Álvaro Pires (footballer)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Alves and the second or paternal family name is Pires.

Álvaro Pires

Personal information
Full name	Álvaro Henrique Alves Pires
Date of birth	(1985-03-11) March 11, 1985
Place of birth	Jardinópolis, São Paulo, Brazil
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Nacional-AM
Youth career
2002–2003	Internacional
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2006	Internacional	13	(0)
2007–2009	Spartak Nalchik
2008	→ Los Angeles Galaxy (loan)	19	(1)
2009	→ Fortaleza (loan)	1	(0)
2010–2011	Luverdense	14	(0)
2012–	Nacional-AM
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 26, 2011

Álvaro Henrique Alves Pires (born March 11, 1985), or simply Álvaro Pires, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a defensive-midfielder, he currently plays for Nacional Futebol Clube.

A native of Jardinópolis, Brazil (just outside São Paulo), Pires signed his first professional contract at the age of 16 with Brazilian side Internacional and broke into the first team at the age of 19. He spent three years there, appearing in a handful of games, before signing with Russian side Spartak Nalchik, then of the Russian First Division.

Pires had been on trial with Los Angeles Galaxy during the club's pre-season, featuring in the inaugural Pan-Pacific Championship in Hawaii, and featuring on their Asian tour in China and Hong Kong. Having impressed Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit with his performances, Pires signed a full professional contract with Galaxy on March 28, 2008.[1].

He made his MLS debut in Galaxy's first match of the 2008 season against Colorado Rapids on March 29, 2008, and scored his first MLS goal on June 7, 2008 - also against Colorado.

External links

• MLS profile at MLSNet.com