# Álex Aguinaga

Álex Darío Aguinaga Garzón (Spanish pronunciation:, born 9 July 1969) is an Ecuadorian former professional football player and manager. A midfielder during his playing career, he is one of the all-time cap leaders for Ecuador with 109 matches, scoring 23 goals. Aguinaga is known as one of the best Ecuadorian men's footballers of all time. On the club level, Aguinaga has played for Deportivo Quito, Necaxa, Cruz Azul and LDU Quito.

## Club career
### Necaxa

Aguinaga spent the majority of his club career at Necaxa, whom he joined in 1989, winning 3 championships with the club. In 1999 Aguinaga was crucial for Necaxa's first CONCACAF Champions Cup title. Necaxa would go on to participate in the first edition of the FIFA Club World Cup where in the group stage Aguinaga scored against Vasco da Gama, but missed a penalty against Manchester United. He scored in the penalty shootout against Real Madrid in the 3rd place match.
He also holds a Mexican passport. His grandfather is of Spanish descent.

### LDU Quito

After winning a league title in Ecuador, Aguinaga decided to retire from football.

## International career

Aguinaga earned his first cap for Ecuador on March 5, 1987. In the same match, he scored his first goal for the team. Over the year, he would form an integral part of the national team. He would captain the team for a number of years and assisted in the goal by Iván Kaviedes that assured Ecuador's first qualification to the FIFA World Cup in 2002, in which he played. This was the only World Cup where Aguinaga participated.

## Managerial career

Aguinaga's managerial career began in late 2010 as an assistant to Manuel Lapuente at Mexican club América. He left the club in early 2011 when Lapuente was sacked. In March of the same year, he was named to his first full-time managerial post as the new manager of Guayaquil-based club Barcelona following the sacking of Rubén Darío Insúa. In late May of the same year, he resigned from his position to not interfere and influence the club's presidential elections the following month. He has not ruled out a return after the election.
In September 2014, Aguinaga became the manager of Correcaminos UAT, which plays in the Ascenso MX second professional level league of the Mexican football league system.

## Personal life

Aguinaga's daughter Cristiane is an actress and has appeared in several Mexican series and telenovelas such as Carita de Ángel and La rosa de Guadalupe.

## Career statistics

List of Álex Aguinaga's international goals :
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 5 March 1987 | Estadio Pedro Marrero, Havana | Cuba | 1–2 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 2 | 7 June 1988 | Albuquerque Sports Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico | United States | 0–1 | 0–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 10 June 1988 | Unknown, Houston, Texas | United States | 0–1 | 0–2 | Friendly |
| 4 | 15 June 1988 | Estadio Francisco Morazán, San Pedro Sula | Honduras | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 5 | 24 September 1989 | Estadio Monumental de Barcelona, Guayaquil | Paraguay | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 6 | 30 June 1991 | Estadio Nacional, Santiago | Chile | 3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 7 | 9 July 1991 | Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar | Uruguay | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1991 Copa América |
| 8 | 13 July 1991 | Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar | Bolivia | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1991 Copa América |
| 9 | 15 June 1993 | Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito | Venezuela | 6–1 | 6–1 | 1993 Copa América |
| 10 | 22 June 1993 | Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito | Uruguay | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1993 Copa América |
| 11 | 6 July 1996 | Estadio Nacional, Santiago | Chile | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 12 | 1 September 1996 | Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito | Venezuela | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 13 | 12 February 1997 | Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito | Uruguay | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 14 | 2 April 1997 | Estadio Nacional, Lima | Peru | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 15 | 30 April 1997 | Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires | Argentina | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 16 | 20 August 1997 | Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito | Paraguay | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 17 | 10 September 1997 | Estádio Fonte Nova, Salvador | Brazil | 3–1 | 4–2 | Friendly |
| 18 | 29 March 2000 | Estadio Casa Blanca, Quito | Venezuela | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 19 | 26 April 2000 | Estádio Cícero Pompeu de Toledo (Morumbi), São Paulo | Brazil | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier |
| 20 | 22 January 2002 | Miami Orange Bowl, Miami | Canada | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 21 | 22 January 2002 | Miami Orange Bowl, Miami | Canada | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 22 | 20 November 2002 | Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa, Quito | Costa Rica | 1–2 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 23 | 2 June 2003 | Estadio Bellavista, Ambato | Guatemala | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |

## Honors

Necaxa
* Primera División: 1994–95, 1995–96, 1998 Invierno
* CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup: 1994
* Mexican Cup: 1995
* Campeón de Campeones: 1995
* CONCACAF Champions' Cup: 1999
* FIFA Club World Cup third place: 2000
LDU Quito
* Serie A: 2005 Apertura
Ecuador
* Canada Cup: 1999
Individual
* Ideal team of South America: 1989
* Number 7 retired by Club Necaxa as a recognition to his contribution to the club.