Luis Ezequiel "Chimy" Ávila (born 6 February 1994) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for La Liga club Betis.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luis Ezequiel Ávila | ||
| Date of birth | 6 February 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Rosario, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Betis | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2010 | Tiro Federal | ||
| 2010 | → Espanyol (loan) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2013 | Tiro Federal | 58 | (7) |
| 2015–2019 | San Lorenzo | 20 | (1) |
| 2017–2019 | → Huesca (loan) | 69 | (17) |
| 2019–2024 | Osasuna | 110 | (24) |
| 2024– | Betis | 3 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 January 2024 | |||
Club career edit
Tiro Federal edit
Born in Rosario, Santa Fe, Ávila played for Tiro Federal as a youth, also having a short spell at RCD Espanyol in 2010. He made his first team debut for the former on 18 October 2010 at the age of just 16, coming on as a second-half substitute for Gastón Meinicocci in a 0–2 Primera B Nacional away loss against Almirante Brown.
Ávila scored his first goal on 11 June 2011, netting his team's second in a 3–1 away win over Ferro Carril Oeste, as his side was already relegated. He did not establish himself as a regular starter for the side in the following seasons, as the club competed in the Torneo Argentino A.
In February 2013, Ávila was dismissed by the club after being accused of theft.[1] He stayed nearly two years without playing football, working as a bricklayer. He was declared innocent only in 2018.[2]
San Lorenzo edit
On 3 February 2015, Ávila signed a three-year contract with San Lorenzo.[3] He made his club – and Primera División – debut on 19 April, replacing Matías Catalán in a 0–1 away loss against Aldosivi.
Ávila scored his first goal for Ciclón on 25 March 2017, netting his team's second in a 3–0 home win against Quilmes.
Huesca (loan) edit
On 1 August 2017, Ávila was loaned to Spanish Segunda División side SD Huesca for the season.[4] He scored seven goals in 35 appearances as his side achieved promotion to La Liga, and had his loan extended for a further year on 16 June 2018.[5]
Ávila made his debut in the Spanish top tier on 19 August 2018, replacing goalscorer Álex Gallar in a 2–1 away win against SD Eibar.[6] Eight days later, he scored the equalizer in a 2–2 draw at Athletic Bilbao.
On 9 February 2019, Ávila scored a brace in a 2–0 away success over Girona FC. He scored ten times during the campaign, but could not prevent his side's relegation.
Osasuna edit
On 27 June 2019, CA Osasuna reached an agreement with San Lorenzo for the transfer of Ávila. He signed a four-year contract, for a fee of € 2.7 million.[7] On his debut for the club on 17 August, he scored the game's only in an away success over CD Leganés.
In January 2020, Ávila suffered an injury on his left knee, being sidelined for the remainder of the season.[8] In September, after being close to a return, he suffered the same injury on his right knee.[9]
Ávila returned from injury in March 2021,[10] and played his first match after 435 days sidelined on 3 April, a 0–0 home draw against Getafe CF.[11]
Betis edit
On 1 February 2024, Ávila signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with fellow top tier side Real Betis,[12] for a fee of € 4 million plus variables.[13]
Personal life edit
Ávila is the brother of the footballer Gastón Ávila.[14] He grew up supporting his local club Rosario Central and he tattooed its crest onto his body.[15] His nickname "Chimy" came from the word chimichurri, an Argentine sauce.[16] He gained a Spanish passport in 2022.[17]
Career statistics edit
Club edit
- As of match played 19 March 2023[18]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Tiro Federal | 2010–11 | Primera Nacional | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 | 1 | |
| 2011–12 | Torneo Argentino A | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 19 | 2 | ||
| 2012–13 | Torneo Argentino A | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 17 | 4 | ||
| 2013–14 | Torneo Argentino A | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| Total | 58 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | 59 | 7 | |||
| San Lorenzo | 2015 | Primera División | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 2016 | Primera División | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[c] | 1 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2016-17 | Primera División | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4[b] | 0 | 19 | 1 | |
| Total | 20 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 30 | 2 | ||
| Huesca (loan) | 2017–18 | Segunda División | 35 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 35 | 7 | |
| 2018–19 | La Liga | 34 | 10 | 2 | 0 | — | 36 | 10 | ||
| Total | 69 | 17 | 2 | 0 | — | 71 | 17 | |||
| Osasuna | 2019–20 | La Liga | 20 | 9 | 2 | 2 | — | 22 | 11 | |
| 2020–21 | La Liga | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | La Liga | 36 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | 38 | 7 | ||
| 2022–23 | La Liga | 23 | 7 | 5 | 1 | — | 28 | 8 | ||
| Total | 87 | 22 | 9 | 2 | — | 96 | 26 | |||
| Career total | 234 | 47 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 256 | 50 | ||
- ^ Includes Copa Argentina, Copa del Rey
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
- ^ One appearance in Copa Libertadores, two appearances in Copa Sudamericana
References edit
- ^ "Detienen a un futbolista de Tiro Federal por intentar robar en el club" [They arrest a footballer from Tiro Federal after trying to steal in the club] (in Spanish). La Capital. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Los duros obstáculos que sorteó Chimy Ávila antes de explotar en España" [The hard obstacles that Chimy Ávila had to face before exploiting in Spain] (in Spanish). IAM Noticias. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "San Lorenzo incorporó al enganche Avila". ESPN.com.ar. February 3, 2015.
- ^ ""Chimy" Ávila, nuevo jugador de la SD Huesca" ["Chimy" Ávila, new player of SD Huesca] (in Spanish). SD Huesca. 1 August 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
- ^ "Chimy Ávila seguirá en la SD Huesca" [Chimy Ávila will continue at SD Huesca] (in Spanish). SD Huesca. 16 June 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Gallar alumbra el brillante debut del Huesca en Primera" [Gallar lights up the brilliant debut of Huesca in Primera] (in Spanish). ABC. 19 August 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ^ "Osasuna ficha al Chimy Ávila" [Osasuna sign Chimy Ávila] (in Spanish). CA Osasuna. 27 June 2019. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "El Chimy Ávila sufre una rotura del ligamento cruzado anterior de la rodilla izquierda" [Chimy Ávila suffers a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee] (in Spanish). CA Osasuna. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Las pruebas médicas confirman la rotura de ligamento cruzado del Chimy Ávila" [The medical examinations confirm the tear of the cruciate ligament of Chimy Ávila] (in Spanish). CA Osasuna. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Vuelve 'Chimy' Ávila" ['Chimy' Ávila returns] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Chimy Ávila vuelve a jugar en Liga 435 días después" [Chimy Ávila plays in the League again after 435 days] (in Spanish). El País. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "'Chimy' Ávila, nuevo jugador del Real Betis" ['Chimy' Ávila, new player of Real Betis] (in Spanish). Real Betis. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ "Osasuna traspasa a Chimy Ávila al Real Betis" [Osasuna transfer Chimy Ávila to Betis] (in Spanish). CA Osasuna. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ De 2019, 29 De Marzo. "Boca confirmó la grave lesión de una de sus jóvenes figuras". Infobae.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Sid Lowe (26 October 2021). "Chimy Avila's journey to LaLiga and Osasuna: "My body is my life story"". ESPN.com.
- ^ Torre, Iosu de la (December 13, 2019). "Chimy Ávila, la salsa del fútbol". elperiodico.
- ^ "El Chimy Ávila, encantado de jugar con España si le llaman". Mundo Deportivo. March 3, 2023.
- ^ Chimy Ávila at Soccerway
External links edit
- Chimy Ávila at BDFutbol
- Chimy Ávila at BDFA (in Spanish)