| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Roberto Jorge D'Alessandro di Ninno | ||
| Date of birth | (1949-07-28)28 July 1949 (age 76) | ||
| Place of birth | Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1968–1974 | San Lorenzo | 56 | (0) |
| 1974–1984 | Salamanca | 280 | (0) |
| Total | 336 | (0) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| ?–1989 | Salamanca (youth) | ||
| 1989–1990 | Salamanca B | ||
| 1990–1992 | Figueres | ||
| 1992–1993 | Betis | ||
| 1994 | Atlético Madrid | ||
| 1994–1995 | Atlético Madrid | ||
| 1996 | Salamanca | ||
| 1997–1998 | Mérida | ||
| 2000 | Elche | ||
| 2000–2001 | Elche | ||
| 2002–2003 | Salamanca | ||
| 2003–2004 | Rayo Vallecano | ||
| 2010 | Salamanca | ||
| 2011–2012 | Gimnàstic | ||
| 2013 | Huesca | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Roberto Jorge D'Alessandro di Ninno (born 28 July 1949) is anArgentine retiredfootballgoalkeeper andmanager.
He spent most of his career withSalamanca in Spain, appearing in nineLa Liga seasons and more than 300 official games with the club. He subsequently embarked in a managerial career in the same country, coaching several teams.
Born inBuenos Aires, D'Alessandro spent six years in his country withSan Lorenzo, being part of the squads that won fourArgentine Primera División championships. In June 1974, the team playedSalamanca in afriendly, and the Spaniards were so impressed they decided to purchase him, having to (successfully) deal with theArgentine Football Association first; players under 26 were prohibited from moving abroad, and he was 25.[1]
D'Alessandro stayed in goal for theCastile and León side over ten seasons, nine of those inLa Liga. In a match againstAthletic Bilbao during the1976–77 season, his collision withDani resulted in a tear in hiskidney, even though he finished the game. After having the organ removed, he resumed his football activity against all medical advice,[2] still putting on several solid campaigns.
D'Alessandro retired in June 1984 at the age of 35 followingSalamanca's relegation, having made 242 appearances in the Spanish top flight (307 in all competitions), a club record.[3][4]
D'Alessandro started coaching at his last club, being in charge of both the youth andreserve teams. His first three professional seasons were spent in theSegunda División, withFigueres (two years) andReal Betis.[5]
In late March 1994, D'Alessandro becameAtlético Madrid's sixth manager ofthe season, being appointed as the side, led by elusive chairmanJesús Gil, was placed in the relegation zone;[6] theColchoneros eventually finished in 12th position, and his contract was not renewed. He returned toMadrid for a second spell in November, taking the place ofFrancisco Maturana and being himself dismissed after 13 games.[7]
D'Alessandro briefly worked with Salamanca in1995–96, suffering top-division relegation.[8] He then signed forMérida of the second tier,being promoted in his first year[9] andrelegated in his second. He continued his career at that level, with three teams including another spell with his main one.[10][11][12]
In April 2010, after several years working as asports commentator in both radio and television,[13] D'Alessandro returned to Salamanca for his third stint as a manager,[14] eventuallyavoiding relegation from the second division.[15] On 31 October 2011, he joined another club in the same league,Gimnàstic de Tarragona, replacing the firedJuan Carlos Oliva as they ranked last.[16] His first match was a 5–0 home win overCatalonia neighboursSabadell;[17] however, after not being able toprevent the final drop even though the results improved overall, he resigned.[18]
Mérida