Leonel Álvarez (footballer, born 1965)

Leonel Álvarez
Álvarez in 2010
Personal information
Full name Leonel de Jesús Álvarez Zuleta
Date of birth (1965-07-29) 29 July 1965
Place of birth Remedios, Colombia
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Atlético Bucaramanga (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1986 Independiente Medellín 189 (3)
1987–1989 Atlético Nacional 42 (0)
1990 América de Cali 0 (0)
1990–1992 Real Valladolid 35 (0)
1992–1995 América de Cali 115 (5)
1996 Dallas Burn 22 (3)
1997 Veracruz 20 (2)
1998–1999 Dallas Burn 48 (0)
1999–2001 New England Revolution 58 (2)
2002 Deportivo Pereira 25 (1)
2003–2004 Deportes Quindío 16 (0)
Total 570 (16)
International career
1985–1997 Colombia 101 (1)
Managerial career
2007 Deportivo Pereira (assistant)
2008–2009 Independiente Medellín (assistant)
2009–2010 Independiente Medellín
2010–2011 Colombia (assistant)
2011 Colombia
2012 Once Caldas
2012 Itagüí
2013–2014 Deportivo Cali
2014 Veracruz
2015–2017 Independiente Medellín
2017–2018 Cerro Porteño
2018–2019 Club Libertad
2022 Águilas Doradas
2023 Cienciano
2024 Deportivo Pereira
2024 Emelec
2025– Atlético Bucaramanga
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Leonel de Jesús Álvarez Zuleta (born 29 July 1965) is a Colombian football manager and former player who played as a defensive midfielder. He is the current manager of Atlético Bucaramanga.

Álvarez played 101 times for the Colombia national team between 1985 and 1997, making him the third most capped player in Colombian international football. He also served as head coach of the Colombia national team in 2011, and is the only coach to have been champion twice with Independiente Medellín.