Manuel Salazar (footballer)

Salvadoran footballer (born 1986)

Manuel Alejandro Salazar Rivas (born January 23, 1986) is a Salvadoran retired professional footballer. He played for the El Salvador national team.

Salazar started his career at Salvadoran Second Division side Telecom before joining Luís Ángel Firpo in 2005. In December 2008, Salazar along with his club and national team teammate Carlos Monteagudo, both were invited to train with Mexican Primera División A team Monterrey 1a. A (effectively CF Monterreys reserve team), with the hopes of signing with the club's second division side. After the two week trial, both players returned to El Salvador, with the promise from head coach Gerardo Jiménez, that he would look to open negotiations to transfer them to the club, whether on a full time basis, or on loan however neither player was ever signed. On July 1, 2010, Salazar signed a six month contract with FAS only to rejoin Firpo for the 2011 Clausura claiming FAS owing him three months wages.

Salazar received his first call up to the national team in January 2007 and made his debut for El Salvador in a February 2007 UNCAF Nations Cup match against Nicaragua. He earned a total of 50 caps, scoring no goals, and has represented his country in 18 FIFA World Cup qualification matches. He has played at the 2007 UNCAF Nations Cup, as well as at the 2007 and 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cups. His final international game was an October 2010 friendly match against Costa Rica.

On May 18, 2011, Salazar decided to retire from the sport due to long standing knee problems and to focus on his academic and business ventures (he owns a restaurant).