View source for Ulises de la Cruz

{{short description|Ecuadorian footballer (born 1974)}}
{{family name hatnote|De la Cruz|Bernardo|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Ulises de la Cruz
| image               = Asambleísta Ulises de la Cruz en la Sesión Inaugural de la Asamblea Nacional 2013-2017 (8740498725).jpg
| office1             = Member of the [[National Assembly (Ecuador)|National Assembly]] for [[Carchi Province]]
| term_start1         = 14 May 2013
| term_end1           = 14 May 2017
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1974|2|8}}
| birth_place         = Piquiucho, [[Carchi Province|Carchi]], Ecuador
| party               = [[PAIS Alliance]]
| spouse              = 
| partner             = 
| children            = 
| residence           = 
| alma_mater          = 
| occupation          = {{flatlist|
* [[Association football|Footballer]] (retired)
* [[politician]]
}}
| module = {{Infobox football biography | embed = yes | header-color = lavender
| position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/blast-from-the-past-41-ulises-de-la-cruz-083544485.html |title=Blast from the Past 41: Ulises de la Cruz |date=16 July 2016 |access-date=11 August 2018 |last=Darling |first=Kevin |work=Yahoo}}</ref>
|height=1.76 m
|currentclub=
|youthyears1=
|youthclubs1=
|years1=1991–1994 |clubs1=[[Sociedad Deportivo Quito|Deportivo Quito]]                |caps1=86|goals1=6
|years2=1995–1997 |clubs2=[[Barcelona Sporting Club|Barcelona S.C.]]                  |caps2=14|goals2=0
|years3=1996      |clubs3=→ [[Sociedad Deportiva Aucas|Aucas]] (loan)                 |caps3=32|goals3=3
|years4=1997      |clubs4=→ [[Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito|LDU Quito]] (loan)|caps4=38|goals4=4
|years5=1998–2001 |clubs5=[[Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito|LDU Quito]]         |caps5=91|goals5=16
|years6=1999      |clubs6=→ [[Cruzeiro Esporte Clube|Cruzeiro]] (loan)                |caps6=4|goals6=0
|years7=2001      |clubs7=→ [[Barcelona Sporting Club|Barcelona S.C.]] (loan)         |caps7=8|goals7=0
|years8=2001–2002 |clubs8=[[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]]                                |caps8=32|goals8=2
|years9=2002–2006 |clubs9=[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]                            |caps9=89|goals9=1
|years10=2006–2008|clubs10=[[Reading F.C.|Reading]]                                   |caps10=15|goals10=1
|years11=2009     |clubs11=[[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]                   |caps11=1|goals11=0
|years12=2009–2012|clubs12=[[Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito|LDU Quito]]        |caps12=117|goals12=14
|totalcaps = 527 | totalgoals = 47
|nationalyears1=1995–2010
|nationalteam1=[[Ecuador national football team|Ecuador]]
|nationalcaps1=101
|nationalgoals1=6
}}
}}

'''Ulises Hernán de la Cruz Bernardo''' (born 8 February 1974) is an Ecuadorian retired [[association football|football]]er, who since 2013 has been a member of his country's National Assembly for the governing [[Mover (political party)|Mover]].

A [[defender (association football)|defender]], he played 101 times for the [[Ecuador national football team|Ecuador national team]] between 1995 and 2010, and was selected for two [[FIFA World Cup]] tournaments. He spent his club career at [[Sociedad Deportivo Quito|Deportivo Quito]], [[Barcelona Sporting Club|Barcelona S.C.]], [[Sociedad Deportiva Aucas|Aucas]], [[Cruzeiro Esporte Clube|Cruzeiro]], [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]], [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]], [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] and [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]].

De la Cruz has set up a charity, Friends of FundeCruz, in his home village to fund a number of projects serving the local community.

== Club career ==

=== Early career ===
De la Cruz was born in Piquiucho, [[Carchi Province|Carchi]]. His first team was the Ecuadorian side [[Sociedad Deportivo Quito|Deportivo Quito]], for whom he started playing at the age of 16 in the junior division, and later the professional division. Nonetheless, De la Cruz's breakthrough season was with LDU Quito in 1998. He scored three goals in the final against Emelec (7–0).

=== Hibernian ===
[[Alex McLeish]], the manager of [[Scottish Premier League]] club [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]], watched de la Cruz play in international matches for Ecuador, and then signed him in June 2001 for a club record fee of £700,000.<ref name="double hit"/> De la Cruz scored two goals for Hibs, both coming in an [[Edinburgh derby]] match against Hibs' local rivals [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]].<ref name="double hit">[https://web.archive.org/web/20090818203348/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/de-la-cruzs-double-hit-632225.html De La Cruz's double hit], ''[[The Independent]]'', 22 October 2001.</ref> He only played for Hibs in one season, before he was sold after de la Cruz played in the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]]. De la Cruz said before the tournament that he wanted to use the World Cup as a showcase, desiring a move to Spain or Italy.<ref>{{cite news|title=De La Cruz eyes Scottish exit|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11792/2238055/|publisher=Sky Sports|date=30 May 2002|access-date=22 March 2013}}</ref>

=== Aston Villa ===
The 28-year-old de la Cruz was signed by [[Graham Taylor (football manager)|Graham Taylor]] for [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] ahead of the [[2002–03 Aston Villa F.C. season|2002–03 season]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ulises completes Villa switch|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/2241448/|publisher=Sky Sports|date=26 July 2002|access-date=22 March 2013}}</ref> He previously made hints of leaving the club, feeling that joining Aston Villa is one of the highlights of his career.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ulises desperate to join Villa|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/2241448/|publisher=Sky Sports|date=23 July 2002|access-date=22 March 2013}}</ref> LDU Quito claimed that Hibernian failed to pay them a sell-on fee,<ref>{{cite news|title=Liga Deportiva claim de la Cruz money|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/2242868/|publisher=Sky Sports |first= Patricio|last= Figueroa|date=12 August 2002|access-date=22 March 2013}}</ref> but this was settled by agreement.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hibs sort out De La Cruz cash row|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/2243359/|first=Patricio |last=Figueroa|publisher=Sky Sports|date=21 August 2002|access-date=22 March 2013}}</ref> Having made his debut, De la Cruz expressed his delight, playing in the Premier League and soon became a fan favourite at Aston Villa.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ulises delighted with Villa start|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/2243795/|publisher=Sky Sports|date=27 August 2002|access-date=22 March 2013}}</ref>

In his first season at the club, he played 24 times, scoring one league goal against Charlton Athletic.<ref>{{cite news 
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2252350.stm
|title=Villa Cruz past Charlton
|publisher=[[BBC Sport]] 
|date=11 September 2002|access-date=24 October 2009}}</ref> He featured more in the [[2003–04 Aston Villa F.C. season|2003–04]] season after [[David O'Leary]] took over, and an injury to [[Mark Delaney (footballer)|Mark Delaney]] ensured that de la Cruz could start more games than he had previously; he signed a new contract for the [[Aston Villa F.C. season 2004–05|2004–05]] campaign.<ref>{{cite news|title=De La Cruz pens new deal|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/2307565/|publisher=Sky Sports|date=11 August 2005|access-date=22 March 2013}}</ref>

During the [[2005-06 avfc|2005-06 season]] with Aston Villa, de la Cruz became frustrated at his lack of first team opportunities and accused O'Leary of blocking transfers for him.

=== Reading ===
On 25 August 2006, he signed a one-year deal with [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] on a [[free transfer (football)|free transfer]].<ref>{{cite news| date=25 August 2006| url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~888360,00.html| title=Royals complete free transfer signing of Ulises De La Cruz on one year deal| work=readingfc.co.uk| access-date=25 August 2006}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref> De la Cruz scored his first Reading goal against [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] in a 3–1 win on 20 January 2007.<ref>{{cite news| date=20 January 2007| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6258769.stm| title=Reading 3–1 Sheff Utd| publisher=[[BBC Sport]]| access-date=3 April 2007}}</ref> After an impressive first season with Reading, he was offered a contract that would tie him to the [[Madejski Stadium]] for two more years.<ref>{{cite news| date=14 May 2007| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/reading/6655581.stm| title=Royals eye up new De La Cruz deal| publisher=[[BBC Sport]]| access-date=19 May 2007}}</ref> Following their relegation from the Premier League, Reading announced on 16 May 2008 that he would not be offered a new contract.<ref>{{cite news| date=16 May 2008| url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1314021,00.html| title=Four offered deals, six released| work=readingfc.co.uk| access-date=16 May 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723085952/http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10306~1314021%2C00.html| archive-date=23 July 2008}}</ref>

=== Birmingham City ===
After a few weeks' training with the club, de la Cruz signed a one-month contract with [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] of the [[Football League Championship]] in March 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1576965,00.html|title=Blues land de la Cruz|publisher=[[Birmingham City F.C]]|date=3 March 2009|access-date=3 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307005842/http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1576965,00.html|archive-date=7 March 2009}}</ref> The player was initially given [[squad number]] 27, previously allocated to [[Krystian Pearce]] who had been loaned out for the season; however [[the Football League]] ruled that the number could not be re-used and De la Cruz was given number 36 instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1581825,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720090055/http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1581825,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 July 2012|title=Squad Numbers Update|publisher=[[Birmingham City F.C]]|date=6 March 2009|access-date=6 March 2009}}</ref> He made his Birmingham debut as a second-half substitute in the 2–0 win away at [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] on 14 March.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2009/03/16/alex-mcleish-takes-no-risks-with-franck-queudrue-97319-23153826/|title=Alex McLeish takes no risks with Franck Queudrue|work=[[Birmingham Mail]]|first=Colin|last=Tattum|date=16 March 2009|access-date=16 March 2009}}</ref> When his contract expired, the player chose not to accept the offer of an extension until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/2009/04/09/ulises-de-la-cruz-turns-down-birmingham-city-fc-contract-offer-97319-23350799/|title=Ulises de la Cruz turns down Birmingham city FC contract offer|work=[[Birmingham Mail]]|first=Colin|last=Tattum|date=9 April 2009|access-date=9 April 2009}}</ref>

=== LDU Quito ===
Following his release, de la Cruz returned to Ecuador to play for [[FIFA Club World Cup]] runner-up LDU Quito, his third spell at the club. De la Cruz played in both [[2009 Recopa Sudamericana]] matches against [[Sport Club Internacional|Internacional]]. LDU Quito won the Recopa, giving De la Cruz his first international title.

=== Retirement ===
In February 2013, de la Cruz announced he would retire from football and devote his time to politics in Ecuador.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ulysses From the Cross was removed from football|trans-title=Ulises De la Cruz se retira del fútbol|url=http://www.goal.com/es-ar/news/4752/ecuador/2013/02/28/3788291/ulises-de-la-cruz-se-retira-del-f%C3%BAtbol|publisher=Goal|language=es|date=28 February 2013|access-date=20 March 2013}}</ref> De la Cruz was given a farewell match.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ulises de la Cruz would have his farewell party|trans-title=Ulises de la Cruz tendría su partido despedida|url=http://www.goal.com/es-ar/news/4752/ecuador/2013/03/02/3793336/ulises-de-la-cruz-tendr%C3%ADa-su-partido-despedida|publisher=Goal|language=es|date=2 March 2013|access-date=20 March 2013}}</ref>

== International career ==
Although not always a first choice for his club, De la Cruz remained an important member of the [[Ecuador national football team|Ecuador national team]]. The 21 year-old debuted in May 1995 winning 101 caps for his country until his last match in May 2010 aged 36.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/stats-centclub/52/00/59/fifacenturyclubmen.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125015511/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/stats-centclub/52/00/59/fifacenturyclubmen.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 November 2011|title=FIFA Century Club|publisher=FIFA|date=3 August 2012|access-date=25 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/delacruz-intl.html|title=Ulises de la Cruz – Century of International Appearances|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|first=Fernando|last=Espinoza|access-date=25 August 2012|date=17 September 2010}}</ref> He was a fixture in the Ecuadorian team at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]], which reached the second round.

In his homeland, de la Cruz is one of Ecuador's most popular players, both for his footballing talent and his charitable projects.<ref>{{cite news| date=15 February 2007| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/02/15/sfncru15.xml| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103180920/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/02/15/sfncru15.xml| url-status=dead| archive-date=3 January 2008| title=Heroic Ulises on voyage of hope| work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London| access-date=18 February 2007| first=Sarah| last=Sturdey}}</ref> The [[Supporters' Trust at Reading]] (''STAR'') organised a facility to allow supporters the means to donate to the Ulises de la Cruz Foundation.

Due to Ecuador's poor start in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2010 World Cup qualifiers]], de la Cruz and his teammate, [[Ivan Hurtado]] sharply criticised the coach and the atmosphere in the team. As a result, they were excluded from selection for the last two matches of 2007 against [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]] and [[Peru national football team|Peru]].<ref>{{cite news| date=6 November 2007| url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=631712.html#ecuador+snub+hurtado+de+cruz| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107083409/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=631712.html#ecuador+snub+hurtado+de+cruz| url-status=dead| archive-date=7 November 2007| title=Ecuador snub Hurtado and De la Cruz| publisher=[[FIFA]]| access-date=15 November 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| date=15 November 2007| url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=482335&cc=5901| archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716161248/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=482335&cc=5901| url-status=dead| archive-date=16 July 2012| title=World Cup: Troubled Ecuador try to break duck| publisher=[[ESPNsoccernet]]| access-date=15 November 2007}}</ref>

== Charitable work ==
Born in Piquiucho, a small village in the [[Valle del Chota]], one of Ecuador's poorest regions, De la Cruz set up the charity Friends of FundeCruz to fund a number of projects serving the local community, to which he donates about 10% of his salary.<ref>{{ cite news| date=27 January 2007| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6302665.stm| title=Ecuadorean footballer rebuilds village| publisher=[[BBC News]]| access-date=16 February 2007}}</ref> Friends of FundeCruz is also a British [[Charitable organization|registered charity]].<ref>{{cite news| date=18 December 2007| url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Charities/0,,10306~1193652,00.html| title=Ulises' FundeCruz foundation| publisher=readingfc.co.uk| access-date=2 January 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223221534/http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Charities/0,,10306~1193652,00.html| archive-date=23 December 2007}}</ref> At one of the Reading matches, fans were asked to donate money to his fund and he raised a few thousand pounds. Money would also be raised at the Ruta del Sol in February 2008.<ref>{{cite news| date=20 December 2007| url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1193203,00.html| title=Help Ulises with his charity work| publisher=readingfc.co.uk| access-date=2 January 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103071234/http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1193203,00.html| archive-date=3 January 2008}}</ref> The foundation funds amongst other things a water treatment plant, a health centre and a sports ground. De la Cruz has been named a [[United Nations Children's Fund|UNICEF]] ambassador.

==Political career==
In the [[2013 Ecuadorian general election|Ecuadorian general election of 2013]], De la Cruz was chosen as member of the [[National Assembly (Ecuador)|National Assembly]] for [[Carchi Province]]. De la Cruz serves as member of [[PAIS Alliance]]. [[Agustín Delgado]] and [[Iván Hurtado]], former team-mates of De la Cruz for the national team, also serve for the PAIS Alliance in the National Assembly.<ref>{{cite web |author=Mariela Rosero |url=http://www.elcomercio.com/elecciones2013/Alianza_Pais-controla-Asamblea-Ecuador-Correa-Rafael-elecciones_0_868713217.html |title=Alianza País podría controlar 2/3 de la Asamblea |language=es |publisher=[[El Comercio (Ecuador)|El Comercio]] |date=19 February 2013 |access-date=14 June 2013 |archive-date=21 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221041448/http://www.elcomercio.com/elecciones2013/Alianza_Pais-controla-Asamblea-Ecuador-Correa-Rafael-elecciones_0_868713217.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Honors==
'''LDU Quito'''
*[[Ecuadorian Serie A|Serie A]]: [[1998 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A|1998]], [[1999 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A|1999]], [[2010 Campeonato Ecuatoriano de Fútbol Serie A|2010]]
*[[Recopa Sudamericana]]: [[2009 Recopa Sudamericana|2009]], [[2010 Recopa Sudamericana|2010]]
*[[Copa Sudamericana]]: [[2009 Copa Sudamericana|2009]]

'''Ecuador'''
* [[Canada Cup (soccer)|Canada Cup]]: [[1999 Canada Cup|1999]]

==See also==
* [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/delacruz-intl.html International statistics] at [[RSSSF]]
* {{Soccerbase}}
* {{FIFA player|155010}}
* {{ESPN FC|4151}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRWsQ5ygKrY Video]
* [http://www.ecuafutbol.org/web/modal.php?cedula=1001902830 FEF Player Card]

{{navboxes
|title=Ecuador squads
|bg= #fcd116
|fg= #003893
|list1=
{{Ecuador Squad 1997 Copa América}}
{{Ecuador Squad 1999 Copa América}}
{{Ecuador Squad 2001 Copa América}}
{{Ecuador Squad 2002 World Cup}}
{{Ecuador Squad Copa América 2004}}
{{Ecuador Squad 2006 World Cup}}
{{Ecuador Squad 2007 Copa América}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Ulises de la}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Copa Sudamericana–winning players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Carchi Province]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Ecuadorian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Ecuador men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1997 Copa América players]]
[[Category:1999 Copa América players]]
[[Category:2001 Copa América players]]
[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2004 Copa América players]]
[[Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2007 Copa América players]]
[[Category:S.D. Quito footballers]]
[[Category:Barcelona S.C. footballers]]
[[Category:S.D. Aucas footballers]]
[[Category:L.D.U. Quito footballers]]
[[Category:Cruzeiro EC players]]
[[Category:Hibernian F.C. players]]
[[Category:Aston Villa F.C. players]]
[[Category:Reading F.C. players]]
[[Category:Birmingham City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Ecuadorian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Brazil]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Ecuadorian Serie A players]]
[[Category:Scottish Premier League players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:FIFA Men's Century Club]]
[[Category:Members of the second National Assembly (Ecuador)]]
[[Category:PAIS Alliance politicians]]
[[Category:Ecuadorian sportsperson-politicians]]
[[Category:Ecuadorian expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:21st-century Ecuadorian sportsmen]]