Gabriel Achilier

Gabriel Eduardo Achilier Zurita (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡaˈβɾjel atʃiˈljeɾ]; born March 24, 1985) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays for Orense in the Liga PRO Ecuador as a centre-back.[1]

Gabriel Achilier
Achilier with Ecuador in 2015
Personal information
Full nameGabriel Eduardo Achilier Zurita
Date of birth (1985-03-24) March 24, 1985 (age 39)
Place of birthMachala, Ecuador
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Orense
Number24
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2002CD Oro17(4)
2003Deportivo Cuenca0(0)
2004–2006LDU Loja90(1)
2007–2008Deportivo Azogues64(1)
2009–2016Emelec276(10)
2017–2020Morelia115(4)
2021Alianza Lima0(0)
2021Orense (loan)25(4)
2022–Orense28(1)
International career
2008–2019Ecuador54(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:23, 23 November 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 June 2019

Club career

Born in Machala, Achilier began his professional career [2] in Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Loja. There, he established himself as one of the growing, future defender of the national team. In 2004, he left to join Deportivo Azogues.

In Azogues, he began to make a name for himself through his marvelous performances. Achilier helped Azogues qualify for the 2007 Liguilla Final of Ecuador's Serie A. Azogues did not win the tournament but did good overall. In 2008, however, Achilier matured more in the game but Azogues had a horrible season. Azogues was last in the table and did not do well in the second fase either. As a result, Achilier and Azogues were relegated down to the second division.

In November 2008, Achilier became Emelec's first offseason reinforcement. He was loaned with an option to buy.

In December 2009, Club Sport Emelec enforced its option to buy over the player and signed him on a 5-year contract, because of his great performances as a "problem solver" for the manager, being able to play in several different positions of the pitch when needed.

International career

Achilier[3] was called up to represent Ecuador on May 27, 2008 against France.[4]

International goals

Scores and results list Ecuador's goal tally first.[5]
NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.6 September 2016Estadio Nacional de Lima, Lima, Peru  Peru1–11–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Achievements

Club

CS Emelec

Personal life

Achilier was married to Marly Romero and the pair had three children. In May 2016 Achilier's wife Romero was diagnosed with cancer, and on 23 January 2017 she died at Reina del Cisne clinic in the town of Piñas, El Oro province.[6][7]

References

External links