Walter Damián Montillo (; born 14 April 1984) is an Argentine former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.
Career San Lorenzo He began in the youth ranks of Argentine club San Lorenzo and his professional debut came in 2002. In 2006, he moved to Mexican side Monarcas Morelia. He was a fixture in the starting line-up for the Mexican club. He returned to San Lorenzo in 2007, but did not find regularity with the first team, only playing six games.
In 2008, he was sold to Universidad de Chile for $1 million and signed a five-year contract with the club. At the time the price tag was the most ever paid by a Chilean club. However, since the move, Colo-Colo paid $1.2 million for Domingo Salcedo and then paid $2.2 for Macnelly Torres.
Universidad de Chile Actuating at Universidad de Chile, he started gaining a reputation, managed by Sergio Markarián. In the 2010 Copa Libertadores, he obtained visibility in Brazil, after appearances in the matches against Flamengo, scoring a goal in the second match.Montillo scores a great goal over Flamengo at Libertadores 2010
Although losing it, they won over Flamengo by away goal. During the competition, Montillo dedicated his goals to his newborn baby Santino, who has Down syndrome;Pai do Santino, Montillo encara barreiras: ‘Não posso ficar chorando’ he grew visibly emotional after the crowd then chanted in support of Santino.
During the campaign in La U into Libertadores, Montillo became harassed in many Brazilian teams, including Flamengo and Vasco da Gama,Sondado por Fla e Vasco, Montillo renova com Universidad de Chile but the one who really did get the Argentinean midfielder was Cruzeiro; even though his contract renew with Universidad de Chile until 2014, after rejecting the Flamengo's offer. His hiring at the Celeste squad was announced on July 2 by US$3.5 million,Cruzeiro confirma a vinda de Montillo and he joined the club after Universidad de Chile finished playing the Copa Libertadores, which the team left in the semifinals.2010 Copa Libertadores
Cruzeiro
2010 On 15 August, he made his debut against São Paulo FC, in a 2–2 away draw, making an assist to the 83rd-minute goal by Thiago Ribeiro.São Paulo 2 x 2 Cruzeiro – 14ª Rodada do Brasileirão 2010 (15/08/10) Montillo scored his first goal against Corinthians in a 1–0 win in the 3rd minute,Cruzeiro 1 x 0 Corinthians – 25/08/10 – 1º Gol de Montillo match that took in place in Uberlândia. Besides conducting the team's midfield, he showed himself as a scorer — in 15 matches, he scored 7 times, beating his total score at San Lorenzo, which he considered the best moment in its career. With Montillo, the squad's avail increased from 50% to 62%.
In 2010's December 5, after Cruzeiro get the runner-up in the Brazilian League,Cruzeiro vence o Palmeiras de virada e termina o campeonato como vice-campeão Montillo was laureate with the Armando Nogueira Trophy as the best player in the competition.Cruzeirense Montillo brilha e fatura o Troféu Armando Nogueira 2010 In the following day, he got Placars Bola de Prata as one of the best midfielders of the League,VÍDEOS: Montillo ganha Bola de Prata e repete prêmio de Wagner em 2008 receiving it from the hands of Sorín — an old school idol in Cruzeiro.
2011 In 2011, at the first match in the Copa Libertadores done by Cruzeiro in the year, Montillo scored twice, as well as giving assistance in the rout over the Argentinean Estudiantes by 5-0Cruzeiro 5x0 Estudiantes – Vídeo + Narração Alberto Rodrigues Itatiaia — in a spectacle that had a special taste for Cruzeiro, once their last match was played their elimination at the 2009 Copa Libertadores by 1–2 at the MineirãoFinal Libertadores da América 2009 Estudiantes 2 x 1 Cruzeiro —. Wondrously, the Celeste squad was eliminated at the round of, against Colombian Once Caldas, a fact that shocked supporters and the South America's media.
In the Brazilian league, after being criticized along the entire Cruzeiro squad, which began very poorly the championship, Montillo recovered its football with the arising of the manager Joel Santana. He did the two goals of the victory over Grêmio by the 8th round, on July 6,Os gols de Cruzeiro 2 x 0 Grêmio pela 8ª rodada do Brasileirão 2011 getting the best scorer position in the league for a few rounds.Montillo vira artilheiro do Brasileirão, mas foca no título da competição Diverging among the bad Cruzeiro appearance in the Brazilian League in that year, Montillo then won his second Bola de PrataVÍDEO: Montillo destoa em campanha péssima do Cruzeiro e leva Bola de Prata followed by the title as one of the best midfielders in the league again.Montillo é eleito melhor meia do Campeonato Brasileiro – Nação Azul In 2011, he was the Argentinean midfielder who most scored in all the world.Montillo é o armador argentino que mais marcou gols no mundo
2012 In 2012's 25 February, Montillo became Cruzeiro's biggest foreign scorer of all time since 1942 — when the team left its old name Palestra Itália —, after scoring twice against Democrata, reaching the mark of 30 goals, beating Víctor Aristizábal, which scored 28 times with the Celeste uniform. In March, the player renewed its contract to actuate in Cruzeiro until the end of 2015. Cruzeiro's president Gilvan Tavares increased the termination fine to €80 million, making Montillo the most expensive player in the South America.
Santos
On 3 January 2013, through Twitter, Santos announced Montillo as their player for next season. Despite the undisclosed negotiation, it is thought that Montillo was bought for R$16 million."Santos anuncia a contratação de Montillo" (in Portuguese) Montillo must wear shirt number 10, that was worn until 2012 by Paulo Henrique Ganso. The coach of the club, Muricy Ramalho, praised his coming."Muricy elogia contratação de Montillo e espera por mais reforços" (in Portuguese) The player made his debut wearing the shirt of Peixe on January 16, 2013, when the club won Grêmio Barueri for 4–0. Montillo approved the victory and his partnership with Neymar, who he praised."Montillo aprova estreia e início de parceria com Neymar no Santos" (in Portuguese)
Shandong Luneng In January 2014, Montillo joined Chinese side Shandong Luneng for approximately €7.5 million."Montillo acerta ida para time chines mas pede para treinar no Santos"
Botafogo In December 2016, it was announced that Montillo joined Botafogo."Argentino Walter Montillo reforçará o meio-campo do Botafogo em 2017 He made his 2017 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A debut on 26 June 2017 against Avaí starting the match but being replaced after only seven minutes due to a calf injury, having suffered the same injury twice in the previous months.
Montillo announced his retirement on 29 June 2017.
International career He played for Argentina U20 in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in United Arab Emirates. He played in most of the team's games.
In September 2011, he was called up to the full side by Alejandro Sabella, wearing the number 7 shirt in the second match against BrazilCom Montillo, D’Alessandro, Bolatti e Guiñazu, Sabella surpreende em lista para o Superclássico in the mini-tournament "Superclássico das Américas", in which only players who were playing in South America could be selected. Although his team lost 2–0, Montillo was profusely praised by the Argentinian media.Olé Magazine – "Su primera vez" He was again called up to represent Argentina in the friendly match against Brazil in November 2012.
He made his first official competitive appearance for the national team against Venezuela in a World Cup qualification match on 22 March 2013. His performance in this game was praised by Muricy Ramalho, the coach of Montillo's club Santos. According to Ramalho, the Argentine "did very well. He is improving step by step.""Muricy comemora atuação de Montillo pela seleção: "Está melhorando" " On 7 June 2013 against Colombia he was one of the starting eleven, as Lionel Messi had only just returned from a hamstring injury.
Personal life His eldest son, Valentín, is a Chilean-born footballer from the Escuela de Fútbol Madrid Oeste Boadilla (E.F.M.O. Boadilla). In 2026, he joined the Universidad de Chile under-18 team.
After football In 2021, he became a football agent and joined BYP Argentina, a football agency.
His first book, Gracias a la vida (Thanks to life), is an autobiography published in 2021 that includes a prologue of Neymar. In 2022 he published Carlitos Cachaña, a children's book about a child who dreams of being a professional footballer.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ClubSeasonLeagueState LeagueCupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsSan Lorenzo2002–03Argentine Primera División40————402003–04Argentine Primera División303——31—3342004–05Argentine Primera División281——70—3512005–06Argentine Primera División292————2922007–08Argentine Primera División60————60 Total 97 6 — — 10 1 — 107 7Morelia (loan)2006–07Liga MX252———30282Universidad de Chile2008Chilean Primera División356—00——3562009Chilean Primera División172—00103102852010Chilean Primera División102—00122—224 Total 62 10 — 0 0 22 3 1 0 85 15Cruzeiro2010Série A237————2372011Série A3412106—73—51212012Série A32411420——458 Total 89 23 21 10 2 0 7 3 — 119 36Santos2013Série A26518251——4982014Série A—10———10 Total 26 5 19 2 5 1 — — 50 8 Shandong Luneng 2014 Chinese Super League262—5060—372 2015 Chinese Super League143—414210236 2016 Chinese Super League249—20104—3613 Total 64 14 – 11 1 20 6 1 0 96 21Botafogo2017Série A6070—40—170Tigre2018–19Argentine Primera División204—10—722862019–20Argentine Primera División142—00—10152 Total 34 6 — 1 0 — 8 2 43 8Universidad de Chile2020Chilean Primera División314—1010—334 Career Total 434 70 47 12 20 2 64 13 13 2 577 99
International appearances and goals # Date Venue Opponent Final score Goal Result Competition 1. September 28, 2011 Belém, Brazil 2–0 0 Lost 2011 Superclásico de las Américas.
Honours
San Lorenzo Copa Sudamericana: 2002
Universidad de Chile Primera División de Chile: 2009 Apertura
Cruzeiro Campeonato Mineiro: 2011
Shandong Luneng Chinese FA Cup: 2014 Chinese FA Super Cup: 2015
Individual Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2010
See also List of athletes who came out of retirement
References
External links
at Fútbol XXI