Gary Medel

Gary Medel

Personal information
Full name	Gary Alexis Medel Soto
Date of birth	3 August 1987 (1987-08-03)
Place of birth	Santiago, Chile
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position	Defensive midfielder / Centre back
Club information
Current club	Sevilla
Number	8
Youth career
1997–2005	Universidad Católica
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2006–2011	Universidad Católica	80	(12)
2009–2010	→ Boca Juniors (loan)	48	(7)
2011–	Sevilla	36	(2)
National team‡
2007	Chile U20	15	(0)
2008	Chile U23	8	(0)
2007–	Chile	41	(4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:31, 26 February 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 November 2011

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Medel and the second or maternal family name is Soto.

Gary Alexis Medel Soto (born 3 August 1987 in Conchalí, Santiago), known as Gary Medel, is a Chilean football player who plays as defensive midfielder for La Liga club Sevilla FC.

His nickname is "Pitbull" or also "The Chilean Gattuso", because of his similarities with the Italian star Gennaro Ivan Gattuso. Medel was named Chilean Footballer of the Year in 2008, ahead of the Paraguayan striker Lucas Barrios.

Medel was member of the Chile U-20 that achieved the third place in the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2007.

Club career

Universidad Católica

Medel joined the Universidad Católica youth ranks at a very early age. In 2006, he was promoted to the first team and he made his debut in the University derby against Universidad de Chile, where he received his first yellow card.

After a successful participation in the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2007 in Canada, he became a popular player and was nicknamed "Pitbull and "Chilean Gattuso" by the media, because of his strong performance and short temper. On 28 July 2007, Medel scored his first goal for Católica against Deportes La Serena in a 3−1 victory. On 26 August 2007, at Estadio Nacional, Medel scored two goals for Católica against his classic rival Universidad de Chile, in a 2−1 victory.

He had a great season in 2008, being a key player for Católica and the national team. On 17 April 2008, he scored his first Copa Libertadores goal against América in a 2−0 victory at San Carlos de Apoquindo. However Católica failed to go through the second stage. Shortly after, he scored again.

Boca Juniors

In July 2009, Boca Juniors signed Medel on a 1 year loan deal, along with Federico Insúa. Medel stated upon his arrival that moving to Boca was "a dream come true. It is a very important club and they have players who I admire a lot, Roman, Palermo and Battaglia, who is my idol and I look forward to playing alongside him." He scored his first goal against Godoy Cruz in a match where he also saw his first red card in Argentinian soil. In March 2010, he scored a brace in the Argentinian Superclásico against fierce rivals River Plate, leading Boca to a very important win in that tournament (2–0), in a time when they were submerged in a sport crisis. After good performances as a Central midfielder, showing his temper (he got sent out several times) and sacrifice, plus prominent featuring in the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa, he was tented by European clubs, but he stated that he was going to stay at the Bombonera for another year, being coached by his (now in 2011) Chile National football team coach Claudio Borghi, who was hired at the time to be the new Boca coach after obtaining the Argentinian championship title with Argentinos Juniors.

Sevilla FC

In January 2011, after several months being scouted by Spanish team Sevilla FC. Borghi successor Julio César Falcioni stated that he wanted Medel to stay in Boca for the 2011 campaign, but that he wouldn't jeopardize or interfere in Medel's future, thus approving the move. His debut in Spanish soil was against Real Madrid, in a Copa del Rey 0–2 loss. He only played the last 4 minutes of the match. On 13 February 2011 he made his Liga BBVA debut against Racing de Santander, this time playing the whole match. A month later, Sevilla played against FC Barcelona where Medel made his best performance so far, annulling Lionel Messi and saving Sevilla's goalkeeper Javi Varas a couple of times. The match ended 1–1.

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	15 June 2008	Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia	Bolivia	0–1	0–2	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.	15 June 2008	Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia	Bolivia	0–2	0–2	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.	29 May 2009	Fukuda Denshi Arena, Chiba, Japan	Belgium	1–1	1–1	Friendly
4.	11 October 2011	Estadio Monumental, Santiago, Chile	Peru	3–0	4–2	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

External links

• Sevilla official profile
• BDFutbol profile
• Gary Medel at National-Football-Teams.com
• Transfermarkt profile
• 2010 FIFA World Cup profile
• Gary Medel – FIFA competition record