Ulises de la Cruz

Ulises de la Cruz is an Ecuadorian former footballer and politician. He earned 101 caps for Ecuador between 1995 and 2010, playing in two World Cups and helping the nation qualify for its first in 2002. As a right-back, he played for clubs in Ecuador, Brazil, Scotland, and England, including Aston Villa and Reading in the Premier League.

Since 2013, de la Cruz has served in Ecuador's National Assembly. He also runs the FundeCruz charity, which has rebuilt much of his home village. His career stands out for its combination of football achievement and community service. [edit]

De la Cruz grew up in Piquiucho, a small farming village in Ecuador's northern highlands near the Colombian border. The village had no paved roads, electricity, or running water during his childhood. He worked in the fields with his family before football became his focus.

He joined Deportivo Quito's youth system in the early 1990s and made his professional debut in 1991 at age 17. His performances earned a move to Barcelona S.C. in 1994, where he won the Ecuadorian Serie A. After a stint with Aucas, he joined Brazilian club Cruzeiro in 1996.

His first cap for Ecuador came in 1995. During qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, he became a cornerstone of the team, helping Ecuador finish above Brazil in the CONMEBOL table. That qualification was the first in Ecuadorian history. [edit]

De la Cruz won the Copa do Brasil with Cruzeiro in 1996 and the Copa Libertadores in 1997. He moved to LDU Quito in 1998, winning another Serie A title. In 2001, he signed with Hibernian, becoming the first Ecuadorian in Scottish football.

His transfer to Aston Villa in 2002 for about £1.5 million brought him to the Premier League. He made 89 appearances for Villa over four seasons. He then played for Reading and Birmingham City before returning to LDU Quito in 2009, retiring in 2012.

In 2006, he played in his second World Cup, where Ecuador reached the Round of 16. He retired from international football in 2010 with 101 caps. [edit]

De la Cruz is remembered as a tenacious, reliable right-back who never forgot his roots. British media portrayed him as humble and hard-working. Ecuadorian fans view him as a pioneer, and Aston Villa supporters recall him fondly. In politics, he is seen as a grassroots figure connected to rural communities. [edit]

Ulises de la Cruz commands a following defined less by organized adulation and more by deep, localized reverence in Ecuador and nostalgia among British football fans. Unlike pop stars with marching bands of supporters, his audience is a general football public that views him as a pioneer rather than a celebrity icon. There is no formal name for his fanbase, nor are there documented rituals or fan-funded projects; instead, the connection thrives on his tangible legacy of rebuilding his hometown village of Piquiucho after a landslide. This humanitarian act transformed him from a respected defender into a local savior figure, creating a bond that functions like familial duty rather than typical fandom dynamics. His time at Aston Villa and Hibernian cemented his status as a trailblazer for South American players in Europe, with stories of his grit and determination becoming part of club lore. Despite this enduring respect, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated Ulises de la Cruz but does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings (Global Top 1,000 or a Top-100 scope list). He remains outside the current global fame metrics.[edit]

De la Cruz was the first Ecuadorian to play in both Scottish and English football. He spent part of his Premier League salary building a community hall in Piquiucho. He won the Copa Libertadores with Cruzeiro in 1997. His village has become a place fans visit to see the community he helped create. A legendary moment in his career occurred when he joined Hibernian for a reported fee that became known as a high-stakes gamble which paid off through consistent performance. Another defining narrative involves his arrival at Aston Villa, where he made appearances over several seasons, establishing himself as a symbol of resilience for Ecuadorian players in England. The most enduring story surrounding him is not found on match sheets but in his hometown, where he spearheaded a massive reconstruction effort after a devastating landslide destroyed much of the village. This verified event, widely cited as his true legacy, saw him utilize his own resources and raise funds to rebuild homes, a school, and infrastructure, turning him into a local hero far beyond his athletic achievements.[edit]

De la Cruz was born into a farming family in Piquiucho. He is married and has children, though he keeps details private. He remains close to his extended family in Carchi Province and often returns to his village. [edit]

De la Cruz worked with managers Hernán Darío Gómez, David O'Leary, Steve Coppell, and Alex McLeish. He played alongside Ecuador teammates Iván Kaviedes and Agustín Delgado. [edit]

Ulises de la Cruz has kept his personal life out of the spotlight. Public records show he is married, but his wife's name has not been widely reported. He has children, including a son who has appeared at matches.

No divorces, engagements, or high-profile relationships have been documented. As of 2026, he remains married and lives a private family life in Ecuador. [edit]

iFANN currently estimates Ulises de la Cruz's net worth at $10 Million. Most of his wealth originated from his Premier League career, where he earned an estimated £4–6 million in wages between 2002 and 2009. His tenure at Hibernian added a few hundred thousand pounds to his total earnings. Since 2013, his salary as a National Assembly member has contributed roughly $650,000–900,000. He owns property in Ecuador, including his family home in Piquiucho. A significant portion of his football earnings went into the FundeCruz foundation, which has funded community projects in his village. That investment reduced his personal accumulation but built lasting infrastructure.[edit]

De la Cruz won team honors including the Ecuadorian Serie A with Barcelona S.C. and LDU Quito, the Copa do Brasil and Copa Libertadores with Cruzeiro. He was part of Ecuador's squad that reached the World Cup Round of 16 in 2006. [edit]