Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | María López Hidalgo | ||
Date of birth | 6 April 1988 | ||
Place of birth | Villarreal, Spain | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Atlético Madrid | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | ( Gls) |
Villarreal | |||
2004–2008 | Sporting Plaza de Argel | ||
2008–2011 | Prainsa Zaragoza | 71 | (34) |
2011–2013 | Atlético Madrid | 47 | (9) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:13, 19 August 2021 (UTC) |
María "Marieta" López Hidalgo (born 6 April 1988) is a Spanish former footballer who last played for Atlético Madrid in the Primera División. Her position was midfielder. [1]
Marieta was frequently injured during her career. On 2 March 2007, after having spent eight months recovering from a previous injury, she tore a cruciate ligament in her right knee during a training session with Sporting Plaza de Argel. [2] It was at this club that she first gained the nickname "Marieta", due to being the youngest of the two players called 'María' in the team. [3] After Sporting Plaza de Argel, she would spend three years playing for Prainsa Zaragoza before transferring to Atlético Madrid in 2011. [4] Marieta continued to suffer injuries to her knee, the final one being in February 2013 against Barcelona. [5] The following June, following doctor's advice, she announced her decision to retire from football. [6] That same month, Atlético Madrid paid tribute to her in an event where she received a standing ovation from over 550 people and a video was shown with highlights of her two years at the club. [7]
Following her retirement, Marieta spent more time riding horses, a hobby that she first learned at the age of four. [3] She also worked as a DJ under the stagename "María Lopezh". [8]