He began his professional career with San Luis de Quillota in 1958, winning the league title of the Segunda División and earning promotion to the top division.
[2] In the top division, he played for San Luis, Santiago Wanderers, Lota Schwager[1] and Deportes La Serena.
[6] He coincided with his fellow Ricardo Cabrera[7] in Santiago Wanderers, Lota Schwager and Deportes La Serena, becoming his best attacking partner.
[4][2] Well known for his strong personality, he retired in 1976 as a player of Unión La Calera, due to the fact that he was sanctioned for fifteen matchdays after supposedly assaulting a referee.
[1] Álvarez worked for many years in the Santiago Wanderers youth ranks, taking part in the training of players such as David Pizarro and Reinaldo Navia.