Diego Benalho - permanent goalkeeper, "Wolfsburg"

Diego Benalho is one of the most famous operating Swiss football players. In terms of position, he is a goalkeeper, for many years of the game he earned a captain's armband both in the club and in the national team. But what was the 32-year-old goalkeeper's way before he got to where he is now? Diego Benalho was born on September 8, 1983 in Switzerland, he plays for the national team of this country, although he also has Italian roots.

Carier start

As a small boy, Diego Benalho changed several football academies in Switzerland until he was 16 at the academy of one of the leading Swiss clubs called Grasshoppers. It was with this club at the age of 18 that he signed his first professional contract - then he began to show himself as a great talent. Naturally, immediately his speeches attracted the attention of neighbors, and a year later for a modest sum of 150 thousand euros, 19-year-old talent moved to the German "Stuttgart". Diego Benalho predicted a great career, but revealed to him was obviously not in the "Stuttgart".

Unsuccessful lane

Unfortunately for Diego Benalho, the biography of the football player at that moment went a little differently than he would have liked. In those days, "Stuttgart" was a fairly strong club, so there was very little chance that Diego could show himself. Also there were three more goalkeepers, two of whom were extremely outstanding - the Bosnian Adnan Machic and the rising German talent, Timo Hildebrand. That's why a year later, the 20-year-old goalkeeper was reduced to a double, where he began to show a fairly good football. Naturally, the goalkeeper did not want to be content with appearances in one of the lowest German leagues, but he was never invited to the main team, so in 2005, when his contract expired, he decided not to renew the agreement. Fortunately, there was a Portuguese club "Nacional", which offered a 22-year-old goalkeeper contract. So Benalo was in Portugal, where he was able to open.

Portuguese rise

Diego Benalho, whose photos were previously in many Swiss magazines, was for the fans of his native country a new genius, a man of high expectations. But in the end, the new hope left far to be not the strongest club in the far from the strongest championship. However, as it turned out, everything was just beginning - in "Nacional" Benalho quickly won a place in the starting lineup, moving the acting Portuguese goalkeeper. He began to show incredible results - for three years he played in 69 games and attracted the attention of many pretty strong clubs, one of which was Wolfsburg. And now the 25-year-old goalkeeper in 2008 went to Germany, signing a contract with the "wolves" - the club, which eventually became for him a real home.

Career in Wolfsburg

The arrival of Diego Benalho, whose personal life was concentrated in Germany, had a very positive impact on the performances of the team. Moreover, he very successfully came to the club, which after a long break was able to achieve success in the national championship - in the first year of Diego's stay at the club, "Wolfsburg" was able to become a champion, pushing Bayern. Benalo performs in "Wolfsburg" and to this day, last season having won with the club one more trophy - the German Cup. However, apparently, his days here are numbered.

The fact is that he began to make many mistakes, to miss more and more goals. This year, "Wolfsburg" could not get to not only the Champions League, but even the Europa League. Therefore, the club's management is already looking for a younger goalkeeper with a greater perspective. So in the press, there are rumors that Diego Benalho can return to his home club Grasshoppers, which shows interest in him. But nothing has been decided so far, Benalho's replacement is not found, so there is a possibility that Diego will be in Wolfsburg next season.

National team appearances

Benalau's level as a goalkeeper can also be judged by the fact that he was the main goalkeeper of Switzerland for a long time. For the first time he received the call in 2006 at the age of 23 years - and since that time he was the leader of the team. He took part in 61 games, conceding a total of 62 goals, - a pretty good result for the team is not the highest level. However, in 2014, after eight years in the team, Benalho announced that he was completing his speech here, giving way to Jan Sommer and other candidates for his place.

The reason was personal life - Benalo said that he wants to spend more time with his wife Nadine, as well as with his two daughters.

Unfortunately, for the team, Diego could not win a single trophy, but held two world championships in the first team, and his first European championship in 2008 - as a backup goalkeeper. But in club football, he still managed to achieve success by winning two championships - one for Grasshoppers, the other for Wolfsburg, and also one Cup - again, for Wolfsburg. Naturally, this is not a dream career, but for a goalkeeper from a country that is not very strong in the football plan, not for the strongest clubs, this is a pretty good result, and Benalho can be satisfied with his career.