Gabriel Eduardo Achilier Zurita (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡaˈβɾjel atʃiˈljeɾ]; born March 24, 1985) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays for Orense in the Liga PRO Ecuador as a centre-back.[1]

Gabriel Achilier
Achilier with Ecuador in 2015
Personal information
Full name Gabriel Eduardo Achilier Zurita
Date of birth (1985-03-24) March 24, 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth Machala, Ecuador
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Orense
Number 24
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002 CD Oro 17 (4)
2003 Deportivo Cuenca 0 (0)
2004–2006 LDU Loja 90 (1)
2007–2008 Deportivo Azogues 64 (1)
2009–2016 Emelec 276 (10)
2017–2020 Morelia 115 (4)
2021 Alianza Lima 0 (0)
2021Orense (loan) 25 (4)
2022– Orense 28 (1)
International career
2008–2019 Ecuador 54 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:23, 23 November 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 June 2019

Club career

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Born in Machala, Achilier began his professional career [2] in Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Loja. There, he established himself as one of the growing, future defender of the national team. In 2004, he left to join Deportivo Azogues.

In Azogues, he began to make a name for himself through his marvelous performances. Achilier helped Azogues qualify for the 2007 Liguilla Final of Ecuador's Serie A. Azogues did not win the tournament but did good overall. In 2008, however, Achilier matured more in the game but Azogues had a horrible season. Azogues was last in the table and did not do well in the second fase either. As a result, Achilier and Azogues were relegated down to the second division.

In November 2008, Achilier became Emelec's first offseason reinforcement. He was loaned with an option to buy.

In December 2009, Club Sport Emelec enforced its option to buy over the player and signed him on a 5-year contract, because of his great performances as a "problem solver" for the manager, being able to play in several different positions of the pitch when needed.

International career

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Achilier[3] was called up to represent Ecuador on May 27, 2008 against France.[4]

International goals

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Scores and results list Ecuador's goal tally first.[5]
No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 6 September 2016 Estadio Nacional de Lima, Lima, Peru   Peru 1–1 1–2 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Achievements

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Club

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CS Emelec

Personal life

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Achilier was married to Marly Romero and the pair had three children. In May 2016 Achilier's wife Romero was diagnosed with cancer, and on 23 January 2017 she died at Reina del Cisne clinic in the town of Piñas, El Oro province.[6][7]

References

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  1. ^ "Gabriel Achillier". ESPNFC.
  2. ^ "Gabriel Achillier". ESPNFC. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
  3. ^ "Gabriel Achillier". NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM.
  4. ^ "Gabriel Achillier". FIFA.
  5. ^ "Achilier, Gabriel". National Football Teams. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Falleció la esposa de Gabriel Achilier" (in Spanish). El Universo. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Fallece en Ecuador la esposa de Gabriel Achilier, zaguero de Monarcas Morelia" (in Spanish). Univision Deportes. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
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