Gonzalo Higuaín
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gonzalo Gerardo Higuaín | |||||||||||||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in) | |||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Striker / Winger | |||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||
Current team | Real Madrid | |||||||||||||
| Number | 20 | |||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||
| 2004–2006 | River Plate | |||||||||||||
| 2006– | Real Madrid | |||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Argentina Olympic | |||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 May 2009 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 February 2008 | ||||||||||||||
Gonzalo Gerardo Higuaín (born 10 December 1987) is an French-Argentine footballer who currently plays for Real Madrid of the Spanish La Liga. Higuaín currently plays as either a striker as part of a 2 man attack, or as a winger on the right of a 3 man attack. Similar to fellow Argentine Lionel Messi.
Biography
Gonzalo Higuaín was born in France while his father, professional Argentine footballer Jorge "El Pipa" Higuaín, was playing for Stade Brest 29, at the time in the French Ligue 1. Having left the country at the age of 10 months, he did not return to France until the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Even though he does not speak French,[1] he holds a French passport because his father was naturalized French. But in January 2007, he successfully applied for the Argentine nationality.[2] He is the younger brother of Federico Higuaín, who plays football for Club Atlético Independiente.
Club career
River Plate
Following his double strike in the Superclásico local derby against Boca Juniors on 8 October 2006, River Plate manager Daniel Passarella declared that he had an 'enormous future' and was 'destined for superstardom'.[3]
Real Madrid
Real Madrid successfully signed Higuaín for €13 million, after River Plate had earlier turned down a €10 million offer for the 19-year-old striker.
The striker announced at the signing of his six and a half-year contract:
"It's great to have the chance of playing for such an important club as Real Madrid. I feel proud that Madrid has noticed me."[4]
Higuaín's first game for Real Madrid was on 14 January against Real Zaragoza at home.[5] Higuaín shone by creating several chances and delivering the assist which resulted in Madrid's 1-0 crucial win against Zaragoza.
Higuaín's first ever goal for Real Madrid came during the 62nd minute in Real Madrid's draw with local rivals Atlético de Madrid on 24 February 2007. His first home goal for Real came in the dying minutes of Real's crucial encounter with RCD Espanyol on 12 May 2007. With the match tied at 3-3, Higuaín won the ball with a sliding tackle before exchanging a one-two with José Antonio Reyes and slotting the ball into the net. It was this goal which enabled Real Madrid to overtake rivals FC Barcelona into first place and propelled them to their 30th League Title.
On 4 May 2008, with Real Madrid down 1-0 against CA Osasuna, and needing just three points from their final fours games to secure the league title, Higuaín came on for Javier Saviola in the 67th minute and from a free kick, he assisted Arjen Robben's equalizer in the 88th minute. Higuaín then struck the winning goal two minutes later to clinch Real Madrid's 31st La Liga championship.
Despite being Real Madrid's title hero, Higuaín found himself on the bench for Barcelona's visit to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium four days later. However, as he had in previous games, Higuaín came on to devastating effect, scoring with his first touch within a minute and helped his team to a crushing 4-1 victory.
On 24 August 2008, Higuaín became Real Madrid's cup hero, scoring in the 89th minute, giving Real Madrid a victory over Valencia CF and its eighth Supercopa de España. After the close of the summer transfer window, Real Madrid revealed that they have turned down a €25 million offer for Higuaín from Juventus. He has cemented a starting place in the team's starting eleven after impressing in the preseason, UEFA Champions League, and La Liga.
Higuaín scored all four goals in a 4-3 win against Málaga CF on 8 November 2008.[6] Higuaín also provided two assists in the league match against RCD Mallorca on 11 January 2009. He has since been renowned for his devastating pace, dribbling, and low, powerful drives.[7]
International career
Higuaín initially rejected calls from both the Argentine and French national teams,[8] specifically a friendly against Greece on 15 November 2006,[9] claiming at the time he was undecided for which country he would prefer to play.
Higuaín's international career was looking set to mirror that of David Trézéguet, whose father was Argentinian, but went on to play successfully for France. When Les Bleus called up Higuaín against Greece, they assigned him the number 20 shirt, the number originally worn by Trézéguet. However, at the beginning of 2007, Higuaín expressed his desire to play for Argentina and started the procedures to obtain Argentine citizenship.[10]
In February 2008, Higuaín was called up by Argentina Olympic for a friendly match against Guatemala. [1]. He scored two goals in his debut as Argentina won 5-0. And in May 2008, Higuaín played 61 minutes against Catalonia in other friendly match. [2]. Both matches were not officially recognized by FIFA as "A" international matches, and will not count towards his caps and goals in international play.[citation needed].
Consequently, Higuaín may still choose to play for France, and recently announced he is considering switching his allegiance if he continues to be ignored by current Argentina boss Diego Maradona. [3]
Club career statistics
- (correct as of 2 May, 2009)[11]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| River Plate | 2004-05 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005-06 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 8 | 4 | |
| 2006-07 | 17 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 9 | 11 | |
| Total | 32 | 14 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 17 | 15 | |
| Real Madrid | 2006–07 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 5 |
| 2007–08 | 25 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2008–09 | 34 | 22 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 24 | 9 | |
| Total | 78 | 32 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 103 | 35 | 17 | |
| Career Total | 110 | 46 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 132 | 52 | 32 | |
Honours
Real Madrid
- Domestic
References
- ^ "Higuaín admits he doesn't speak a word of French" (in Spanish). Clarín. 2006-10-24.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Higuaín get Argentine Citizenship" (in Spanish). Clarín. 2006-10-31.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Passarella predicts River's 18-year-old Higuain has "enormous future"". International Herald Tribune. 2006-10-09.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Higuain nearing move to Madrid SportsNews24h.com. Retrieved on October 27, 2007
- ^ "Tactical Formation". Football-Lineups.com. Retrieved January 16.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Higuain vs Malaga http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1202758364036/noticia/Noticia/Happy_Christmas_from_Higuain.htm
- ^ Real Madrid vs Mallorca http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/88/spain/2009/01/11/1055737/rampant-real-madrid-maul-mallorca
- ^ "La Celeste y Blanca pesa" (in Spanish). Olé. 2006-11-10.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Domenech turns to uncapped tyros". UEFA. 2006-11-09.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Higuain to choose Argentina over France" - Yahoo sports
- ^ Higuain Statistics Retrieved October 27 2008
External links
- Statistics at Guardian Stats Centre
 | ||
{{subst:#if:Higuain, Gonzalo Gerardo|}} [[Category:{{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:1987}}
|| UNKNOWN | MISSING = Year of birth missing {{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:LIVING}}||LIVING=(living people)}}
| #default = 1987 births
}}]] {{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:LIVING}}
|| LIVING = | MISSING = | UNKNOWN = | #default =
}}