View source for Manuel Neira

{{short description|Chilean footballer (born 1977)}}
{{family name hatnote|Neira|Díaz|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Manuel Neira
| image = Manuel Neira Unión San Felipe v Deportes Antofagasta 2012 03 (cropped).jpg
| full_name = Manuel Alejandro Neira Díaz
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1977|10|12}}
| birth_place = [[Santiago]], Chile
| height = 1.75 m
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = [[Colo-Colo]]
| years1 = 1993–1998
| clubs1 = [[Colo-Colo]]
| caps1 = 30
| goals1 = 9
| years2 = 1994
| clubs2 = → [[São Paulo FC|São Paulo]] (loan)
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1996
| clubs3 = → [[CD Everton|Everton]] (loan)
| caps3 = 21
| goals3 = 11
| years4 = 1998–1999
| clubs4 = [[UD Las Palmas|Las Palmas]]
| caps4 = 17
| goals4 = 4
| years5 = 1999
| clubs5 = → [[Colo-Colo]] (loan)
| caps5 = 8
| goals5 = 6
| years6 = 2000–2001
| clubs6 = [[Racing Club de Avellaneda|Racing Club]]
| caps6 = 9
| goals6 = 2
| years7 = 2001
| clubs7 = [[Unión Española]]
| caps7 = 17
| goals7 = 11
| years8 = 2001–2002
| clubs8 = [[América de Cali]]
| caps8 = 9
| goals8 = 2
| years9 = 2002–2004
| clubs9 = [[Colo-Colo]]
| caps9 = 82
| goals9 = 37
| years10 = 2005
| clubs10 = [[Chiapas F.C.|Chiapas]]
| caps10 = 11
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2005–2006
| clubs11 = [[Unión Española]]
| caps11 = 59
| goals11 = 36
| years12 = 2006
| clubs12 = [[FC Alania Vladikavkaz (2019)|Alania Vladikavkaz]]
| caps12 = 1
| goals12 = 0
| years13 = 2007
| clubs13 = [[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.|Hapoel Tel Aviv]]
| caps13 = 0
| goals13 = 0
| years14 = 2007–2009
| clubs14 = [[Unión Española]]
| caps14 = 52
| goals14 = 24
| years15 = 2010
| clubs15 = [[Deportes La Serena]]
| caps15 = 7
| goals15 = 5
| years16 = 2010
| clubs16 = [[Club Deportivo Universidad Católica del Ecuador|Universidad Católica (ECU)]]
| caps16 = 6
| goals16 = 0
| years17 = 2011
| clubs17 = [[San Luis Quillota|San Luis]]
| caps17 = 24
| goals17 = 5
| years18 = 2012
| clubs18 = [[Santiago Morning]]
| caps18 = 5
| goals18 = 2
| years19 = 2012
| clubs19 = [[Unión San Felipe]]
| caps19 = 3
| goals19 = 0
| totalcaps = 365
| totalgoals = 154
| nationalyears1 = 1993
| nationalteam1 = [[Chile national under-17 football team|Chile U17]]
| nationalcaps1 = 
| nationalgoals1 = 
| nationalyears2 = 1995–1997
| nationalteam2 = [[Chile national under-20 football team|Chile U20]]
| nationalcaps2 = 
| nationalgoals2 = 
| nationalyears3 = 1998–2006
| nationalteam3 = [[Chile national football team|Chile]]
| nationalcaps3 = 13
| nationalgoals3 = 2
| nationalyears4 = 1998
| nationalteam4 = [[Chile national football team|Chile B]]
| nationalcaps4 = 1
| nationalgoals4 = 2
}}
'''Manuel Alejandro Neira Díaz''' (born 12 October 1977) is a Chilean former professional footballer who played as a [[forward (association football)|forward]] for clubs including [[Colo-Colo]] (Chile), [[UD Las Palmas]] (Spain), [[Racing Club de Avellaneda|Racing Club]] (Argentina) and [[Unión Española]] (Chile), and scored 2 goals in 13 internationals, including selections for the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]] and the [[2001 Copa América]].

==Club career==

===Early career===
Neira began his career, aged seventeen, at [[Primera División de Chile|Primera División Chilena]] club [[Colo-Colo]] before moving to the Brazilian club [[São Paulo FC]] in 1994,<ref name="mediotiempo">{{cite web |title=El delantero Manuel Neira se convierte en nuevo refuerzo de Colo-Colo |url=https://www.mediotiempo.com/futbol/delantero-manuel-neira-convierte-refuerzo-colo-colo |website=Mediotiempo |access-date=5 September 2022 |language=es |date=22 December 2006}}</ref> after a notable performance at the [[1993 FIFA U-17 World Championships]].<ref name="latercera">{{cite web |title=El triste retiro de Manuel Neira, una de las mayores "promesas" que tuvo el fútbol chileno |url=https://www.latercera.com/noticia/el-triste-retiro-de-manuel-neira-una-de-las-mayores-promesas-que-tuvo-el-futbol-chileno/ |website=La Tercera |access-date=5 September 2022 |language=es |date=11 October 2012}}</ref> In the next season, Neira return to Colo-Colo, but in 1996 Neira was loaned to [[Everton de Viña del Mar]] of the [[Primera B (Chile)|Primera B]] in this time.<ref name="mediotiempo"/>

From 1997 to 1998, Neira was consolidated as player in Colo-Colo, winning the [[Primera División de Chile|Primera División Chilena]] title in two consecutive occasions, the [[Primera División Chilena 1997|1997]] and [[Primera División Chilena 1998|1998 season]].<ref name="latercera"/> In December 1998, Colo-Colo sold Neira to the Spanish club [[UD Las Palmas]]. However, he was loaned back to Colo-Colo for one season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Neira, uno de los fiascos más caros en la historia de la UD, cuelga las botas |url=https://www.tintaamarilla.es/noticia.php?id=4976 |website=tintaamarilla.es |access-date=5 September 2022 |language=es |date=12 October 2012}}</ref> When Neira returned to the club, he proclaimed champion of the [[1999–2000 Segunda División]] title. Neira was transferred to an Argentine "giant club" [[Racing Club de Avellaneda]] for the 2000–01 season. In the [[2000–01 in Argentine football|Torneo Apertura 2000]], Neira only scored 2 goals in 9 games.<ref>{{cite web |title=Neira Manuel |url=https://enunabaldosa.com/2004/08/04/neira-manuel/ |website=En Una Baldosa |access-date=5 September 2022 |language=es |date=4 August 2004}}</ref> During the summer of 2001, Neira was transferred to [[Unión Española]], where he made a notable performance scoring 11 goals in 17 games, being one of the top-scorer of the Torneo Apertura.<ref name="latercera"/> In June 2001, Neira was signed by the Colombian club [[América de Cali]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Neira deja el América de Cali con permiso del club |url=https://as.com/masdeporte/2002/02/27/polideportivo/1014786921_850215.html |website=AS.com |access-date=5 September 2022 |language=es |date=27 February 2002}}</ref>

===Colo-Colo===
In January 2002, Neira was once again transferred to Colo-Colo. He obtained the runner–up title with the club in the Torneo Apertura, after Colo–Colo's 3–0 defeat against [[Cobreloa]] in the final. But in the Torneo Clausura of the same year, Neira made one of his most notable season in his career, winning the top–scorer title with 14 goals, and also winning the Primera Division title, after of win to [[CDUC|Universidad Católica]] in the finals.

In the next season, the team lost twice in the same year the final against Cobreloa. However, Neira scored 21 goals in 42 matches over the season. There were many rumors that he would be transferred to Europe, which did not materialize. He played the Torneo Apertura 2004 scoring 1 goal in 16 matches. In June 2004, he was transferred to the Mexican club [[Chiapas F.C.|Chiapas]]. He remained there for one season in and then was transferred to [[Unión Española]] for second time in his career.<ref>{{cite web |title=Historia de Colo-Colo – Manuel Neira |url=https://historiadecolocolo.com/jugadores/manuel-neira.html |website=historiadecolocolo.com |access-date=5 September 2022 |language=es}}</ref>

===Unión Española===
With Unión, Neira won the Torneo Apertura 2005 title, after of the victory against [[Coquimbo Unido]] for 2–1. In the next season (2006), Neira scored 19 goals in 29 matches. In December 2006, he was released of Unión and he received many offers for several clubs.

In January 2007, he agreed upon moving to [[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.]] on a one-year deal with the club until December 2007, refusing an offer from [[Colo-Colo]] in this time.

In his second game for the team, in the [[Channel One Cup (football)|Channel One Cup]], he was injured severely by [[PFC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]] player [[Elvir Rahimić]]. Neira suffered two fractures in his ankle, and had to sit out for the rest of the season before he even played a single league game for [[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.|Hapoel]].

For the [[Torneo de Clausura de Chile 2007|Torneo Clausura 2007]], Neira return to Unión, after of Neira was released of the club. He made his Unión re–debut against Everton at [[Estadio Sausalito|Sausalito Stadium]], in a 0–0 draw. He scored his first goal in his third cycle in the club against his former club Colo–Colo, in a 2–2 draw. Finally, Neira scored 9 goals in 19 matches for the tournament.

In December 2007, he tried his luck at the [[Süper Lig]] club [[Gaziantepspor]], Neira only trained with them for a couple of weeks, but was not liked by the coach, and returned to Unión Española.

During 2008, in the [[Torneo de Apertura de Chile 2008|Torneo Apertura 2008]], he scored 3 goals in 12 matches. In the [[Torneo de Clausura de Chile 2008|Torneo de Clausura 2008]] he became a key player of the club, scoring 6 goals in 15 matches. However, the club ended up in the relegation/promotion play-offs. Neira helped the team by scoring 2 goals in 2 matches against [[Deportes Puerto Montt]] to save them from relegation.

==International career==
Neira's first international appearance with [[Chile national football team]] was in the [[FIFA U-17 World Championship 1993]] celebrated in Japan. In this tournament he was one of top–scorers of the tournament with [[Peter Anosike]] and [[Nwankwo Kanu]] with 5 goals under [[Wilson Oruma]] with 6 goals winning the third place of the tournament.

He participate in the [[Chile national under-20 football team]], he played in the South American Youth Championship in the years 1995 and 1997.

He was selected for the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]] Chilean squad, but did not play. Prior to this, he played for [[Chile national football team|Chile B]] against [[England national football B team|England B]] on 10 February 1998. Chile won by 2-1 and Neira scored the two goals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inglaterra 1 – Chile 2: Cuando la (otra) Selección venció a Inglaterra |url=https://www.guioteca.com/seleccion-chilena/inglaterra-1-%E2%80%93-chile-2-cuando-la-otra-seleccion-vencio-a-inglaterra/ |website=Guioteca.com |publisher=[[El Mercurio]] |access-date=6 October 2021 |language=es |date=13 April 2011}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
:''Scores and results list Chile's goal tally first.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/chil-intres-det.html|title=Chile – International Results – Details|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|access-date=16 May 2017}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"
! No !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1. || 31 January 1998 || [[Hong Kong Stadium]], [[Wan Chai]], [[Hong Kong]] || {{fb|IRN}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center | 1–1 || [[1998 Lunar New Year Cup]]
|-
| 2. || 17 February 1999 || [[Estadio Mateo Flores]], [[Guatemala City]], [[Guatemala]] || {{fb|GUA}} || align=center | '''1'''–0 || align=center | 1–1 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|}

==Honours==
'''Colo-Colo'''
* [[Chilean Primera División]]: [[1997 Torneo Clausura (Chile)|1997 Clausura]], [[1998 Primera División de Chile|1998]], [[2002 Torneo Clausura (Chile)|2002 Clausura]]

'''Unión Española'''
* Chilean Primera División: [[2005 Torneo Apertura (Chile)|2005 Apertura]]

'''Individual'''
* Chilean Primera División top scorer: [[2002 Torneo Clausura (Chile)|2002 Clausura]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{BDFA|MANUEL-ALEJANDRO-NEIRA-19074}}
*{{NFT player|1396}}

{{Copa Chile topscorers}}
{{PDC topscorers}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Manuel Neira international tournaments
|list1=
{{Chile Squad 1998 World Cup}}
{{Chile Squad 2001 Copa América}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neira, Manuel}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Santiago, Chile]]
[[Category:Chilean men's footballers]]
[[Category:Chilean expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Chile men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Chile men's under-20 international footballers]]
[[Category:Chile men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2001 Copa América players]]
[[Category:Colo-Colo footballers]]
[[Category:São Paulo FC players]]
[[Category:Everton de Viña del Mar footballers]]
[[Category:UD Las Palmas players]]
[[Category:Racing Club de Avellaneda footballers]]
[[Category:Unión Española footballers]]
[[Category:América de Cali footballers]]
[[Category:Jaguares F.C. footballers]]
[[Category:FC Spartak Vladikavkaz players]]
[[Category:Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. players]]
[[Category:Deportes La Serena footballers]]
[[Category:C.D. Universidad Católica del Ecuador footballers]]
[[Category:San Luis de Quillota footballers]]
[[Category:Santiago Morning footballers]]
[[Category:Unión San Felipe footballers]]
[[Category:Chilean Primera División players]]
[[Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players]]
[[Category:Segunda División players]]
[[Category:Argentine Primera División players]]
[[Category:Categoría Primera A players]]
[[Category:Liga MX players]]
[[Category:Russian Second League players]]
[[Category:Israeli Premier League players]]
[[Category:Ecuadorian Serie A players]]
[[Category:Primera B de Chile players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Brazil]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Argentina]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Colombia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Mexico]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Russia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Israel]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Ecuador]]
[[Category:Chilean expatriate sportspeople in Brazil]]
[[Category:Chilean expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Chilean expatriate sportspeople in Argentina]]
[[Category:Chilean expatriate sportspeople in Colombia]]
[[Category:Chilean expatriate sportspeople in Mexico]]
[[Category:Chilean expatriate sportspeople in Russia]]
[[Category:Chilean expatriate sportspeople in Israel]]
[[Category:Chilean expatriate sportspeople in Ecuador]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:20th-century Chilean sportsmen]]