Iván Cuéllar

Iván Cuéllar Sacristán (born 27 May 1984), nicknamed Pichu, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Sporting de Gijón as a goalkeeper.

Cuéllar was born in Mérida, Extremadura. After emerging through the youth ranks of Atlético Madrid, he made his first appearance for the main squad in the last matchday of the 2004–05 season, in a 2–2 draw against neighbours Getafe CF. In 2006–07, benefitting from the forced absence of first-choice Leo Franco, he played in a further seven games, including a 0–6 home defeat to FC Barcelona on 20 May 2007.

After a season-long loan at second division club SD Eibar, appearing in all the matches save four, Cuéllar was released by Atlético (as another youth graduate in the same position, Ismael Falcón) and joined Sporting de Gijón in August 2008, on a four-year contract. After Sergio Sánchez conceded 19 goals in the season's first four games he became first-choice but, after a collision with Athletic Bilbao's Carlos Gurpegui during a 0–3 away loss on 14 December, suffered a serious ankle injury which rendered him unavailable for four months.

In mid-November 2009, as he was second-choice to Juan Pablo, Cuéllar suffered another severe injury, damaging his knee in training and being lost for the vast majority of the season. His first game after recovering would take place on 22 September 2010, as manager Manuel Preciado rested the vast majority of the starters for a Wednesday match at Barcelona – in a week where all the teams played three games – which ended in a 0–1 loss.

In January 2013, after the departure of Juan Pablo to Maccabi Tel Aviv FC, Cuéllar was appointed as first-choice. On 8 July 2015 he renewed his contract with the Asturians, signing until 2018.

Country

Spain U23

• Mediterranean Games: 2005

Individual

• Segunda División: Ricardo Zamora Trophy/Best Goalkeeper 2014–15

• Mediterranean Games 2005 (Spain); at RSSSF
• "Iván Cuéllar, 2014/15 Liga Adelante Best Goalkeeper". La Liga. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.