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JAIRO ALVAREZ GUTIERREZ
Squad Number 07/08: ?
Date of Birth: 21 March, 1986
Nationality: Spain
Contract: 2007 - 2011 (option to extend it for two additional years)
Transfer: €300,000 (2007- €300,000 more if the deal is extended in 2011)
Previous Clubs: Sporting Gijón (2003-2007), Real Oviedo (1999-2003)
Buy-out Clause: ??
Height: 181 cm
Weight: 71 kg
Position: Midfielder (centre)
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 Jairo is an Asturian and talented playmaker that Deportivo signed in 2007, for that, the club took advantage of the rivalry between Real Oviedo and Sporting Gijón. He was an authentic promise after he debuted in Segunda when he was just 16. Later, three serious injuries blocked his progress, but Jairo was able to find the regularly during the season 2006/2007, performance that opened a door to Deportivo.
The story of JAIRO ALVAREZ GUTIERREZ has been full of ups and downs. He was considered as a diamond that has been unlucky with the injuries. The Asturian made his debut in Real Oviedo during the season 1999-2000. He started playing in the category known as Cadetes and his numbers were very impressive: 20 goals scored in 20 matches played. He was 13 at that time.
Jairo has been described as a multifunctional playmaker that covers the centre of the field, but that can also perform on both wings. Jairo is very good passing the ball and is a natural generator of assists. He also possess the ability to shot from long-distance and is an specialist in set pieces.
After his impressive debut in Cadetes, the Avilés-born player repeated the same performance during the following season (2000-2001), this time he scored 15 goals in 22 matches. Then, he was called to the U-15 team in Asturias and Oviedo's fans were proud of him. Suddenly, the boy was making his debut with the first squad when he was just 16. Oviedo was in Segunda División at this point and everybody was hoping for a brighter future.
But the luck changed for Jairo, during a training session with Spain's U-16 squad, he suffered a serious injury in the knee, a problem that left him out of action during one year. He went through surgery while Oviedo suffered internal problems that caused its direct relegation to Tercera. After Jairo was recuperated, he refused to play with Oviedo and pushed for an exit, then a loan deal was signed with Sporting Gijón, a club that's the nemesis of Real Oviedo.
This transfer caused a lot of polemic in Oviedo, nobody understood why this promising boy decided to sign for the heated rival, that's why the fans of this club started to hate him too. He passed from been the future start of the squad, to be a villan, all of that in just a few months. But Jairo's career in Sporting Gijón was also full of obstacles. He suffered a new knee injury that left him out of action during one more year. He finally debuted in Sporting B during the season 2004-2005, the squad was in Tercera and Jairo was able to play twenty matches scoring two goals.
But Jairo’s problems weren’t over yet, he suffered a third knee injury and missed completely the season 2005/2006. He was finally able to return during the 2006/2007 campaign, this time he did an impressive job and played eighteen games with the first squad (in Segunda). Hewas able to scored two times. Skills that were enough to convince Depor's scouts and also president Lendoiro.
 Encouraged by Lotina's desire of having a new playmaker, Deportivo decided to sign him, the club took advantage of the 'natural' confrontation between Oviedo and Sporting for it. Gijon's club was forced to pay €600,000 in order to keep him, but they didn't fulfil the option, and the player was released from Oviedo since his contract ended in June of 2007.
However, Oviedo menaced to start a legal battle due to the clauses in the contract, that's why Deportivo decided to reach a settlement with them. At the end, Jairo signed with Depor a three-year-contract with the option to extend it for two additional years. Deportivo agreed the same terms negotiated in the previous contract between Sporting and Oviedo. This mean that Deportivo will have to pay €300,000 in the year 2010 to Real Oviedo, a payment that could be made before if Jairo is transferred previously to this deadline. If the contract with Jairo is finally extended to five years, Depor will have to pay other €300,000 in the year 2012.
There's one fact that will help Jairo in his adaptation process to Deportivo, is his friendship with several first team’s members. In fact, he is the fourth ex-Sporting player that's wearing the Blanquiazul shirt during the last years -the others are Pablo Amo, Pablo Alvarez and Manú. An advantage that Jairo explained during his presentation. "I know Manú. I also met Pablo Alvarez and Adrián (ex-Oviedo), surely my adaptation will be easier with them in the squad. I already talked with Pablo (Amo) and he gave good references of the team and the city."
Jairo also knows that people will start to ask if he will be able to replace one of Depor's most loved players, Juan Carlos Valerón. He knows that the task is hard, while he expressed his admiration for El Flaco. "It's not because I'm signing with Depor, but Valerón has always been a great reference for me. He plays on my position and he is a giant in football. It' a an honour to be able to play alongside him, and I am not afraid because I have to replace him. I like the players that can perform like him, Zidane or Riquelme." Valerón's successor? time will tell.
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