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Overview

Lucas Daniel Wilchez (Spanish pronunciation: , born 31 August 1983) is an Argentine footballer that currently plays for Almagro as a left winger.

He began his career at Cambaceres youth squad, then moving to La Plata and join to the football academy of the hometown club Estudiantes, aged eighteen.[1]

The coach of Estudiantes, Reinaldo Merlo, not considered him in the team for the 2003-04 season, and was loaned to San Martn de San Juan, playing of professional form his first season in the Primera B.[1] After another loan, he won his first title with Tigre in the third tier and returned to Tolosa in June 2007, thanks to Diego Simeone, who wants him in the club.[1] The next season, signed for Talleres de Crdoba and then moved to Europe signing for Asteras Tripolis of Greece in 2009, and years later for Real Zaragoza.

In June 2010, was confirmed that Wilchez signed for Primera Divisin club Colo-Colo, team under the orders of the coach Diego Cagna, who directed him years ago in Tigre.[2] Only days after his arrival, he earned the nicknamed of Peter Veneno, because his similar with the Chilean actor that interprets the character, Daniel Alcano.[3] The same year, he failed to win his first professional honour in his career, because Universidad Catlica snatched the league title to his team after a seven-point advantage.[4]

Club career

Estudiantes

Born in La Plata, Wilchez began his career at Defensores de Cambaceres youth ranks, but then returned to the city for join to the football academy of the hometown Estudiantes, then progressing through the club’s youth system until breaking into the reserve team.[1] In June 2004, he was loaned to Primera B Nacional side San Martn of the city of San Juan.[1] In his debut season, Wilchez played 30 games and scored 6 goals, being used by the coach as playmaker. Another two seasons out of La Plata, now on loan at Tigre, in August 2007, he returned to Estudiantes and was registered in the team squad of the Copa Sudamericana.[1]

On 3 August 2007, he made his official debut at Estudiantes de La Plata in a 3-0 away win over Banfield at Florencio Sola, as an 85th-minute substitute for Ezequiel Maggiolo.[5] On 5 September, he made his international debut in a victory against Lans, during the Copa Sudamericana.[6] Wilchez during the season was a frequently starter at Diego Simeone‘s team, but after of the departure of Simeone and then the arrival of Roberto Sensini, played very few games in the next season.

Talleres de Crdoba

After of his unsuccessful participation with Estudiantes at the 2008 Clausura Tournament, was not considered by Sensini and days later, he moved to Talleres de Crdoba, signing a one-year contract for the club. He made his debut in a 1-1 away draw with Quilmes and his first goal came exactly two months later in a 2-1 victory over Los Andes.[7]

He had a successful performance at Crdoba‘s squad despite of the relegation of Talleres to the Primera B Metropolitana, Wilchez traveled to Europe and joined to Super League side Asteras Tripolis the next season.[8] One of the principal reasons of his move, was due to his compatriot, Roberto Gmez, the Hellenic team’s new coach, who wants him for play at Asteras.[8]

Asteras Tripolis

Following their successful bid, Wilchez was presented with the number 31 shirt by Asteras Tripolis, alongside his compatriots Leonel Ros, the midfielder Sebastin Carrera and Sebastin Bartolini, the last one, his former teammate at Talleres de Crdoba, led by the midfielder, also of Argentina, Adrin Basta.[9] He made his debut in a 0-0 draw with Larissa on 23 August, playing the game’s full ninety minutes.[10] On 27 September, he played his best match under of Roberto Gmez as coach, in a 2-1 victory over Levadiakos, in where he was the man of the match and assisted to Basta in the first goal.[11]

After of the departure of Gmez as coach and the arrival of Vangelis Vlachos to the bench of Asteras,[10] he was used as central midfielder by the new coach, playing of very well form, having three assists in two games during Vangelis’ first games.[10] In the second game named, was an important 1-1 away draw with Super League giants Panathinaikos at Spiros Louis.[12] On 23 January 2010, Wilchez scored a twice after a 2-0 win over Panionios, being this his first goals in Europe.[13]

Colo-Colo

On 19 June 2010, Colo-Colo‘s board Blanco y Negro confirmed that Wilchez joined the club on loan from Estudiantes de La Plata in a one-year deal, re-uniting well with Diego Cagna, his coach when he played for Tigre.[14] He debuted in a friendly against Paraguayan club Olimpia at Antofagasta, where shown a well performance during the 2-2 draw.[15] His first competitive goal came on 8 August against Unin San Felipe at Estadio Monumental in a 5-2 home victory.[16] He incremented his tally goal two weeks later against Santiago Wanderers, scoring the game’s only one goal at Playa Ancha which remained the club in the tournament’s first place, three points over the escort Universidad Catlica.[17] Then the club was eliminated of the Copa Sudamericana preliminary stages by Bolivia’s Universitario de Sucre after a 3-3 aggregate tie (away goals rule), which it was considered a historical failure by the Chilean press and club historicals.[18]

Despite winning the supporters affection due to his performances, his spell was marked by Colo-Colo’s league title lost after Catlica’s notable comeback which rallied a seven points difference in the last five weeks.[19]

On 5 March 2011, he scored his first goal of the season in a 2-0 home win over Unin La Calera. From Torneo Clausura onwards, Wilchez scored three goals (including a twice in a 6-2 Colo-Colo’s win over Deportes La Serena) and completed five goals in all year.

Real Zaragoza

On 4 July 2012, Terra Chile confirmed that Wilchez will join to La Liga side Real Zaragoza for play the 2012-13 season at the Spanish club in a one-season deal.[20]

Honours