Matías Lequi

Matías Lequi

Personal information
Full name	Matías Emanuel Lequi
Date of birth	May 13, 1981 (1981-05-13)
Place of birth	Rosario, Argentina
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current club	Rosario Central
Youth career
	Rosario Central
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1999–2001	Rosario Central	35	(1)
2001–2003	River Plate	52	(3)
2003–2004	Atlético Madrid	34	(2)
2004–2005	Lazio	10	(0)
2005–2008	Celta	95	(5)
2009–2010	Iraklis	14	(0)
2011	Las Palmas	17	(0)
2011–	Rosario Central	15	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 June 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

Matías Emanuel Lequi (born 13 May 1981 in Rosario, Santa Fe) is an Argentine footballer who plays for Rosario Central as a central defender.

Football career

Lequi started his career with hometown side Rosario Central, then moved to Club Atlético River Plate, where he won two consecutive Clausura titles. In 2003, he moved abroad, joining Atlético Madrid in Spain, making his La Liga debut on 31 August, in a 0–1 loss at Sevilla FC, and only missing four matches in the season, as the Colchoneros eventually finished seventh and qualified for the UEFA Cup.

Subsequently, Lequi signed with Italy's S.S. Lazio, going pretty much unnoticed during his one season-spell. For 2005–06, he returned to Spain, being loaned to Celta de Vigo: as the Galicians eventually finished in sixth position and reached the UEFA Cup straight from Segunda División, he was heavily featured, scoring against Real Madrid (1–2 home loss) and former side Atlético (opening the scoresheet in a 3–0 away victory).

After extensive negotiations, the deal with Celta was made permanent in late May 2006, for four years. Lequi would however suffer relegation in the first season after his purchase and, with the club already in division two, was sent off a total of four times in the league, as Celta languished in 16th position; he was released in August 2008.

Lequi spent the following months training on his own. In the 2009 summer transfer window, he signed for Greek side Iraklis Thessaloniki FC. On 19 January 2011, the free agent returned to Spain and signed a five-month with UD Las Palmas, in the second division. On june 2011, he decided to return to his first team Rosario Central, that is now playing in the second division of Argentina.

Honours

• River Plate:
  • Argentine League: Clausura 2002, 2003

External links

• Argentine League statistics (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• Guardian Stats Centre