Lionel Scaloni

Lionel Scaloni

Personal information
Full name	Lionel Sebastián Scaloni
Date of birth	May 16, 1978 (1978-05-16)
Place of birth	Rosario, Argentina
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Wingback
Club information
Current club	Lazio
Number	5
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1995–1996	Newell's Old Boys	16	(0)
1996–1998	Estudiantes	37	(7)
1998–2006	Deportivo La Coruña	202	(14)
2006	→ West Ham (loan)	13	(0)
2006–2007	Racing Santander	30	(1)
2007–	Lazio	34	(0)
2008–2009	→ Mallorca (loan)	28	(0)
National team
1997	Argentina U20	6	(2)
2003–2006	Argentina	7	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 January 2012. † Appearances (Goals).

Lionel Sebastián Scaloni (born 16 May 1978) is an Argentine footballer who plays for S.S. Lazio in the Italian first division. A player of wide range, he can appear as both a right defender or midfielder.

He spent most of his professional career with Deportivo de La Coruña in Spain, amassing La Liga totals of 258 games and 15 goals over the course of 12 seasons (three teams represented). He also spent several years in Italy with Lazio.

Scaloni appeared with Argentina at the 2006 World Cup.

Club career

Deportivo

Born in Rosario, Santa Fe, Scaloni began his career in the Argentine league with local Newell's Old Boys and then Estudiantes de La Plata, before joining Spain's Deportivo de La Coruña in March 1998, for 405 million pesetas.

Regularly used with the Galicians over a eight 1/2-years stint, he competed with Manuel Pablo and Víctor for both starting spots on the right flank. However, due to injury, he could only appear in 14 La Liga contests as Depor managed its first league title.

After falling out with then manager Joaquín Caparrós, Scaloni joined Premier League team West Ham United on loan, on 31 January 2006, the final day of the transfer window, in an attempt to heighten his options to attend the upcoming FIFA World Cup. He took the #2 shirt from the departed Tomáš Řepka, and made his league debut for the East Londoners against Sunderland, on 4 February, while also helping the side reach the season's FA Cup final, a penalty shootout loss to Liverpool.

Scaloni left West Ham after a permanent move could not be agreed. Deportivo released him on 1 September 2006, alongside striker Diego Tristán, one day after the close of the Summer transfer window. However, due to the fact there were no limitations for free agents, two weeks later he signed a one-year contract at Racing de Santander, being essential as the Cantabrians achieved a final midtable position.

In July 2007, Scaloni moved to Italy with S.S. Lazio, on a five-year deal. However, in January of the following year, he returned to Spain, signing a one 1/2 loan link with RCD Mallorca, thus returning to the Romans in July 2009, and being irregularly used in the following three Serie A seasons.

International career

After making his debuts in 2003, Scaloni was named in the Argentine squad for a friendly match against Croatia on 1 2006, and was a surprise selection for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, taking the place of veteran Javier Zanetti, who also appeared as a right-wingback.

His only appearance of the tournament would be the extra time round of 16 2–1 win against Mexico on 24 June 2006, at the Zentralstadion (playing the full 120 minutes).

Honours

Club

Deportivo

• Spanish League: 1999–2000
• Spanish Cup: 2001–02
• Spanish Supercup: 2000, 2002

West Ham

• FA Cup: Runner-up 2005–06

Country

• FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1997

Personal

Scaloni's older brother, Mauro, also belonged to Deportivo, but never made it past its B squad.

External links

• BDFutbol profile
• Deportivo archives
• Lionel Scaloni career stats at Soccerbase
• 4theGame profile
• Sporting Heroes profile
• Lionel Scaloni at National-Football-Teams.com
• Lionel Scaloni – FIFA competition record
• FootballDatabase profile and stats
• Guardian Stats Centre