UEFA. 25 February 2003. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "De Nigris da el triunfo al Villarreal en el último minuto" [De Nigris gives Villarreal triumph in the last minute]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 2 March 2003. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "Poli Ejido presenta a delantero mexicano De Nigris" [Poli Ejido present the Mexican forward De Nigris]. La Nación (in Spanish). 25 July 2003. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "El Poli Ejido traslada su "más sentido pésame" por la muerte de su ex jugador" [Poli Ejido sends its "most sincere condolences" after the death of its former player]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 16 November 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "De Nigris espera hacer goles y conseguir campeonatos con el Santos" [De Nigris hops to score goals and win championships with Santos] (in Spanish). Medio Tiempo. 27 March 2003. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "México revivió ante Brasil: 3-3" [Mexico revived against Brazil: 3-3] (in Spanish). Emol. 8 March 2003. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ Jones, Grahame L. (26 March 2001). "Mexico Recaptures Winning Feeling". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ Mexikos Nationalstürmer de Nigris gestorben (Mexican international striker de Nigris dead) (in German)
- ^ De Nigris, otro golpe en el corazón (De Nigris, another blow to the heart) (in Spanish) Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ El futbolista mexicano Antonio de Nigris falleció de un infarto (Mexican footballer Antonio de Nigris died from a heart attack) (in Spanish) [1]
- ^ Antonio de Nigris at National-Football-Teams.com
External links
edit- Antonio de Nigris at BDFutbol
- Antonio de Nigris at National-Football-Teams.com
- Addicion Rayada profile (in Spanish)
- Photos at Addicion Rayada (in Spanish)