Ángel Guirado

Ángel Guirado Aldeguer (born 9 December 1984) is a Filipino professional footballer who plays for Lincoln Red Imps F.C. in Gibraltar as a striker.
In his country of adoption, his professional input consisted of ten Segunda División games for Córdoba and Vecindario. He went to appear for teams in the Philippines, India, Thailand, Iceland and Gibraltar.
Guirado represented the Philippines at international level.

Club career

Born in Málaga, Andalusia, Guirado was an unsuccessful youth graduate at hometown club Málaga CF, going to play for two other clubs before completing his formation. He started his senior career in 2003 with CE Mataró (preseason games only), moving to Catalonia neighbours CE Manresa in Tercera División shortly after and returning to his native region after the year was over, signing for Córdoba CF in Segunda División; during his spell in the category he appeared in only nine games (out of 42) as the 2004–05 season ended in relegation, and represented mainly the B-side, in both the fourth division and the regional leagues.

Following a brief loan spell with Atlético Madrid B in Segunda División B, Guirado joined Deportivo de La Coruña for €50.000, but only appeared officially for the reserves, also being loaned twice during the 2006–07 campaign, playing 17 games for UD Vecindario (second level) and CD Lugo (third) combined. He spent the following three seasons in division three with as many teams, being relegated twice.

In early October 2010, Guirado signed for fourth division club CD Ronda. However, in the summer of 2011, he decided not to renew his contract in order to explore other possibilities, with scouts from China, Indonesia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates following his progress.

On 13 August 2011, Guirado signed a deal with Global FC in the Philippines. He was sent off in his first match against Philippine Army FC, and scored his first goal on 30 January 2012 in a 5–1 win over Manila Nomads FC.

On 17 August 2012, Guirado signed a one-year contract with I-League side Salgaocar FC. Before the end of the year the club terminated his contract, citing poor performances and prolonged absence due to national team duty. In total he made a combined eight appearances and scored three goals, between the league and the Federation Cup.

In January 2015, Guirado joined Udon Thani F.C. in the Thai Regional League Division 2. Seven months later, he signed for Icelandic club Knattspyrnudeild UMFG.

International career

On 26 February 2011, it was reported that Guirado would join the Philippines national team due to his ancestry. He made his debut in the 1–1 draw against Myanmar on 21 March, in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification tournament.

On his third appearance, for the same competition, Guirado scored two goals in the second half of the 3–0 away win against Bangladesh.

International goals

Scores and results list the Philippines' goal tally first.

Personal life

Born to a Filipina mother who hails from Ilagan, Isabela, Guirado started playing football when he was six years old. He is a cousin of Caloy Garcia, a Filipino basketball assistant coach (including with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association), and is also a distant uncle of ABS-CBN star model and actress Coleen Garcia.

Guirado's older brother, Juan Luis, is also a footballer. A defender, he spent most of his career in amateur football, appearing in 80 games in the third division for four teams, and also represented the Philippines internationally.

Honours

Club

Global

• UFL Division 1: 2012

Country

• Philippine Peace Cup: 2013
• AFC Challenge Cup: Third place 2012

• Dimalanta, Mark (26 June 2012). "Azkals de Murga, Younghusband win UFL top individual awards". Interaksyon. Retrieved 15 April 2015. 
• Tupas, Cedelf (15 October 2013). "Azkals rally to retain Peace Cup boot crown". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 15 April 2015. 
• "AFC Challenge Cup 2012". RSSSF. Retrieved 15 April 2015.