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{{pp-pc1|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2012}}
{{Catalan name|Piqué|Bernabeu}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Gerard Piqué
| image = GerardPique.jpg
| image_size = 280px
| caption = Piqué at an event at [[Doha Stadium]], February 2015
| fullname = Gerard Piqué Bernabeu<ref>{{cite web |title=FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of Players |url=http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/22/85/78/fwc_2010_squadlists.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) |date=4 June 2010 |accessdate=13 September 2013 |page=29 }}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|2|2|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Barcelona]], Spain
| height = {{convert|193|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=FCBprofile>{{cite web |title=Gerard Piquè profile |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/staff/players/pique |publisher=FC Barcelona |accessdate=24 March 2015 }}</ref>
| position = [[Defender (association football)#Centre-back|Centre-back]]
| currentclub = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| clubnumber = 3
| youthyears1 = 1997–2004 |youthclubs1 = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| youthyears2 = 2004–2005 |youthclubs2 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| years1 = 2004–2008 |clubs1 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] |caps1 = 12 |goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2006–2007 |clubs2 = → [[Real Zaragoza]] (loan) |caps2 = 22 |goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2008– |clubs3 = [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] |caps3 = 191 |goals3 = 17
| nationalyears1 = 2002–2003 |nationalteam1 = [[Spain national under-16 football team|Spain U16]] |nationalcaps1 = 7 |nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2004 |nationalteam2 = [[Spain national under-17 football team|Spain U17]] |nationalcaps2 = 8 |nationalgoals2 = 3
| nationalyears3 = 2006 |nationalteam3 = [[Spain national under-19 football team|Spain U19]] |nationalcaps3 = 8 |nationalgoals3 = 3
| nationalyears4 = 2007 |nationalteam4 = [[Spain national under-20 football team|Spain U20]] |nationalcaps4 = 5 |nationalgoals4 = 1
| nationalyears5 = 2006–2008 |nationalteam5 = [[Spain national under-21 football team|Spain U21]] |nationalcaps5 = 12 |nationalgoals5 = 1
| nationalyears6 = 2009– |nationalteam6 = [[Spain national football team|Spain]] |nationalcaps6 = 69 |nationalgoals6 = 4
| nationalyears7 = 2004– |nationalteam7 = [[Catalonia national football team|Catalonia]] |nationalcaps7 = 8 |nationalgoals7 = 0
| pcupdate = 17 May 2015
| ntupdate = 14 June 2015
}}
'''Gerard Piqué Bernabeu''' ({{IPA-ca|ʒəˈɾar piˈke i βərnəˈβeu|lang}}, {{IPA-es|ʝeˈɾar piˈke i βernaˈβeu|lang}}; born 2 February 1987) is a Spanish professional [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[Defender (association football)#Centre-back|centre-back]] for [[FC Barcelona]] and the [[Spain national football team|Spain national team]].

A product of Barça's ''[[cantera]]'', [[La Masia]], he initially left the club for [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] in 2004, where he remained for four years, before returning to Barça under [[Pep Guardiola]]'s leadership, helping the club win a [[Treble (association football)|treble]] in 2008–09 and a [[List of association football teams to have won four or more trophies in one season|quadruple]] in 2009–10. Piqué is one of four players to have won the [[UEFA Champions League]] two years in a row with different teams, the others being [[Marcel Desailly]], [[Paulo Sousa]] and [[Samuel Eto'o]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Roger |last=Bogunyà |title=Three titles and personal records |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada08-09/05/n090528105280.html |work=FCBarcelona.com |publisher=FC Barcelona |date=28 May 2009 |accessdate=25 June 2010 }}</ref>

Piqué has also represented [[Spain national football team|Spain]], making his debut on 11 February 2009. He played an integral role in the Spain team that won the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] and [[UEFA Euro 2012]].

==Club career==

===Early career===
Born in [[Barcelona]], [[Catalonia]],<ref name=FCBprofile/> Piqué started his career in [[FC Barcelona]]'s youth teams as a [[Midfielder#Defensive midfielder|defensive midfielder]], but before he signed his first professional contract with the club, he decided to join [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]. The [[Premier League]] side did not pay a fee for Piqué as he was too young to have a professional contract.

===Manchester United===
Piqué made his debut for Manchester United in October 2004, as a late replacement for [[John O'Shea]] in a 3–0 [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] victory at [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] as a centre-back.<ref>{{cite news |title=Crewe 0–3 Man Utd |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/3947037.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 October 2004 |accessdate=27 May 2008 }}</ref> He made his full debut on 29 March 2006 against [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], in a [[2005–06 FA Premier League|Premier League]] match at [[Old Trafford]], playing at [[Defender (association football)#Full-back|right-back]], as [[Gary Neville]] was unavailable through injury.<ref>{{cite news |title=Man Utd 1-0 West Ham |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4842340.stm |publisher=BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation) |date=29 March 2006 |accessdate=16 January 2015 }}</ref>

His performances, most notably in [[Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy#Reserves|the reserve team]], earned him a new contract, which he signed in February 2005 to run until the summer of 2009. On 4 August 2006, however, [[La Liga]] side [[Real Zaragoza]] secured Piqué on a season-long loan. The conditions of the loan involved Piqué having to feature in at least 20 games for the Aragonese outfit,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheminute.com/news/news.php?news=2521 |title=Zaragoza's Pique: My future is with Man Utd |publisher=OnTheMinute.com |accessdate=30 January 2007 }}</ref> which he did, as he made 22 first team appearances in a successful spell, alongside [[Argentina|Argentine]] [[Gabriel Milito]], either as a stopper or a holding midfielder.

On 5 May 2007, it was announced that Piqué would be staying at Old Trafford for the following season. [[Alex Ferguson|Sir Alex Ferguson]] had intended to assess Piqué's form at [[La Romareda]] on 6 May, prior to a meeting where the two parties would discuss Piqué's future prospects with the club. However, Ferguson was unable to attend on account of airline difficulties.<ref>{{cite web |first=Ben |last=Hibbs |title=Pique set for OT return |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2007/May/Pique-set-for-OT-return.aspx |website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=4 May 2007 |accessdate=16 January 2015 }}</ref>

Piqué's return to Old Trafford saw him make nine league appearances during the [[Premier League 2007–08|2007–08 season]]. He scored on his first start in the [[UEFA Champions League]], a 4–0 home win against [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]] on 7 November 2007, as Piqué scored the first of Manchester United's four goals in that match.<ref>{{cite news |first=Phil |last=McNulty |title=Man Utd 4–0 Dynamo Kiev |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7076590.stm |publisher=BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation) |date=7 November 2007 |accessdate=3 May 2010 }}</ref> In doing so, he became the 450th player to score at least one goal for the club.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/goalscorers/overall.html |title=All Goalscorers in all Competitive Matches |accessdate=8 November 2007 |date=November 2007 |publisher=StretfordEnd.co.uk |work=The Website of Dreams |page=5 }}</ref> His second goal for the club also came in the Champions League, in an away match to [[A.S. Roma|Roma]] on 12 December 2007.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ian |last=Herbert |title=Roma 1 Manchester United 1: Pique's joy on pitch marred by violence off it |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/roma-1-manchester-united-1-piques-joy-on-pitch-marred-by-violence-off-it-764878.html |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent Print |date=13 December 2007 |accessdate=25 June 2010 }}</ref>

===Return to Barcelona===
[[File:Gerard Pique.jpg|thumb|left|Piqué during the 2008 [[Joan Gamper Trophy]].]]
On 27 May 2008, Piqué signed a four-year contract with Barcelona, with a [[Euro|€]]5&nbsp;million buy-out clause.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada07-08/05/n080527104344.html |title=Piqué comes back home |publisher=FC Barcelona|work=FCBarcelona.com |accessdate=25 June 2010 }}</ref> Barcelona paid a £5&nbsp;million fee for the player.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sid |last=Lowe |title=Gerard Piqué is back at Camp Nou, the man with Barcelona in his DNA |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/may/24/gerard-pique-barcelona-champions-league |work=guardian.co.uk |publisher=Guardian News and Media |date=25 May 2009 |accessdate=30 November 2010 }}</ref> He expressed his joy at re-signing with his boyhood club, although he admitted he had enjoyed his spell at Manchester United: {{quote|"I am very happy to be back, I didn't think I would be here again but this is very good for me. Manchester United is a great club and I enjoyed winning things. To play with world class players has helped me and now I want to continue this at Barça."}}

Piqué's first goal for Barcelona came in the club's 5–2 [[2008–09 UEFA Champions League group stage|Champions League group stage]] win at [[Sporting Clube de Portugal|Sporting CP]] on 26 November 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://espnfc.com/uk/en/gamecast/254714/gamecast.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739|title=Sporting Lisbon 2 – 5 Barcelona|work=ESPNFC.com|publisher=ESPN|date=26 November 2008|accessdate=12 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/3528746/Jose-Mourinhos-Inter-Milan-progress-despite-defeat-to-Panathinaikos-Football.html|title=Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan progress despite defeat to Panathinaikos |work=The Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=26 November 2008|accessdate=12 March 2013}}</ref> His first domestic goal for the club followed two months later, on 29 January 2009, in a [[2008–09 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]] match against local rivals [[RCD Espanyol|Espanyol]]. The goal, which came from a [[corner kick]] in the 57th minute, turned out to be the game winner in a 3–2 victory for Barcelona.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=261375&cc=5901 |title=Barcelona 3 – 2 Espanyol |accessdate=2 July 2009|date=29 January 2009 |publisher=ESPN|work=ESPNFC.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/4391354/Barcelona-into-Copa-del-Rey-semis.html|title=Barcelona into Copa del Rey semis|work=The Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=29 January 2009|accessdate=12 March 2013}}</ref> On 2 May 2009, Piqué scored Barcelona's sixth goal in a 6–2 [[El Clásico]] win against [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] at the [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium|Estadio Santiago Bernabéu]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/card/real-madrid-fc-barcelona-2-6|title=REAL MADRID- FC BARCELONA 2-6|date=2 May 2009|accessdate=10 August 2013|work=FC Barcelona}}</ref>

[[File:Piqué.jpg|thumb|upright|Piqué after Barcelona's triumph in the [[2009 UEFA Champions League Final]]]]
On 13 May 2009, he picked up the first trophy of his Barcelona career as he helped his club to a 4–1 victory over [[Athletic Bilbao]] in the [[2009 Copa del Rey Final|Copa del Rey Final]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/5321324/Barcelona-defeat-Athletic-Bilbao-to-win-Copa-del-Rey.html|title=Barcelona defeat Athletic Bilbao to win Copa del Rey|work=The Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=14 May 2009|accessdate=12 March 2013}}</ref> Three days later, Barcelona clinched the [[2008–09 La Liga|league title]] after [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] lost 3–2 to [[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]], with two games left in the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/5336603/Real-Madrid-loss-hands-La-Liga-title-to-Barcelona.html|title=Real Madrid loss hands La Liga title to Barcelona|work=The Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=16 May 2009|accessdate=12 March 2013}}</ref>

On 27 May 2009, Piqué played against his former club Manchester United in the [[2009 UEFA Champions League Final|2009 Champions League Final]], which Barcelona won 2–0,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8060878.stm|title=Barcelona 2–0 Man Utd |publisher=BBC Sport|date=27 May 2009|accessdate=12 March 2013}}</ref> completing an historic [[Treble (association football)|treble]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2009/matches/round=15280/match=302813/postmatch/quotes/index.html|title=Guardiola salutes his treble winners|work=UEFA.com|publisher=UEFA|date=28 May 2009|accessdate=12 March 2013}}</ref>

[[File:2012 2013 - 03 Gerard Piqué.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Piqué playing for Barcelona during the [[2012–13 FC Barcelona season|2012–13 season]]]]
On 19 December 2009, Piqué was in the Barcelona team which beat [[Argentina|Argentine]] club [[Estudiantes de La Plata|Estudiantes]] 2–1 in the [[2009 FIFA Club World Cup Final]]. Piqué [[Assist (football)|assisted]] [[Pedro Rodríguez Ledesma|Pedro Rodríguez]]'s 89th minute equalising goal which took the match to [[Overtime (sports)|extra-time]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/football/12/19/football.barcelona.estudiantes.messi/index.html|title=Barcelona add world title to trophy haul|date=19 December 2009|accessdate=10 August 2013|work=CNN}}</ref>

On 26 February 2010, Piqué signed a contract extension to keep him at Barcelona until at least summer 2015.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pique signs new Barcelona deal |url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Pique-signs-new-Barca-deal-article336557.html |publisher=Mirror Group Newspapers|work=MirrorFootball |date=26 February 2010 |accessdate=12 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Piqué extends Barcelona contract |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=1455997.html |publisher=UEFA|work=UEFA.com |date=26 February 2010 |accessdate=12 March 2013}}</ref> On 28 April 2010, Piqué scored in Barcelona's [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] semi-final second leg against [[Inter Milan|Internazionale]], though his side went out 3–2 on aggregate.<ref>[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=290736&league=UEFA.CHAMPIONS&cc=4716 Barcelona 1 – 0 Internazionale] ESPN Soccernet, 28 April 2010</ref>

On 28 May 2011, Piqué played in his second [[2011 UEFA Champions League Final|Champions League Final]]. Barça defeated Manchester United 3–1 at [[Wembley Stadium]] to lift the [[European Champion Clubs' Cup|European Cup]] for the second time in three seasons. On 1 May 2013, Piqué scored an own goal for [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] in [[Camp Nou]] which made score 2–0 to Bayern. Later, Bayern went on to win 3–0 and 7–0 on aggregate.<ref>[http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1431988/gerard-pique-worst-moment-my-barcelona-career?cc=4716] ESPN Soccernet, 1 May 2013</ref>

On 20 May 2014, Piqué signed a contract extension with Barcelona, keeping him at the club until 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gerard Piqué signs on till 2019 |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/gerard-pique-signs-on-till-2019 |publisher=FC Barcelona |date=20 May 2014 |accessdate=22 May 2014 }}</ref>

On 6 June 2015, Piqué started for Barça in the [[2015 UEFA Champions League Final]], as the club won its fifth [[European Champion Clubs' Cup|European Cup]] by beating [[Juventus F.C.|Juventus]] at Berlin's [[Olympiastadion Berlin|Olympiastadion]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Haslam |title=Barcelona see off Juventus to claim fifth title |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/matches/round=2000552/match=2015227/postmatch/report/index.html |work=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=6 June 2015 |accessdate=7 June 2015 }}</ref> This made Barcelona the first club in history to win the [[Treble (association football)|treble]] of domestic league, domestic cup and European Cup twice.<ref name=triple>{{cite news |title=Barça make history with second treble! |url=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/detail/article/barca-make-history-with-second-treble |work=fcbarcelona.com |publisher=FC Barcelona |date=6 June 2015 |accessdate=7 June 2015 }}</ref> Piqué, [[Lionel Messi]], [[Andrés Iniesta]], [[Xavi]], [[Pedro (footballer, born July 1987)|Pedro]], [[Sergio Busquets]] and [[Dani Alves]] are the only players to have been a part of both Treble-winning teams.<ref name=triple/>

==International career==

===Youth teams===
[[File:Gerard Piqué en La Moncloa.jpg|thumb|upright|Piqué in the [[Palacio de la Moncloa]] for Spain's [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] celebrations]]
Piqué was a member of the [[Spain national under-19 football team|Spain under-19 side]] that won the [[2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship|2006 U-19 European Championship]] in [[Poland]].<ref>[http://www.uefa.com/under19/news/newsid=439848.html Meléndez's mind focused on final] UEFA.com, 27 July 2006</ref> In a [[2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship#Final|2–1 final]] win against [[Scotland national under-19 football team|Scotland]], Piqué put in a strong performance in defence, hitting the crossbar with a header, and also providing his team's second goal for [[Forward (association football)|striker]] [[Alberto Bueno]].<ref>[http://www.uefa.com/under19/news/newsid=440340.html 'This defeat feels like a victory'] UEFA.com, 30 July 2006</ref>

Subsequently, he played in the [[2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup]], starting all six of Spain's matches and scoring a goal in the team's come-from-behind 4–2 victory over [[Brazil national under-20 football team|Brazil]] in the round of 16.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spain-Brazil Match Report |url=http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=249409/match=58880/report.html |publisher=FIFA |accessdate=2 April 2008 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080214043749/http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=249409/match=58880/report.html |archivedate=14 February 2008 }}</ref> However, Piqué missed the deciding penalty in the [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|shoot-out]] against the [[Czech Republic national under-20 football team|Czech Republic]] and Spain were eliminated at the quarter-final stage.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spain – Czech Republic Match Report |url=http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/round=249410/match=58889/report.html |publisher=FIFA |date=14 July 2007 |accessdate=22 June 2013 }}</ref>

===Senior side===
[[File:Catalan line-up 2013.jpg|thumb|Piqué (back row, second right) lining up for the [[Catalonia national football team|Catalonia national team]] against Nigeria]]
On 6 February 2009, Piqué was called up to the [[Spain national football team|senior squad]] for the friendly against [[England national football team|England]] on 11 February.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lista de convocados para el amistoso ante Inglaterra |url=http://www.rfef.es/index.jsp?nodo=39&ID=1120 |publisher=Real Federación Española de Fútbol |date=6 February 2009 |accessdate=6 February 2009 |language=es}}</ref> He played the entire match in a 2–0 win, in [[Seville]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Nick |last=Iliev |title=International Friendly: Spain completely outclass England |url=http://www.sofiaecho.com/2009/02/12/673859_international-friendly-spain-completely-outclass-england |work=Sofia Echo |publisher=Sofia Echo Media |date=12 February 2009 |accessdate=25 June 2010 }}</ref> In his second match as an international on 28 March 2009, he was called up as a replacement for injured team-mate [[Carles Puyol]] and he scored the only goal in Spain's victory in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2010 World Cup qualifier]] against [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]] at the [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium]] in [[Madrid]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Del Bosque Analyses Spain's Turkey Win |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/03/29/1180402/del-bosque-analyses-spains-turkey-win |publisher=Goal.com |date=29 March 2009 |accessdate=25 June 2010 }}</ref> Four days later, he also started in [[Istanbul]] in a 2–1 win, also in the group stage.<ref>{{cite web |title=Turkey 1–2 Spain: Riera earns comeback victory |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=236469&cc=5739 |work=ESPNFC.com |publisher=ESPN |date=1 April 2009 |accessdate=25 June 2010 }}</ref>

Piqué made his tournament debut for Spain at the [[2009 FIFA Confederations Cup]], starting in four of the team's five matches as ''La Roja'' finished in third place.

Piqué was Spain's first-choice centre-back playing alongside Puyol at the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup finals]] in [[South Africa]], starting all seven matches as Spain won the tournament, defeating [[Netherlands national football team|the Netherlands]] 1–0 in [[2010 FIFA World Cup Final|the final]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=McCarra |title=World Cup 2010 final: Andrés Iniesta finds key for Spain to beat Holland |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jul/11/world-cup-final-holland-spain1 |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media |date=11 July 2010 |accessdate=12 March 2013 }}</ref> Piqué's partnership with Puyol saw Spain concede only twice in seven World Cup matches and keep four consecutive [[clean sheets]] in the [[2010 FIFA World Cup knockout stage|knockout stage]]. In Spain's 1–0 group stage defeat to [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]], just before [[Gelson Fernandes]] scored the only goal of the game, Swiss striker [[Eren Derdiyok]] tumbled over Spain goalkeeper [[Iker Casillas]] and accidentally kicked Piqué in the face, knocking him over and leaving him with a nasty cut beside his right eye.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sam |last=Sheringham |title=Spain 0-1 Switzerland |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_16 |publisher=BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation) |date=16 June 2010 |accessdate=16 January 2015 }}</ref>

Piqué played every minute of Spain's [[UEFA Euro 2012]] campaign, partnering [[Sergio Ramos]] in the centre of defence. He successfully converted the team's third penalty in a [[UEFA Euro 2012 knockout stage#Portugal vs Spain|semi-final]] shoot-out win over [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]]. In [[UEFA Euro 2012 Final|the final]], Spain recorded a fifth consecutive clean sheet in a 4–0 win over [[Italy national football team|Italy]]. Piqué was one of three Spanish defenders included in [[UEFA]]'s [[UEFA European Football Championship Teams of the Tournament|Team of the Tournament]] as ''La Roja'' conceded only one goal in six matches.

At the [[2013 FIFA Confederations Cup]], Piqué was the third of Spain's seven successful takers in a 7–6 shootout win over Italy at the [[2013 FIFA Confederations Cup knockout stage#Spain v Italy|semi-final]] stage. On 30 June 2013, Piqué was [[Ejection (sports)|sent off]] during the [[2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Final|final]] against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]. He received a straight [[Penalty card|red card]] in the 68th minute for a violent tackle on recently signed Barcelona team-mate [[Neymar]]. The match finished 3–0 to Brazil, ending Spain's world record [[Spain national football team results#2010–2019|29 match unbeaten run]] in competitive internationals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-01/brazil-caps-confederations-cup-marked-by-protests-with-title.html|title=Brazil Caps Confederations Cup Marked by Protests With Title|date=1 July 2013|accessdate=10 August 2013|work=Bloomberg}}</ref>

==Style of play==
Piqué is a modern defender, who combines strength with good technique and passing. Due to his height and physical attributes, he is good in the air. Although he is primarily deployed as a [[centre-back]], he is also a tactically versatile player, who is capable of playing as a [[defensive midfielder]], and also occasionally advancing into more offensive positions, as well as being a competent defender.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gerard Piqué Bernabeu|url=http://arxiu.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/futbol/temporada_09-10/plantilla/jugadors/pique.html|accessdate=2 February 2015}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Piqué was raised in a [[Catalan people|Catalan]] family. His father, Joan, is a business man, and his mother, Montserrat, is the director of a prestigious spinal injuries hospital in Barcelona. He has a younger brother, Marc.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elperiodicodearagon.com/noticias/noticia.asp?pkid=265037|title=Familia sólo hay una |publisher=El Periódico de Aragón |accessdate=15 March 2011|date=5 August 2006|language=Spanish}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/player/bio/_/id/45931/gerard-piqu%C3%A9&cc=5901?ver=us|title=Gerard Pique – World Cup 2010 |publisher=ESPN|work=Soccernet |accessdate=15 March 2011}}</ref> His grandfather, Amador Bernabeu, is a former vice-president of FC Barcelona.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sid |last=Lowe |title=Gerard Piqué is back at Camp Nou, the man with Barcelona in his DNA |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/may/24/gerard-pique-barcelona-champions-league |work=guardian.co.uk |publisher=Guardian News and Media |date=25 May 2009 |accessdate=31 May 2009 }}</ref>

Since early 2010, Piqué has been in a relationship with Colombian singer [[Shakira]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Piqué confirms Shakira relationship on request from Barcelona coach Guardiola |url=http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/pique-confirms-shakira-relationship-request-barcelona-coach-guardiola-1434891 |publisher=tribalfootball.com |accessdate=7 February 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sure you're just friends Shakira? Singer pictured at footballer Gerard Pique's birthday party |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1354533/Shakira-footballer-Gerard-Piques-birthday-party-weeks-denies-romance.html |work=Mail Online |publisher=Associated Newspapers |date=8 February 2011 |accessdate=8 February 2011 }}</ref> They met when he appeared in the music video for her single "[[Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)]]", the official song of the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Antonio de la Rúa, Shakira's Ex-Boyfriend, Sues Star For $250 Million |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/06/antonio-de-la-rua-sues-shakira_n_1859324.html |publisher=Huffington Post |date=6 September 2012 |accessdate=24 January 2013 }}</ref> Piqué and Shakira share the same birthday but she is 10 years his senior. The couple has two children together: Milan Piqué i Mebarak (born 22 January 2013)<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/shakira-and-gerard-piques-baby-milan-1586433|publisher=Mirror Group Newspapers|work=Mirror 3am |title=First picture: Shakira and Gerard Pique's two-week-old baby Milan |date=4 February 2013 |accessdate=12 March 2013}}</ref> and Sasha Piqué i Mebarak (born 29 January 2015).<ref>[http://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/2015013023150/shakira-gives-birth-to-second-baby-boy-with-gerard-pique-name-revealed/]</ref>

Piqué's closest friend is [[Cesc Fàbregas]], whom he has known since childhood. He is also friends with his former team-mates [[Carles Puyol]], [[Rio Ferdinand]] and [[Bojan Krkić]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Cesc Fàbregas and Gerard Piqué |url=http://coolspotters.com/athletes/cesc-fabregas/and/athletes/gerard-pique#medium-748356 |publisher=Fanzter|work=Coolspotters|accessdate=27 December 2012}}</ref>

Piqué was the face of [[Mango (clothing)|Mango]]'s men's line ''HE'' for four consecutive campaign seasons between 2011 and 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thefashionisto.com/gerard-pique-for-h-e-by-mango-spring-2011-campaign/|title=Gerard Piqué for H.E. by Mango Spring 2011 Campaign|date=24 February 2011|publisher=The Fashionisto|accessdate=29 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Michelle |last=Wray |title=Gerard Pique Launches He by Mango Spring/Summer 2011 Collection Pictures |url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/features/article_1626314.php/Gerard-Pique-Launches-He-by-Mango-Spring-Summer-2011-Collection-Pictures |publisher=Monsters and Critics |date=15 March 2011 |accessdate=29 March 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gerard Pique, Mango image for the fourth time |url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/se-lleva/20120723/54328540951/pique-imagen-mango.html |work=La Vanguardia |date=23 July 2012 |accessdate=2 August 2012 }}</ref> In 2012, he lent his voice to the Catalan version of ''[[The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!]]'' as the Pirate King.<ref>{{cite web |title=TV3 TN migdia 6_8_2012 Piqué doblatge Pirates |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZf-COPsRi0 |publisher=YouTube |accessdate=10 August 2014 }}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{{updated|match played 6 June 2015}}<ref>[http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/staff/players/pique/stats Statistics – Gerard Piqué] FCBarcelona.com</ref><ref>[http://www.espnfc.com/player/45931/gerard-pique Pique Stats]</ref><ref>{{Soccerway|gerard-pique-bernabeu/10605/|accessdate=12 February 2015}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="2"|League
!colspan="2"|Cup<ref group="nb">Includes cup competitions such as the [[FA Cup]] and [[Copa del Rey]]</ref>
!colspan="2"|[[Football League Cup|League Cup]]
!colspan="2"|[[UEFA#Club|Europe]]
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
|[[2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season|2004–05]]
|0||0||1||0||1||0||1<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL">All appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]</ref>||0||0||0||3||0
|-
|[[2005–06 Manchester United F.C. season|2005–06]]
|3||0||2||0||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||7||0
|-
|[[2006–07 Manchester United F.C. season|2006–07]]
|0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0
|-
|[[2007–08 Manchester United F.C. season|2007–08]]
|9||0||0||0||1||0||3<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL">All appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]</ref>||2||0||0||13||2
|-
!Total
!12!!0!!3!!0!!4!!0!!4!!2!!0!!0!!23!!2
|-
|[[Real Zaragoza]] (loan)
|[[2006–07 La Liga|2006–07]]
|22||2||6||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||28||3
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
|[[2008–09 FC Barcelona season|2008–09]]
|25||1||6||1||colspan="2"|—||14<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL">All appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]</ref>||1||0||0||45||3
|-
|[[2009–10 FC Barcelona season|2009–10]]
|32||2||1||0||colspan="2"|—||12<ref group="lower-alpha" >One appearance in [[2009 UEFA Super Cup|UEFA Super Cup]], 11 appearances and 2 goals in [[UEFA Champions League]]</ref>||2||4<ref group="lower-alpha" >Two appearances in [[2009 Supercopa de España|Supercopa de España]], two appearances in [[2009 FIFA Club World Cup|FIFA Club World Cup]]</ref>||0||49||4
|-
|[[2010–11 FC Barcelona season|2010–11]]
|31||3||7||0||colspan="2"|—||12<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL">All appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]</ref>||1||1<ref group="lower-alpha" name="SDE" >Appearances in [[Supercopa de España]]</ref>||0||51||4
|-
|[[2011–12 FC Barcelona season|2011–12]]
|22||2||8||0||colspan="2"|—||5<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL">All appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]</ref>||0||3<ref group="lower-alpha" >Two appearances in [[2011 Supercopa de España|Supercopa de España]], one appearance in [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup|FIFA Club World Cup]]</ref>|||0||38||2
|-
|[[2012–13 FC Barcelona season|2012–13]]
|28||2||4||1||colspan="2"|—||10<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL">All appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]</ref>||0||2<ref group="lower-alpha" name="SDE" >Appearances in [[2012 Supercopa de España|Supercopa de España]]</ref>||0||44||3
|-
|[[2013–14 FC Barcelona season|2013–14]]
|26||2||2||0||colspan="2"|—||9<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL">All appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]</ref>||2||2<ref group="lower-alpha" name="SDE" >Appearances in [[2013 Supercopa de España|Supercopa de España]]</ref>||0||39||4
|-
|[[2014–15 FC Barcelona season|2014–15]]
|27||5||6||1||colspan="2"|—||11<ref group="lower-alpha" name="UCL">All appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]</ref>||1||colspan="2"|—||44||7
|-
!Total
!191!!17!!34!!3!!colspan="2"|—!!73!!7!!12!!0!!310!!27
|-
!colspan="2"|Career total
!225!!19!!43!!4!!4!!0!!77!!9!!12!!0!!361!!32
|}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
{{notelist}}

===International===
{{updated|match played 14 June 2015}}<ref name="Piqué, Gerard">{{NFT player|pid=29786|Piqué, Gerard|accessdate=18 November 2014}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Spain national football team|Spain]]
|2009||13||4
|-
|2010||16||0
|-
|2011||8||0
|-
|2012||11||0
|-
|2013||9||0
|-
|2014||8||0
|-
|2015||4||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!69!!4
|}

==Honours==

===Club===
;Manchester United
*[[Premier League]]: [[2007–08 Premier League|2007–08]]
*[[FA Community Shield]]: [[2007 FA Community Shield|2007]]
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[2008 UEFA Champions League Final|2007–08]]

;Barcelona
*[[La Liga]]: [[2008–09 La Liga|2008–09]], [[2009–10 La Liga|2009–10]], [[2010–11 La Liga|2010–11]], [[2012–13 La Liga|2012–13]], [[2014–15 La Liga|2014–15]]
*[[Copa del Rey]]: [[2008–09 Copa del Rey|2008–09]], [[2011–12 Copa del Rey|2011–12]], [[2014–15 Copa del Rey|2014–15]]
*[[Supercopa de España]]: [[2009 Supercopa de España|2009]], [[2010 Supercopa de España|2010]], [[2011 Supercopa de España|2011]], [[2013 Supercopa de España|2013]]
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[2008–09 UEFA Champions League|2008–09]], [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League|2010–11]], [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League|2014–15]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[2009 UEFA Super Cup|2009]], [[2011 UEFA Super Cup|2011]], [[2015 UEFA Super Cup|2015]]<ref name=FCBprofile/>
*[[FIFA Club World Cup]]: [[2009 FIFA Club World Cup|2009]], [[2011 FIFA Club World Cup|2011]]

===International===
[[File:Gerard Piqué Euro 2012 trophy.jpg|thumb|Piqué with the [[UEFA European Championship]] trophy in [[UEFA Euro 2012|2012]]]]
;Spain
*[[FIFA World Cup]]: [[2010 FIFA World Cup Final|2010]]
*[[UEFA European Football Championship|UEFA European Championship]]: [[UEFA Euro 2012|2012]]
*[[UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship|UEFA U-19 European Championship]]: [[2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship|2006]]

===Individual===
*[[Don Balón Award|La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year]]: 2008-09

*[[LFP Awards|La Liga Best Defender]]: [[LFP Awards#Winners|2009-10]]

*[[FIFPro#FIFA FIFPro World XI|FIFA FIFPro World XI]] (3): [[2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or#FIFA/FIFPro World XI|2010]], [[2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or#FIFA/FIFPro World XI|2011]], [[2012 FIFA Ballon d'Or#FIFA/FIFPro World XI|2012]]

* [[UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League Team of the Season]]: [[2014–15 UEFA Champions League#Squad of the season|2014–15]]<ref>{{cite web |title=UEFA Champions League squad of the season|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2255077.html#uefa+champions+league+squad+season |website=UEFA.com |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |date=9 June 2015 |accessdate=9 June 2015 }}</ref>

*[[UEFA Team of the Year]] (3): [[UEFA Team of the Year#Team of the Year 2010|2010]], [[UEFA Team of the Year#Team of the Year 2011|2011]], [[UEFA Team of the Year#Team of the Year 2012|2012]]

*[[European Sports Magazines#ESM Team of the Year|ESM Team of the Year]] (3): [[European Sports Magazines#2010–11|2010-11]],<ref name=ws>{{cite web | url =http://www.worldsoccer.com/uncategorized/esm-team-of-the-season | title = ESM Team of the season | accessdate = 5 June 2012 | publisher = World Soccer}}</ref> [[European Sports Magazines#2013–14|2013-14]],<ref name="kicker.de_2014">{{cite web | url = http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/intligen/startseite/605656/2/slideshow_die-esm-topelf-der-saison-20132f14---ein-deutscher-ist-dabei.html | title = Die ESM-Topelf der Saison 2013/14 - ein Deutscher ist dabei | language = German | publisher = kicker.de | accessdate = 15 June 2014}}</ref> [[European Sports Magazines#2014–15|2014-15]]<ref name="kicker.de_2014">{{cite web | url = http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/intligen/startseite/605656/2/slideshow_die-esm-topelf-der-saison-20142f15---ein-deutscher-ist-dabei.html | title = Die ESM-Topelf der Saison 2014/15 - ein Deutscher ist dabei | language = German | publisher = kicker.de | accessdate = 11 June 2015}}</ref>

*[[UEFA European Football Championship Teams of the Tournament|UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament]]: [[UEFA Euro 2012#Awards|2012]]

*[[La Liga]] Team of the Season: [[2014–15 La Liga|2014–15]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The 2014/15 Liga BBVA Ideal XI |url=http://www.laliga.es/en/news/the-201415-liga-bbva-ideal-xi |publisher=LFP |date=15 June 2015 |accessdate=17 June 2015}}</ref>

===Decorations===
*[[Royal Order of Sports Merit|Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit]]: 2011<ref>{{cite web |title=Las campeones del mundo de fútbol ya tienen la Real Orden del Mérito Deportivo |url=http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20111005/futbol/seleccion-espanola/las-campeones-del-mundo-de-futbol-ya-tienen-la-real-orden-del-merito-deportivo_54226408413.html |language=Spanish |publisher=Mundo Deportivo |date=5 October 2011 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Notes==
<references group="nb"/>

==External links==
{{Commons category|Gerard Piqué}}
*[http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/staff/players/pique FC Barcelona official profile]
*{{BDFutbol|944}}
*[http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/j944.html?cat=SEL National team data]
*{{Soccerway|gerard-pique-bernabeu/10605}}
*[http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/playermenu/pique.html Gerard Piqué profile] StretfordEnd.co.uk
*{{NFT player|pid=29786}}
*{{FIFA player|216973}}
*{{UEFA player|93148}}

{{FC Barcelona squad}}
{{Navboxes colour
|title = Spain squads
|bg = #DB000D
|fg = #FBEA0E
|bordercolor = black
|list1 =
{{Spain squad 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Spain squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Spain squad UEFA Euro 2012}}
{{Spain squad 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Spain squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes colour
|title = Awards
|bg = gold
|fg = navy
|list1 =
{{La Liga Defender of the Year}}
{{UEFA Euro 2012 Team of the Tournament}}
{{2014–15 La Liga Team of the Year}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pique, Gerard}}
[[Category:1987 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Barcelona]]
[[Category:Spanish footballers]]
[[Category:Catalan footballers]]
[[Category:Association football defenders]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Manchester United F.C. players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Real Zaragoza players]]
[[Category:FC Barcelona players]]
[[Category:Spain youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Spain under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Spain international footballers]]
[[Category:2009 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2012 players]]
[[Category:2014 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:FIFA World Cup-winning players]]
[[Category:UEFA European Championship-winning players]]
[[Category:Spanish expatriate footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate footballers in England]]
[[Category:2013 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:Spanish expatriate sportspeople in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Spanish expatriates in England]]
[[Category:Catalonia international footballers]]

Revision as of 16:10, 9 September 2015

Template:Catalan name

Gerard Piqué
Piqué at an event at Doha Stadium, February 2015
Personal information
Full name Gerard Piqué Bernabeu[1]
Date of birth (1987-02-02) 2 February 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Barcelona, Spain
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Barcelona
Number 3
Youth career
1997–2004 Barcelona
2004–2005 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2008 Manchester United 12 (0)
2006–2007 → Real Zaragoza (loan) 22 (2)
2008– Barcelona 191 (17)
International career‡
2002–2003 Spain U16 7 (2)
2004 Spain U17 8 (3)
2006 Spain U19 8 (3)
2007 Spain U20 5 (1)
2006–2008 Spain U21 12 (1)
2009– Spain 69 (4)
2004– Catalonia 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 May 2015
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 June 2015

Gerard Piqué Bernabeu (Catalan: [ʒəˈɾar piˈke i βərnəˈβeu], Spanish: [ʝeˈɾar piˈke i βernaˈβeu]; born 2 February 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for FC Barcelona and the Spain national team.

A product of Barça's cantera, La Masia, he initially left the club for Manchester United in 2004, where he remained for four years, before returning to Barça under Pep Guardiola's leadership, helping the club win a treble in 2008–09 and a quadruple in 2009–10. Piqué is one of four players to have won the UEFA Champions League two years in a row with different teams, the others being Marcel Desailly, Paulo Sousa and Samuel Eto'o.[3]

Piqué has also represented Spain, making his debut on 11 February 2009. He played an integral role in the Spain team that won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012.

Club career

Early career

Born in Barcelona, Catalonia,[2] Piqué started his career in FC Barcelona's youth teams as a defensive midfielder, but before he signed his first professional contract with the club, he decided to join Manchester United. The Premier League side did not pay a fee for Piqué as he was too young to have a professional contract.

Manchester United

Piqué made his debut for Manchester United in October 2004, as a late replacement for John O'Shea in a 3–0 League Cup victory at Crewe Alexandra as a centre-back.[4] He made his full debut on 29 March 2006 against West Ham United, in a Premier League match at Old Trafford, playing at right-back, as Gary Neville was unavailable through injury.[5]

His performances, most notably in the reserve team, earned him a new contract, which he signed in February 2005 to run until the summer of 2009. On 4 August 2006, however, La Liga side Real Zaragoza secured Piqué on a season-long loan. The conditions of the loan involved Piqué having to feature in at least 20 games for the Aragonese outfit,[6] which he did, as he made 22 first team appearances in a successful spell, alongside Argentine Gabriel Milito, either as a stopper or a holding midfielder.

On 5 May 2007, it was announced that Piqué would be staying at Old Trafford for the following season. Sir Alex Ferguson had intended to assess Piqué's form at La Romareda on 6 May, prior to a meeting where the two parties would discuss Piqué's future prospects with the club. However, Ferguson was unable to attend on account of airline difficulties.[7]

Piqué's return to Old Trafford saw him make nine league appearances during the 2007–08 season. He scored on his first start in the UEFA Champions League, a 4–0 home win against Dynamo Kyiv on 7 November 2007, as Piqué scored the first of Manchester United's four goals in that match.[8] In doing so, he became the 450th player to score at least one goal for the club.[9] His second goal for the club also came in the Champions League, in an away match to Roma on 12 December 2007.[10]

Return to Barcelona

Piqué during the 2008 Joan Gamper Trophy.

On 27 May 2008, Piqué signed a four-year contract with Barcelona, with a €5 million buy-out clause.[11] Barcelona paid a £5 million fee for the player.[12] He expressed his joy at re-signing with his boyhood club, although he admitted he had enjoyed his spell at Manchester United:

"I am very happy to be back, I didn't think I would be here again but this is very good for me. Manchester United is a great club and I enjoyed winning things. To play with world class players has helped me and now I want to continue this at Barça."

Piqué's first goal for Barcelona came in the club's 5–2 Champions League group stage win at Sporting CP on 26 November 2008.[13][14] His first domestic goal for the club followed two months later, on 29 January 2009, in a Copa del Rey match against local rivals Espanyol. The goal, which came from a corner kick in the 57th minute, turned out to be the game winner in a 3–2 victory for Barcelona.[15][16] On 2 May 2009, Piqué scored Barcelona's sixth goal in a 6–2 El Clásico win against Real Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.[17]

Piqué after Barcelona's triumph in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final

On 13 May 2009, he picked up the first trophy of his Barcelona career as he helped his club to a 4–1 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey Final.[18] Three days later, Barcelona clinched the league title after Real Madrid lost 3–2 to Villarreal, with two games left in the season.[19]

On 27 May 2009, Piqué played against his former club Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League Final, which Barcelona won 2–0,[20] completing an historic treble.[21]

Piqué playing for Barcelona during the 2012–13 season

On 19 December 2009, Piqué was in the Barcelona team which beat Argentine club Estudiantes 2–1 in the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup Final. Piqué assisted Pedro Rodríguez's 89th minute equalising goal which took the match to extra-time.[22]

On 26 February 2010, Piqué signed a contract extension to keep him at Barcelona until at least summer 2015.[23][24] On 28 April 2010, Piqué scored in Barcelona's Champions League semi-final second leg against Internazionale, though his side went out 3–2 on aggregate.[25]

On 28 May 2011, Piqué played in his second Champions League Final. Barça defeated Manchester United 3–1 at Wembley Stadium to lift the European Cup for the second time in three seasons. On 1 May 2013, Piqué scored an own goal for Bayern Munich in Camp Nou which made score 2–0 to Bayern. Later, Bayern went on to win 3–0 and 7–0 on aggregate.[26]

On 20 May 2014, Piqué signed a contract extension with Barcelona, keeping him at the club until 2019.[27]

On 6 June 2015, Piqué started for Barça in the 2015 UEFA Champions League Final, as the club won its fifth European Cup by beating Juventus at Berlin's Olympiastadion.[28] This made Barcelona the first club in history to win the treble of domestic league, domestic cup and European Cup twice.[29] Piqué, Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi, Pedro, Sergio Busquets and Dani Alves are the only players to have been a part of both Treble-winning teams.[29]

International career

Youth teams

Piqué in the Palacio de la Moncloa for Spain's 2010 FIFA World Cup celebrations

Piqué was a member of the Spain under-19 side that won the 2006 U-19 European Championship in Poland.[30] In a 2–1 final win against Scotland, Piqué put in a strong performance in defence, hitting the crossbar with a header, and also providing his team's second goal for striker Alberto Bueno.[31]

Subsequently, he played in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, starting all six of Spain's matches and scoring a goal in the team's come-from-behind 4–2 victory over Brazil in the round of 16.[32] However, Piqué missed the deciding penalty in the shoot-out against the Czech Republic and Spain were eliminated at the quarter-final stage.[33]

Senior side

Piqué (back row, second right) lining up for the Catalonia national team against Nigeria

On 6 February 2009, Piqué was called up to the senior squad for the friendly against England on 11 February.[34] He played the entire match in a 2–0 win, in Seville.[35] In his second match as an international on 28 March 2009, he was called up as a replacement for injured team-mate Carles Puyol and he scored the only goal in Spain's victory in the 2010 World Cup qualifier against Turkey at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.[36] Four days later, he also started in Istanbul in a 2–1 win, also in the group stage.[37]

Piqué made his tournament debut for Spain at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, starting in four of the team's five matches as La Roja finished in third place.

Piqué was Spain's first-choice centre-back playing alongside Puyol at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, starting all seven matches as Spain won the tournament, defeating the Netherlands 1–0 in the final.[38] Piqué's partnership with Puyol saw Spain concede only twice in seven World Cup matches and keep four consecutive clean sheets in the knockout stage. In Spain's 1–0 group stage defeat to Switzerland, just before Gelson Fernandes scored the only goal of the game, Swiss striker Eren Derdiyok tumbled over Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas and accidentally kicked Piqué in the face, knocking him over and leaving him with a nasty cut beside his right eye.[39]

Piqué played every minute of Spain's UEFA Euro 2012 campaign, partnering Sergio Ramos in the centre of defence. He successfully converted the team's third penalty in a semi-final shoot-out win over Portugal. In the final, Spain recorded a fifth consecutive clean sheet in a 4–0 win over Italy. Piqué was one of three Spanish defenders included in UEFA's Team of the Tournament as La Roja conceded only one goal in six matches.

At the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, Piqué was the third of Spain's seven successful takers in a 7–6 shootout win over Italy at the semi-final stage. On 30 June 2013, Piqué was sent off during the final against Brazil. He received a straight red card in the 68th minute for a violent tackle on recently signed Barcelona team-mate Neymar. The match finished 3–0 to Brazil, ending Spain's world record 29 match unbeaten run in competitive internationals.[40]

Style of play

Piqué is a modern defender, who combines strength with good technique and passing. Due to his height and physical attributes, he is good in the air. Although he is primarily deployed as a centre-back, he is also a tactically versatile player, who is capable of playing as a defensive midfielder, and also occasionally advancing into more offensive positions, as well as being a competent defender.[41]

Personal life

Piqué was raised in a Catalan family. His father, Joan, is a business man, and his mother, Montserrat, is the director of a prestigious spinal injuries hospital in Barcelona. He has a younger brother, Marc.[42][43] His grandfather, Amador Bernabeu, is a former vice-president of FC Barcelona.[44]

Since early 2010, Piqué has been in a relationship with Colombian singer Shakira.[45][46] They met when he appeared in the music video for her single "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[47] Piqué and Shakira share the same birthday but she is 10 years his senior. The couple has two children together: Milan Piqué i Mebarak (born 22 January 2013)[48] and Sasha Piqué i Mebarak (born 29 January 2015).[49]

Piqué's closest friend is Cesc Fàbregas, whom he has known since childhood. He is also friends with his former team-mates Carles Puyol, Rio Ferdinand and Bojan Krkić.[50]

Piqué was the face of Mango's men's line HE for four consecutive campaign seasons between 2011 and 2012.[51][52][53] In 2012, he lent his voice to the Catalan version of The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! as the Pirate King.[54]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 6 June 2015[55][56][57]
Club Season League Cup[nb 1] League Cup Europe Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester United 2004–05 0 0 1 0 1 0 1[a] 0 0 0 3 0
2005–06 3 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 — 7 0
2006–07 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2007–08 9 0 0 0 1 0 3[a] 2 0 0 13 2
Total 12 0 3 0 4 0 4 2 0 0 23 2
Real Zaragoza (loan) 2006–07 22 2 6 1 — — — 28 3
Barcelona 2008–09 25 1 6 1 — 14[a] 1 0 0 45 3
2009–10 32 2 1 0 — 12[b] 2 4[c] 0 49 4
2010–11 31 3 7 0 — 12[a] 1 1[d] 0 51 4
2011–12 22 2 8 0 — 5[a] 0 3[e] 0 38 2
2012–13 28 2 4 1 — 10[a] 0 2[d] 0 44 3
2013–14 26 2 2 0 — 9[a] 2 2[d] 0 39 4
2014–15 27 5 6 1 — 11[a] 1 — 44 7
Total 191 17 34 3 — 73 7 12 0 310 27
Career total 225 19 43 4 4 0 77 9 12 0 361 32
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h All appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. ^ One appearance in UEFA Super Cup, 11 appearances and 2 goals in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ Two appearances in Supercopa de España, two appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
  4. ^ a b c Appearances in Supercopa de España Cite error: The named reference "SDE" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ Two appearances in Supercopa de España, one appearance in FIFA Club World Cup

International

As of match played 14 June 2015[58]
National team Year Apps Goals
Spain 2009 13 4
2010 16 0
2011 8 0
2012 11 0
2013 9 0
2014 8 0
2015 4 0
Total 69 4

Honours

Club

Manchester United
Barcelona

International

Piqué with the UEFA European Championship trophy in 2012
Spain

Individual

Decorations

References

  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of Players" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). 4 June 2010. p. 29. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "Gerard Piquè profile". FC Barcelona. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  3. ^ Bogunyà, Roger (28 May 2009). "Three titles and personal records". FCBarcelona.com. FC Barcelona. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  4. ^ "Crewe 0–3 Man Utd". BBC Sport. 26 October 2004. Retrieved 27 May 2008.
  5. ^ "Man Utd 1-0 West Ham". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 29 March 2006. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Zaragoza's Pique: My future is with Man Utd". OnTheMinute.com. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
  7. ^ Hibbs, Ben (4 May 2007). "Pique set for OT return". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  8. ^ McNulty, Phil (7 November 2007). "Man Utd 4–0 Dynamo Kiev". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  9. ^ "All Goalscorers in all Competitive Matches". The Website of Dreams. StretfordEnd.co.uk. November 2007. p. 5. Retrieved 8 November 2007.
  10. ^ Herbert, Ian (13 December 2007). "Roma 1 Manchester United 1: Pique's joy on pitch marred by violence off it". The Independent. Independent Print. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  11. ^ "Piqué comes back home". FCBarcelona.com. FC Barcelona. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  12. ^ Lowe, Sid (25 May 2009). "Gerard Piqué is back at Camp Nou, the man with Barcelona in his DNA". guardian.co.uk. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  13. ^ "Sporting Lisbon 2 – 5 Barcelona". ESPNFC.com. ESPN. 26 November 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  14. ^ "Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan progress despite defeat to Panathinaikos". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 26 November 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  15. ^ "Barcelona 3 – 2 Espanyol". ESPNFC.com. ESPN. 29 January 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
  16. ^ "Barcelona into Copa del Rey semis". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 29 January 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  17. ^ "REAL MADRID- FC BARCELONA 2-6". FC Barcelona. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  18. ^ "Barcelona defeat Athletic Bilbao to win Copa del Rey". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  19. ^ "Real Madrid loss hands La Liga title to Barcelona". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 16 May 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  20. ^ "Barcelona 2–0 Man Utd". BBC Sport. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  21. ^ "Guardiola salutes his treble winners". UEFA.com. UEFA. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  22. ^ "Barcelona add world title to trophy haul". CNN. 19 December 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  23. ^ "Pique signs new Barcelona deal". MirrorFootball. Mirror Group Newspapers. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  24. ^ "Piqué extends Barcelona contract". UEFA.com. UEFA. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  25. ^ Barcelona 1 – 0 Internazionale ESPN Soccernet, 28 April 2010
  26. ^ [1] ESPN Soccernet, 1 May 2013
  27. ^ "Gerard Piqué signs on till 2019". FC Barcelona. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  28. ^ Haslam, Andrew (6 June 2015). "Barcelona see off Juventus to claim fifth title". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  29. ^ a b "Barça make history with second treble!". fcbarcelona.com. FC Barcelona. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  30. ^ Meléndez's mind focused on final UEFA.com, 27 July 2006
  31. ^ 'This defeat feels like a victory' UEFA.com, 30 July 2006
  32. ^ "Spain-Brazil Match Report". FIFA. Archived from the original on 14 February 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  33. ^ "Spain – Czech Republic Match Report". FIFA. 14 July 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  34. ^ "Lista de convocados para el amistoso ante Inglaterra" (in Spanish). Real Federación Española de Fútbol. 6 February 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  35. ^ Iliev, Nick (12 February 2009). "International Friendly: Spain completely outclass England". Sofia Echo. Sofia Echo Media. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  36. ^ "Del Bosque Analyses Spain's Turkey Win". Goal.com. 29 March 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  37. ^ "Turkey 1–2 Spain: Riera earns comeback victory". ESPNFC.com. ESPN. 1 April 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  38. ^ McCarra, Kevin (11 July 2010). "World Cup 2010 final: Andrés Iniesta finds key for Spain to beat Holland". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  39. ^ Sheringham, Sam (16 June 2010). "Spain 0-1 Switzerland". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  40. ^ "Brazil Caps Confederations Cup Marked by Protests With Title". Bloomberg. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  41. ^ "Gerard Piqué Bernabeu". Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  42. ^ "Familia sólo hay una" (in Spanish). El Periódico de Aragón. 5 August 2006. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  43. ^ "Gerard Pique – World Cup 2010". Soccernet. ESPN. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  44. ^ Lowe, Sid (25 May 2009). "Gerard Piqué is back at Camp Nou, the man with Barcelona in his DNA". guardian.co.uk. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  45. ^ "Piqué confirms Shakira relationship on request from Barcelona coach Guardiola". tribalfootball.com. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  46. ^ "Sure you're just friends Shakira? Singer pictured at footballer Gerard Pique's birthday party". Mail Online. Associated Newspapers. 8 February 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  47. ^ "Antonio de la Rúa, Shakira's Ex-Boyfriend, Sues Star For $250 Million". Huffington Post. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  48. ^ "First picture: Shakira and Gerard Pique's two-week-old baby Milan", Mirror 3am, Mirror Group Newspapers, 4 February 2013, retrieved 12 March 2013
  49. ^ [2]
  50. ^ "Cesc Fàbregas and Gerard Piqué". Coolspotters. Fanzter. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  51. ^ "Gerard Piqué for H.E. by Mango Spring 2011 Campaign". The Fashionisto. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  52. ^ Wray, Michelle (15 March 2011). "Gerard Pique Launches He by Mango Spring/Summer 2011 Collection Pictures". Monsters and Critics. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  53. ^ "Gerard Pique, Mango image for the fourth time". La Vanguardia. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  54. ^ "TV3 TN migdia 6_8_2012 Piqué doblatge Pirates". YouTube. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  55. ^ Statistics – Gerard Piqué FCBarcelona.com
  56. ^ Pique Stats
  57. ^ Gerard Piqué at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  58. ^ Gerard.html "Gerard Piqué". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 18 November 2014. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  59. ^ "UEFA Champions League squad of the season". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  60. ^ "ESM Team of the season". World Soccer. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  61. ^ a b "Die ESM-Topelf der Saison 2013/14 - ein Deutscher ist dabei" (in German). kicker.de. Retrieved 15 June 2014. Cite error: The named reference "kicker.de_2014" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  62. ^ "The 2014/15 Liga BBVA Ideal XI". LFP. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  63. ^ "Las campeones del mundo de fútbol ya tienen la Real Orden del Mérito Deportivo" (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 5 October 2011.

Notes

  1. ^ Includes cup competitions such as the FA Cup and Copa del Rey
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