Charles Aránguiz is a Chilean professional footballer known for his tactical discipline as a midfielder. He gained international recognition for his performance during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he helped eliminate defending champions Spain. He is a key figure for the Chile national team, having won consecutive Copa América titles in 2015 and 2016.
Charles Aránguiz secured his place in Chilean football history on 18 June 2014, when he provided an assist and scored a goal against defending champions Spain. This performance at the Estádio do Maracanã eliminated the European giants from the 2014 FIFA World Cup and helped cement his reputation as a versatile and tactically disciplined midfielder.
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Born on 17 April 1989 in the Diego Portales neighborhood of Puente Alto, Aránguiz began his football journey at the Universidad de Chile youth system before joining the Cobreloa Academy at age 13. He made his professional debut for Cobreloa in 2006. After a loan spell at Cobresal, he moved to Colo-Colo, where he secured the 2009 Clausura championship. His career gained significant momentum following a 2011 transfer to Universidad de Chile for £616,000. He became a central figure for the club, contributing to their unbeaten 2011 Copa Sudamericana campaign, which marked the first continental trophy for a Chilean team in two decades.
International Club Career
In 2014, Aránguiz joined Brazilian club Internacional. He earned MVP honors during the 2014 Campeonato Gaúcho before completing a permanent transfer to the club. His performances in South America attracted European interest, leading to a 2015 move to Bayer Leverkusen for approximately £8.6 million. Despite competition from Leicester City, he chose the Bundesliga club to pursue Champions League football. He remained in Germany until 2023, eventually serving as club captain during the 2020–21 season before returning to Internacional and subsequently rejoining Universidad de Chile in 2024.
Contributions to La Roja
Aránguiz made his senior debut for the Chile national team in 2009. He became a fixture in the squad during the 2014 World Cup qualification phase. His international career peaked during back-to-back Copa América victories in 2015 and 2016. In the 2016 tournament, he scored the opening goal in the semi-final win against Colombia and converted a penalty in the final shoot-out against Argentina. On 12 October 2023, he reached the milestone of 100 international caps during a World Cup qualification match against Peru.
Fast facts
- Born: 17 April 1989, Puente Alto, Chile
- Professional debut: 2006, Cobreloa
- Copa Sudamericana title: 2011
- Bundesliga transfer fee: £8.6m (2015)
- Copa América titles: 2015, 2016
- 100th International cap: 12 October 2023
- Current club: Universidad de Chile
Questions readers ask
Did Charles Aránguiz play in the Premier League?
No. Although he was subject to a transfer battle involving Leicester City in 2015, he chose to sign with Bayer Leverkusen instead.
How many times did he win the Copa América?
He was a key member of the Chile squads that won consecutive Copa América titles in 2015 and 2016.
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