Diego Lugano

Diego Alfredo Lugano Moreno (born November 2, 1980 in Canelones) is a Uruguayan international footballer currently playing central defense for Turkish club Fenerbahçe. He is better known as Tota. He has previously played for Plaza Colonia, Nacional, and São Paulo, where he was very popular with the fans.

His family name, Lugano, is probably of Swiss origin. In fact in Switzerland, in the Canton of Ticino there is a city with the same name. There was a massive emigration from that Canton to Uruguay in the last centuries. The same case is for the other Uruguayan soccer player with the family name Canobbio.

In 2005, playing for São Paulo, he led his team to titles in the Campeonato Paulista, the Copa Libertadores, and FIFA Club World Championship. That same year, Lugano was awarded a prize as South America's best defender. In 2006, he carried his squad to runner-up in the Copa Libertadores.

In August 2006, after 2 months of rumors, he signed a four-year contract with Turkish club Fenerbahçe and he become a fan favorite with the club. He won the Turkish Super League that year, the club's centenary year. Lugano missed a crucial penalty kick in the 2007 Copa America semifinal against Brazil which eliminated Uruguay.

With his great contribution, Fenerbahçe knocked off Sevilla from the Champions League 2nd round and reached the quarter finals for the first time in club history where they eventually lost to English side Chelsea.