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Ulises De la Cruz
| Born | 08 August 1974, Piqulucho |
| Nationality | Ecuadorean |
| Weight | 80 kg |
| Height | 1.80 m |
| Position | Defender/Midfielder |
Ulises became Hibernians' record signing when he joined the Edinburgh club in a £750,000 deal.
A fast and energetic right-back, he is capable of moving forward to crack home a spectacular goal - notably a 35-yard scorcher against Brazil in the Maracana during the 2002 World Cup qualifier.
Ulises was Ecuador's only ever-present during their successful campaign for Japan and South Korea, and has over 80 caps to his name.
Once dubbed the next Pele, a comparison to Roberto Carlos is probably closer to the mark.
After appearing in all three of his nations World Cup finals matches, he was persuaded to join Aston Villa in the summer of 2002. His contract was extended to June 2006 in August 2004.
Ulises joined Reading in August 2006 with a one-year contract that was extended to June 2008 in June 2007.
He joined Birmingham City in March 2009 on a monthly contract.
Career stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-93 | Ecuador | Copa America | 5 | ||||
| 1992-93 | Ecuador | South America Youth Championship | 1 | ||||
| 1994-95 | Ecuador | Kirin Japan Cup | 1 |
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| 1994-95 | Ecuador | Korea Cup | 1 | ||||
| 1995-96 | Ecuador | Olympics | 4 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Ecuador | Copa America | 3 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Ecuador | FIFA World Cup | 1 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Ecuador | International | 2 | 1 |
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| 1997-98 | Ecuador | FIFA World Cup | 3 | ||||
| 1997-98 | Ecuador | International | 1 | ||||
| 1998-99 | Ecuador | Canada Cup | 3 | ||||
| 1998-99 | Ecuador | Copa America | 3 | ||||
| 1998-99 | Ecuador | International | 6 | 1 |
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| 1999-00 | Ecuador | FIFA World Cup | 4 | 1 |
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| 1999-00 | Ecuador | International | 1 | 1 |
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| 2000-01 | Ecuador | FIFA World Cup | 9 | ||||
| 2000-01 | Ecuador | International | 2 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Ecuador | Copa America | 3 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Ecuador | FIFA World Cup | 8 | 1 |
2
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| 2001-02 | Ecuador | International | 4 | 1 |
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| 2001-02 | Hibernian | Scottish FA Cup | 2 | 1 |
1
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| 2001-02 | Hibernian | Scottish League Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Hibernian | Scottish Premier League | 25 | 7 |
2 |
1
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| 2001-02 | Hibernian | UEFA Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Aston Villa | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Aston Villa | Premier League | 12 | 8 |
1 |
2
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| 2002-03 | Aston Villa | Worthington Cup | 2 | 1 |
1 |
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| 2002-03 | Ecuador | International | 4 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Aston Villa | Carling Cup | 3 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Aston Villa | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Aston Villa | Premier League | 20 | 8 |
2
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| 2003-04 | Ecuador | Copa America | 3 | ||||
| 2003-04 | Ecuador | FIFA World Cup | 7 | 1 |
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| 2004-05 | Aston Villa | Carling Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2004-05 | Aston Villa | Premier League | 30 | 4 |
2
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| 2004-05 | Ecuador | FIFA World Cup | 7 | 1 |
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| 2004-05 | Ecuador | International | 1 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Aston Villa | Carling Cup | 1 |
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| 2005-06 | Aston Villa | Premier League | 4 | 3 |
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| 2005-06 | Ecuador | FIFA World Cup | 6 | 1 |
2
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| 2005-06 | Ecuador | International | 2 | 1 |
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| 2006-07 | Ecuador | Copa America | 2 |
1
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| 2006-07 | Ecuador | International | 5 | 1 |
1 |
1
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| 2006-07 | Reading | Carling Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2006-07 | Reading | FA Cup | 4 |
1
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| 2006-07 | Reading | Premier League | 9 | 1 |
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| 2007-08 | Ecuador | FIFA World Cup | 2 | 1 |
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| 2007-08 | Reading | Carling Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2007-08 | Reading | FA Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2007-08 | Reading | Premier League | 3 | 3 |
2
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| 2008-09 | Birmingham City | League Championship | 1 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Match history
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 1992 | Paraguay v Ecuador | W | 0-1 | SAYC | |
| 21 Aug 1992 | Brazil v Ecuador | L | 2-0 | South American Championship | |
| 23 Aug 1992 | Ecuador v Bolivia | W | 4-1 | South American Championship | |
| 26 Aug 1992 | Colombia v Ecuador | D | 0-0 | South American Championship | |
| 28 Aug 1992 | Brazil v Ecuador | L | 2-0 | South American Championship | |
| 30 Aug 1992 | Uruguay v Ecuador | L | 3-1 | South American Championship | |
| 28 May 1995 | Japan v Ecuador | L | 3-0 | KIRIN JAPAN CUP | |
| 04 Jun 1995 | Ecuador v Zambia | W | 4-1 | KOREA CUP | |
| 18 Feb 1996 | Argentina v Ecuador | L | 6-0 | Olympics | South America group B |
| 20 Feb 1996 | Colombia v Ecuador | D | 3-3 | Olympics | South America group B |
| 22 Feb 1996 | Chile v Ecuador | L | 4-0 | Olympics | South America group B |
| 24 Feb 1996 | Venezuela v Ecuador | L | 5-2 | Olympics | South America group B |
| 25 Mar 1997 | Guatemala v Ecuador | D | 0-0 | International | |
| 28 May 1997 | El Salvador v Ecuador | W | 0-2 | International | |
| 08 Jun 1997 | Ecuador v Chile | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America League |
| 14 Jun 1997 | Paraguay v Ecuador | W | 0-2 | Copa America | Group A |
| 17 Jun 1997 | Ecuador v Chile | W | 2-1 | Copa America | Group A |
| 22 Jun 1997 | Ecuador v Mexico | D | 1-1 | Copa America | Quarter-final |
| 07 Aug 1997 | USA v Ecuador | W | 0-1 | International | |
| 20 Aug 1997 | Ecuador v Paraguay | W | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America League |
| 12 Oct 1997 | Ecuador v Bolivia | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America League |
| 16 Nov 1997 | Uruguay v Ecuador | L | 5-3 | FIFA World Cup | South America League |
| 14 Oct 1998 | Brazil v Ecuador | L | 5-1 | International | |
| 28 Jan 1999 | Costa Rica v Ecuador | D | 0-0 | International | |
| 10 Feb 1999 | Peru v Ecuador | W | 1-2 | International | |
| 19 May 1999 | Venezuela v Ecuador | L | 2-0 | International | |
| 02 Jun 1999 | Iran v Ecuador | D | 1-1 | CANADA CUP | |
| 04 Jun 1999 | Ecuador v Guatemala | W | 3-1 | CANADA CUP | |
| 06 Jun 1999 | Canada v Ecuador | W | 1-2 | CANADA CUP | |
| 15 Jun 1999 | Venezuela v Ecuador | L | 3-2 | International | |
| 23 Jun 1999 | Chile v Ecuador | D | 0-0 | International | |
| 01 Jul 1999 | Argentina v Ecuador | L | 3-1 | Copa America | Group |
| 04 Jul 1999 | Uruguay v Ecuador | L | 2-1 | Copa America | Group |
| 07 Jul 1999 | Colombia v Ecuador | L | 2-1 | Copa America | Group |
| 08 Mar 2000 | Ecuador v Honduras | L | 1-3 | International | |
| 29 Mar 2000 | Ecuador v Venezuela | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 26 Apr 2000 | Brazil v Ecuador | L | 3-2 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 03 Jun 2000 | Paraguay v Ecuador | L | 3-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 25 Jun 2000 | Ecuador v Panama | W | 6-0 | International | |
| 29 Jun 2000 | Ecuador v Peru | W | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 19 Jul 2000 | Argentina v Ecuador | L | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 25 Jul 2000 | Ecuador v Colombia | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 11 Aug 2000 | Ecuador v Panama | D | 0-0 | International | |
| 16 Aug 2000 | Ecuador v Bolivia | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 03 Sep 2000 | Uruguay v Ecuador | L | 4-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 08 Oct 2000 | Ecuador v Chile | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 15 Nov 2000 | Venezuela v Ecuador | W | 1-2 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 28 Mar 2001 | Ecuador v Brazil | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 24 Apr 2001 | Ecuador v Paraguay | W | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 02 Jun 2001 | Peru v Ecuador | W | 1-2 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 07 Jun 2001 | USA v Ecuador | D | 0-0 | International | |
| 11 Jul 2001 | Ecuador v Chile | L | 1-4 | Copa America | Group A |
| 14 Jul 2001 | Colombia v Ecuador | L | 1-0 | Copa America | Group A |
| 17 Jul 2001 | Ecuador v Venezuela | W | 4-0 | Copa America | Group A |
| 14 Aug 2001 | Ecuador v Argentina | L | 0-2 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 05 Sep 2001 | Colombia v Ecuador | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 06 Oct 2001 | Bolivia v Ecuador | W | 1-5 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 07 Nov 2001 | Ecuador v Uruguay | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 14 Nov 2001 | Chile v Ecuador | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 12 Feb 2002 | Turkey v Ecuador | W | 0-1 | International | |
| 27 Mar 2002 | Ecuador v Bulgaria | W | 3-0 | International | |
| 18 Apr 2002 | South Africa v Ecuador | D | 0-0 | International | |
| 08 May 2002 | Ecuador v Yugoslavia | W | 1-0 | International | |
| 23 May 2002 | Ecuador v Senegal | L | 0-1 | International | |
| 03 Jun 2002 | Italy v Ecuador | L | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group G |
| 09 Jun 2002 | Mexico v Ecuador | L | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group G |
| 13 Jun 2002 | Ecuador v Croatia | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group G |
| 21 Nov 2002 | Ecuador v Costa Rica | D | 2-2 | International | |
| 30 Apr 2003 | Spain v Ecuador | L | 4-0 | International | |
| 08 Jun 2003 | Colombia v Ecuador | D | 0-0 | International | |
| 11 Jun 2003 | Ecuador v Peru | D | 2-2 | International | |
| 06 Sep 2003 | Ecuador v Venezuela | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 10 Sep 2003 | Brazil v Ecuador | L | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 15 Nov 2003 | Paraguay v Ecuador | L | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 18 Nov 2003 | Ecuador v Peru | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 30 Mar 2004 | Argentina v Ecuador | L | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 02 Jun 2004 | Ecuador v Colombia | W | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 05 Jun 2004 | Ecuador v Bolivia | W | 3-2 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 07 Jul 2004 | Argentina v Ecuador | L | 6-1 | Copa America | Group B |
| 10 Jul 2004 | Uruguay v Ecuador | L | 2-1 | Copa America | Group B |
| 13 Jul 2004 | Mexico v Ecuador | L | 2-1 | Copa America | Group B |
| 05 Sep 2004 | Uruguay v Ecuador | L | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 10 Oct 2004 | Ecuador v Chile | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 17 Nov 2004 | Ecuador v Brazil | W | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 27 Mar 2005 | Ecuador v Paraguay | W | 5-2 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 30 Mar 2005 | Peru v Ecuador | D | 2-2 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 04 Jun 2005 | Ecuador v Argentina | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 08 Jun 2005 | Colombia v Ecuador | L | 3-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 11 Jun 2005 | Ecuador v Italy | D | 1-1 | International | |
| 03 Sep 2005 | Bolivia v Ecuador | W | 1-2 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 08 Oct 2005 | Ecuador v Uruguay | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 11 Oct 2005 | Chile v Ecuador | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America |
| 13 Nov 2005 | Ecuador v Poland | L | 0-3 | International | |
| 01 Mar 2006 | Netherlands v Ecuador | L | 1-0 | International | |
| 28 May 2006 | FYR Macedonia v Ecuador | L | 2-1 | International | |
| 09 Jun 2006 | Poland v Ecuador | W | 0-2 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group A |
| 15 Jun 2006 | Ecuador v Costa Rica | W | 3-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group A |
| 20 Jun 2006 | Ecuador v Germany | L | 0-3 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group A |
| 25 Jun 2006 | England v Ecuador | L | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals - Round of 16 |
| 10 Oct 2006 | Ecuador v Brazil | L | 1-2 | International | |
| 25 Mar 2007 | USA v Ecuador | L | 3-1 | International | |
| 28 Mar 2007 | Mexico v Ecuador | L | 4-2 | International | |
| 03 Jun 2007 | Ecuador v Peru | L | 1-2 | International | |
| 06 Jun 2007 | Ecuador v Peru | W | 2-0 | International | |
| 23 Jun 2007 | Colombia v Ecuador | L | 3-1 | International | |
| 27 Jun 2007 | Ecuador v Chile | L | 2-3 | Copa America | Group B |
| 01 Jul 2007 | Ecuador v Mexico | L | 1-2 | Copa America | Group B |
| 13 Oct 2007 | Ecuador v Venezuela | L | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
| 17 Oct 2007 | Brazil v Ecuador | L | 5-0 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
| 15 Jun 2008 | Argentina v Ecuador | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | South America qualifying |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liga Deportiva Universitaria | 01 Jul 1999 | 18 Jun 2001 | |
| Hibernian | 18 Jun 2001 | 02 Aug 2002 | |
| Aston Villa | 02 Aug 2002 | 30 Jun 2006 | |
| Reading | 25 Aug 2006 | 30 Jun 2008 | |
| Watford | 25 Jul 2008 | 02 Aug 2008 | T |
| Coventry City | 08 Sep 2008 | 12 Sep 2008 | T |
| Birmingham City | 03 Mar 2009 | 30 Jun 2009 |