Daniel Gastón Montenegro Casella (born 28 March 1979) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played mainly as an attacking midfielder.
He spent most of his career with Huracán and Independiente, having several spells with both clubs over 21 years. He appeared three times for Argentina in the late 2000s.
Club career Born in Buenos Aires, Montenegro began his professional career at Club Atlético Huracán in 1997. He subsequently signed for Club Atlético Independiente, going on to represent the club on three different spells and teaming up with sibling Ariel in the first.Montenegro hermanos (Montenegro brothers); Clarín, 8 February 2000
In the 1999 January transfer window, Montenegro moved to France with Olympique de Marseille, being loaned several times by the Ligue 1 side for the duration of his contract, mostly to teams in Spain (Real Zaragoza – where he contributed four matches to their conquest of the Copa del Rey – and CA Osasuna, both in La Liga). He then played in quick succession for Independiente and Club Atlético River Plate, before spending parts of two seasons in the Russian Premier League with FC Saturn Ramenskoye.Los 10 jugadores latinoamericanos que fracasaron en Europa (The 10 Latin American players who did not make it in Europe); BeSoccer, 29 September 2016
Montenegro returned to his main club for the 2006–07 season, going on to often act as captain and scoring in double digits in three of his first four years, including a career-best 15 goals in 2008–09. He moved abroad again in 2009, signing with Mexico's Club América for $3.5 million after lengthy negotiations.El América de México ficha al argentino Daniel Montenegro (América de México sign Argentine Daniel Montenegro) ; La Información, 17 July 2009 He made his Liga MX debut for his new team on 2 August, in a 1–2 home loss to Monarcas Morelia.América 1–2 Morelia... Las Águilas volaron a ras de pasto en el Azteca (América 1–2 Morelia... The Eagles flew too close to ground at the Azteca); Medio Tiempo, 2 August 2009 Late in the same month, he scored from his own half in a 7–2 rout of Toluca FC also at the Estadio Azteca.América 7–2 Toluca... Las Águilas tocaron el cielo (América 7–2 Toluca... The Eagles touched the sky); Medio Tiempo, 30 August 2009
On 22 December 2012, free agent Montenegro rejoined Independiente for a fourth spell, agreeing to a one-and-a-half-year contract.El "Rolfi" Montenegro es el primer refuerzo de Independiente ("Rolfi" Montenegro is Independiente's first addition); Minuto Uno, 22 December 2012 In early 2015, he was ousted from the squad after a run-in with manager Jorge Almirón and forced to train alone.En un clima convulsionado, Independiente hizo fútbol y Montenegro lo mira desde afuera (In rocky atmosphere, Independiente played football and Montenegro looked from the outside); Infobae, 9 January 2015 "La gente es el termómetro de lo que yo hice por Independiente" ("People are the thermometer of what I did for Independiente"); Infobae, 9 February 2015
Aged 36, Montenegro returned to Huracán after 13 years having rejected an offer from Club Atlético Nueva Chicago.Cambio de planes: Rolfi Montenegro jugará en Huracán, tras descartar a Nueva Chicago (Change of plans: Rolfi Montenegro will play in Huracán, after discarding Nueva Chicago); La Nación, 19 February 2015 He remained on the bench for the final of the Supercopa Argentina, won against Club Atlético River Plate shortly after his arrival.Huracán sorprendió a River, se quedó con la Supercopa Argentina y lo dejó 'herido' para los 'Superclásicos' ante Boca (Huracán surprised River, took the Argentine Supercup and left them 'wounded' for the 'Superclásicos' against Boca); Infobae, 25 April 2015
At the end of the 2017–18 campaign, in which he helped the Parque Patricios-based side qualify for the Copa Libertadores after a fourth-place league finish, Montenegro announced his retirement.El Rolfi Montenegro se retiró del fútbol profesional (Rolfi Montenegro retired from professional football) ; Fox Sports, 12 May 2018 Latinoamérica, a examen: Cristal ya es campeón y el Rolfi deja a Huracán en Libertadores (Latin America, through the magnifying glass: Cristal are already champions and Rolfi leaves Huracán in Libertadores); Marca, 14 May 2018
International career Montenegro represented the Argentina under-20 team at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship,El Sub 20 olvidado: Nigeria 1999, las diez vacunas y el paso en falso del ciclo Pekerman (The forgotten Under 20: Nigeria 1999, the ten vaccinations and the misstep of the Pekerman era); La Nación, 8 April 2020 and made his debut with the full side on 18 April 2007, against Chile.Chile aprueba con empate amistoso frente a Argentina (Chile pass the test with friendly draw against Argentina); El Mercurio, 18 April 2007 He won the second of his three caps on 1 April 2009, appearing as a late substitute in the Albicelestes 6–1 defeat in Bolivia for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.Bolivia humilla a Argentina (Bolivia humiliate Argentina); Marca, 1 April 2009
Personal life Montenegro's older brother, Ariel, was also a footballer and a midfielder. They shared teams at Independiente, and he spent most of his career in Spain.Los Montenegro gritaron goles en dos direcciones (The Montenegros shouted goal in two directions); Clarín, 14 March 2009
HonoursZaragozaCopa del Rey: 2000–01Llegó el Frente y se fue el Atlético (The Front arrived and Atlético left); ABC, 21 June 2001 IndependienteArgentine Primera División: Apertura 2002River PlateArgentine Primera División: Clausura 2004Huracán' Supercopa Argentina: 2014
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