Ariel Ibagaza

Ariel Ibagaza

Personal information
Full name	Ariel Miguel Santiago Ibagaza
Date of birth	27 October 1976 (1976-10-27)
Place of birth	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height	1.66 m (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Olympiacos
Number	7
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1994–1998	Lanús	97	(10)
1998–2003	Mallorca	143	(19)
2003–2006	Atlético Madrid	85	(6)
2006–2008	Mallorca	66	(8)
2008–2010	Villarreal	69	(5)
2010–	Olympiacos	40	(1)
National team
1995	Argentina U20	6	(1)
2000–2005	Argentina	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 December 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

Ariel Miguel Santiago Ibagaza (born 27 October 1976 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine footballer who plays for Olympiacos F.C. in Greece.

Nicknamed El Caño, his usual position is attacking midfielder, and he is well known for his technique and vision, and spent the vast majority of his professional career in Spain, where he represented mainly RCD Mallorca.

Club career

Ibagaza began his professional career with Club Atlético Lanús, and moved in July 1998 to RCD Mallorca in Spain, alongside teammate Gustavo Siviero (another Argentine, goalkeeper Carlos Roa, had done the same move the previous season), being part of the Balearic Islands side that finished third in his first year, narrowly missing on UEFA Champions League group stage entry.

In 2000–01, Ibagaza, best known for his playmaking decisions, netted a career-best 10 goals, and continued to be an undisputed starter – and team captain – for Mallorca until his departure for Atlético Madrid, in July 2003. He renewed his contract in March 2006, but found himself surplus to requirements at the start of 2006–07, and arranged a move back to Mallorca, being among the top assisters in the second season after the return.

Ibagaza signed a €1.5 million deal with Villarreal CF in early July 2008, for two seasons. Two years later, after two irregular seasons, marred by some physical problems (even though he still managed to appear in more than 60 official games with the Valencian), the 34-year old moved to Olympiacos FC, signing a two-year contract. He scored his first goal for the club in a 5–1 friendly win against A.S. Roma.

Honours

Club

• Mallorca:
  • Spanish Cup: 2002–03

• Olympiacos:
  • Greek League: 2010–11

Country

• FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1995

External links

• BDFutbol profile
• Real Mallorca bio (Spanish)
• Ariel Ibagaza – FIFA competition record
• Guardian Stats Centre
• FootballDatabase profile and stats