Hugo Díaz (footballer, born 1997)

Hugo Díaz

Personal information
Full name	Hugo Díaz Rodríguez[1]
Date of birth	(1997-02-09) 9 February 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth	A Coruña, Spain
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Gimnástica Segoviana
Number	8
Youth career
0000–2016	Deportivo La Coruña
2017–2018	Leeds United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2017	Deportivo B	8	(1)
2017	→ Silva (loan)	14	(1)
2017–2019	Leeds United	1	(0)
2019–2020	Getafe B	26	(2)
2020–2021	Korona Kielce	10	(0)
2021–2022	Salamanca	12	(0)
2022	Bergantiños	14	(0)
2022–	Gimnástica Segoviana	59	(13)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024

Hugo Díaz Rodríguez[a] (born 9 February 1997), known as Hugo Díaz (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈuɣo ˈði.aθ][b]), is a Spanish professional footballer who plays a centre back for Gimnástica Segoviana. He can also play as a defensive midfielder.

Club career

Early career

Díaz started his career at Deportivo La Coruña youth academy,[2] graduating to Depor Juvenil A and then the Deportivo de La Coruña B team, in January 2017 he then had a loan spell at A Coruña based team Silva SD.[3]

Leeds United

On 18 August 2017, he joined Leeds United from Deportivo,[4] initially linking up with the Leeds Under 23s squad.[5] In the Under 23s he formed a central defence partnership with Paudie O'Connor.^[citation needed]

On 10 April 2018, after an injury crisis to Leeds' first team defenders, Díaz was promoted to Leeds' first team and named as a substitute in their EFL Championship game against Preston North End.[6] Díaz made his debut for Leeds in the same game coming on early in the second half for injured centre back Pontus Jansson, partnering his usual Under 23 teammate Paudie O'Connor for the first team in a 1–3 loss.[7] On 8 May, he was named in Leeds' first team squad by Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom for their post season friendlies tour to Myanmar.[8]

He featured in Leeds' first team during the 2018/19 pre season under new head coach Marcelo Bielsa. He made his first appearance for Leeds' first team of pre-season in the friendly match 1–1 draw against York City on 20 July 2018[9][10]

He was named in the first team squad again on 6 January 2019, when he was an unused subsistute during a 2–1 defeat to Queens Park Rangers in the third round of the FA Cup.[11]

Díaz captained the Leeds United 23s side over the course of the 2018/19 season,[12] that won the PDL Northern League 2018/19 Season by winning the league, they then became the national Professional Development League Champions by beating Birmingham City in the final.[13]

On 22 June 2019, Díaz announced on his Twitter page that the club had released him.[14]

Getafe

On 25 July 2019, Díaz joined La Liga side Getafe CF on a free transfer from Leeds United,[15] being assigned to the B-team in Segunda División B. Diaz was released by Getafe CF in July 2020[16]

Korona Kielce

On 13 November 2020, Díaz was signed by I liga side Korona Kielce[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 18 April 2018

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Leeds United	2017–18[18]	Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Korona Kielce	2020–21	I liga	10	0	—		—		—		10	0
Career total			11	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	11	0

Notes

1. In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Díaz and the second or maternal family name is Rodríguez.
2. In isolation, Díaz is pronounced [ˈdi.aθ].

References

1. "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Leeds United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 21. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
2. Hugo Díaz: «Mi sueño desde niño es jugar con el Dépor en Riazor» lavozdegalicia.es
3. "new player of Silva 16-17". Silva SD Official Site. 31 January 2018.
4. "U23s boosted by summer signing". Leeds United F.C. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
5. "Preston North End 3–1 Leeds United". Ninety Minutes Online. 20 August 2017.^[permanent dead link‍]
6. "Preston North End 3–1 Leeds United". Sky Sports. 10 April 2018.
7. "Preston North End 3–1 Leeds United". Leeds United F.C. 10 April 2018.
8. Hay, Phil (8 May 2018). "Saiz features but academy players make up the numbers in Leeds United's Myanmar squad". Yorkshire Evening Post.
9. "Ronaldo Vieira: Everyone is feeling fit". Leeds United F.C. 20 July 2018.
10. "Report: York City 1–1 Leeds United". Leeds United F.C. 19 July 2018.
11. "QPR 2–1 Leeds United". BBC Sport. 6 January 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
12. "'True leader' – Leeds under-23 captain Hugo Diaz impresses the fans once again". The Boot Room. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
13. "Carlos Corberan on what the future can hold for Leeds United's PDL champions". Yorkshire Evening Post. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
14. "Hugo Diaz confirms Leeds United departure with heartfelt message". Yorkshire Evening Post. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
15. "Hugo Diaz seals move to Spanish Europa League contenders following Leeds United release". Yorkshire Evening Post. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
16. "Where are they now? The 20 players Victor Orta signed in his first Leeds United transfer window". 12 November 2020.
17. "Club confirm arrival of youngster Bielsa let go; joins two Leeds teammates". 13 November 2020.
18. "Games played by Hugo Díaz in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2018.

External links

• Hugo Díaz at LaPreferente.com (in Spanish)
• Hugo Díaz at Soccerway