Introduction
Iván Daniel Alonso Vallejo (born 10 April 1979) is an Uruguayan professional footballer who plays for Club Atlético River Plate in Argentina as a striker.
Gifted with an excellent aerial ability he is most noted for his Alavés stint, and spent the bulk of his professional career in Spain, playing for three teams and appearing in seven La Liga seasons, three each with Alavés and Espanyol.
Club career
Early years / Alavés
Born in Montevideo, Alonso started his professional career with local Club Atlético River Plate. After two seasons he moved to Spain's Deportivo Alavés, scoring eight league goals – often as a substitute – during his first season while also being an important offensive element in the Basque side's UEFA Cup exploits, as he netted in the final against Liverpool, lost 4–5 in extra time; during that season, he made a formidable partnership with Javi Moreno (later of A.C. Milan).
After playing 2003–04 in the second level, Alonso stayed in the category, moving to Real Murcia and scoring 11 goals in his debut campaign. An undisputed starter from his arrival onwards, he added 14 in 40 matches in 2006–07 as the club returned to La Liga after a three-year absence.
Espanyol
In the 2007–08 season, Alonso was again the team's top scorer at 10, but they would be nonetheless immediately relegated back. In January 2009, however, he returned to the top flight, joining RCD Espanyol for €2.4 millions on a deal running until the end of the season and two more. Benefitting from injuries and loss of form to legendary Raúl Tamudo he netted some important goals for the Catalans, including two at UD Almería on 23 May 2009, which guaranteed the club's permanence in the top division a further year.
On 23 September 2009, Alonso scored in the club's first win of the 2009–10 campaign, the first ever at new Estadi Cornellà-El Prat, against Málaga CF (2–1), and dedicated it to Daniel Jarque, deceased in the team's preseason in Italy. He would lose his starting job following the arrival, in January 2010, of Dani Osvaldo, on loan; however, on 11 April, one day after his 31st birthday, he managed to add his name to the scoresheet in Espanyol's 3–0 home win against Atlético Madrid, having played only one minute after having replaced precisely the Argentine.
Late career
In June 2011, after 11 years in Spain (amassing league totals of 344 games and 79 goals, both major levels combined), 32-year-old Alonso moved countries and signed with Deportivo Toluca F.C. in Mexico, being the Liga MX's top scorer in his first and only season even though the team could only rank in 12th position overall.
In early July 2012, Alonso left the Red Devils because of a heart condition, subsequently retiring from football – his doctor advised him not to play with Toluca as the high altitude of the city might worsen his condition. In early 2013, however, he returned to active, joining hometown's Club Nacional de Football.
Personal life
Alonso's younger brother, Matías, is also a footballer and a forward. He too began his career at River Plate, also having a spell with Murcia, without any impact however.
His cousin, Diego Alonso, also played several years in Spain.
Honours
Club
- Alavés
- UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2000–01
- Nacional
- Uruguayan Primera División: 2014–15
- River Plate
- Recopa Sudamericana: 2016
- Copa Argentina: 2015–16
Individual
- Liga MX: Top scorer Apertura 2011; Joint-top scorer Clausura 2012