Esteban Andrés Solari Poggio (; born 2 June 1980) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a striker, currently manager of Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta'zim. Playing career Solari was born in Rosario, Santa Fe. After emerging through Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield's youth ranks, he made his professional debut with Estudiantes de La Plata. He also represented in his country Defensa y Justicia, Argentinos Juniors and Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy. After one year in Italy with amateurs A.C. Chioggia Sottomarina, Solari joined Lierse S.K. in the Belgian Pro League in the 2004 summer, scoring five goals in his only season to help his team finish in tenth position. Subsequently, he signed for APOEL FC in Cyprus, extending his contract until 2008 after impressing in his first year – 14 league goals in only 16 starts, Cypriot Cup conquest. Solari finished top scorer in the First Division in 2006–07 (20 goals), as the Nicosia-based club won its third national championship in six years. He was also voted the league's MVP but, at the end of May 2007, agreed on a transfer to Club Universidad Nacional of Mexico, once again winning an individual scoring accolade after netting 14 times in the Apertura. On 15 June 2008, Solari was transferred to UD Almería, who paid €3.8 million to UNAM. He made his Spanish La Liga debut on 31 August, in a 3–1 away win against Athletic Bilbao where he came on as a late substitute. He finished his first season with just eight games, scoring his only league goal – three overall – for the Andalusians in the 2–1 loss at CD Numancia. On 2 June 2010, the 30-year-old Solari signed for three years with former club APOEL. He immediately made an impact by scoring four goals in six appearances in that season's UEFA Europa League, going on to add 11 in 28 in the domestic league, which again ended in conquest. All rounds included, Solari took part in 12 games in his team's 2011–12 UEFA Champions League campaign. On 4 April 2012, he scored from a penalty kick in a 5–2 quarter-final defeat against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu (8–2 on aggregate). Solari was hit by several injuries in 2012–13 and, as a result, appeared in only three matches in all competitions. On 5 January 2013 his contract with APOEL was terminated by mutual consent, and