Mariano Pernía

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Mariano Andrés Pernía Molina (born 4 May 1977 in Buenos Aires) is a naturalized Spanish footballer who currently plays for Atlético de Madrid in the Spanish first division, as a left defender.

[edit] Club career

Pernía came through the ranks at Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro, but never achieved a first-team presence. He got his first chance of professional football when he moved to Club Atlético Independiente, but found himself moving in and out of the first team. He made a total of 57 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring two goals.

In January 2003, Pernía moved to Spain first division's Recreativo de Huelva, where he made somewhat of an impact. He started in the Spanish Cup final loss to RCD Mallorca, but the Andalusian outfit was also relegated that season. He played in 40 league matches during the following campaign's second level.

Although Pernia was 26 and yet to break into regular top-flight football, he made the most of his opportunity when he moved to newly promoted side Getafe CF in 2004. He made an immediate impact in the Madrid side as an offensive defender with a killer left foot, scoring three goals in his debut season, including a 40-metre effort against Real Betis. He was a major part of an underrated team that survived its first season in the first division, defying the expectations of several football pundits.

The 2005-06 season saw Pernía start 35 out of 38 games for Getafe, and he amazingly finished the season with 10 goals and two assists, becoming the highest scoring defender in a season for 20 years. With such good form, Pernía’s future was the source of much speculation. Despite a bid from Valencia CF, he signed a four-year contract with Atlético de Madrid starting in 2006-07, battling with fellow Spanish left-back Antonio López for the position. Pernía would be sent off in his final Getafe match, a 1-0 away loss to Celta de Vigo.

Pernía started the new season with high expectations after moving to a bigger club. In reality his season was arguably the worst of his career, with patchy form disappointing Atlético coach Javier Aguirre, and he spent much of the season on the bench. His tussle with López for the Atlético and Spanish left-back spot did not eventuate, as Aguirre favoured the latter throughout the season. At the season's end, speculation was rife that Pernía would return to Getafe, following the departure of former teammate Javier Paredes to Real Zaragoza, but he committed himself to Atlético.

However, in 2007-08, the tables turned, and Pernía gained positional battle with López, and would feature in 29 league matches as the colchoneros finished fourth, with eventual UEFA Champions League qualification.

Throughout 2008-09, Pernía remained first-choice most of the campaign; not surprisingly, he saw the birth of his own official fanclub - "Peña Pernía", which was Atlético's fastest growing peña of 2008.

[edit] International career

Pernía’s excellent form throughout 2005-06 made him a contender for international selection with Argentina and, somewhat belatedly, Spain. Although born in Argentina, he was granted Spanish citizenship in May 2006.

Initially, national team boss Luis Aragonés opted not to pick Pernía for the Spanish team in the 2006 World Cup - his reasoning was entirely legal and explained under current FIFA rules on squad selection. Asier del Horno was supposed to be first-choice leftback for the competition. However, an ankle injury sustained by Del Horno in the build-up to the tournament saw Pernía controversially called-up as his replacement.^[1]In the last friendly match before the World Cup, Pernía made his debut against Croatia, and scored from a free-kick, on June 7, 2006, in a match played in Geneva.

Surprisingly, Pernía came from third-choice to starter, and appeared in the final stages in group wins against Ukraine and Tunisia, and also in their round of 16 loss to France.

[edit] Personal life

Pernía has football in his family. He is the son of a famous Argentine player, Vicente Pernía (who was ironically left controversially out of the Argentine squad for the 1978 FIFA World Cup), to whom Pernía dedicated his World Cup call-up to. Pernía's mother is Olga Susana Molina, and he also has four brothers and a sister.

His eldest brother, Gastón, played for the Orlando Sharks in the Major Indoor Soccer League. Another brother, Leonel (Leo) Adrián, played for the Chicago Storm in the same competition, and posteriorly raced cars in Argentina. Pernía's other siblings are Emilio Agustín, Julián Alejo and Gianna Abigail. His great-grandparents are also Spanish.

Pernía has a wife and a young daughter, who was already born in Spain. Pernía was on holiday in Tandil, Argentina, with his family, upon getting the call from Aragonés, and subsequently had to delay his June 20 wedding in order to play in the World Cup. He said of the call-up:

"My wife's happy for me although a bit disappointed about having to postpone the wedding."^[2]

In early July 2009, Pernía and his family were involved in a serious car accident, in the player's native Argentina. Both his daughter and nephew were unharmed, but Pernía suffered a broken clavicle and minor lung injuries. He went on to fully recover, but the vehicle was practically and totally destroyed.^[3]

[edit] Club statistics

(Correct as of 11 May 2009)

International Goals^[4]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	June 7, 2006	Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland	Croatia	1–1	2–1	International Friendly

[edit] Honours

• Independiente:
  • Argentine League: Apertura 2002

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• Argentine league statistics (Spanish)
• FootballDatabase profile and stats
• Guardian statistics
• Mariano Pernía FIFA competition record
• Mariano Pernía at National-Football-Teams.com

v • d • e Spain squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Casillas • 2 Salgado • 3 Pernía • 4 Marchena • 5 Puyol • 6 Albelda • 7 Raúl (c) • 8 Xavi • 9 F. Torres • 10 Reyes • 11 Luis García • 12 A. López • 13 Iniesta • 14 Xabi Alonso • 15 S. Ramos • 16 Senna • 17 Joaquín • 18 Fàbregas • 19 Cañizares • 20 Juanito • 21 Villa • 22 Pablo • 23 Reina • Coach: Aragonés