Matías Almeyda

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Matías Almeyda
Personal information
Full name Matías Jesús Almeyda
Date of birth (1973-12-21) 21 December 1973 (age 50)
Place of birth Azul, Argentina
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Guadalajara (coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1996 River Plate 67 (3)
1996–1997 Sevilla 28 (0)
1997–2000 Lazio 63 (2)
2000–2002 Parma 34 (0)
2002–2004 Internazionale 47 (1)
2004–2005 Brescia 5 (0)
2005 Quilmes 0 (0)
2007 Lyn 2 (0)
2009 Fénix 4 (0)
2009–2011 River Plate 64 (0)
Total 314 (6)
International career
1996–2003 Argentina 35 (1)
Managerial career
2011–2012 River Plate
2013–2015 Banfield
2015– Guadalajara
Medal record
Representing  Argentina
Men's Football
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Matías Jesús Almeyda (Spanish pronunciation: [maˈti.as xeˈsus alˈmeiða]; born 21 December 1973) is an Argentine retired footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, and is the current manager of Mexican club C.D. Guadalajara.

Ironically nicknamed El Pelado ("bald one") despite his long hair,[1] he played most of his professional career at River Plate and in Italy, representing four teams in the latter country.

Having represented Argentina during nearly one full decade, Almeyda appeared with the national team in two World Cups.

Club career

Born in Azul, Buenos Aires Province, Almeyda started playing professionally for local and national powerhouse Club Atlético River Plate, first as understudy to Leonardo Astrada then as a starter, helping the side to the 1996 Primera División title after his insertion in the starting XI, as well as that year's Copa Libertadores. Shortly after, he moved to Sevilla FC in Spain for a record fee for a player in the country of $9 million;[2] he appeared regularly in his first and only season with the Andalusians, but suffered La Liga relegation.[3]

In the following eight years, Almeyda would play in the Italian Serie A, successively representing S.S. Lazio, A.C. Parma and Inter Milan. He spent three seasons in Rome with Lazio, becoming a firm fan favourite especially after scoring a 35-yard goal against Parma's Gianluigi Buffon, his only of the 1999–2000 campaign, which ended with league and Coppa Italia conquest;[4] additionally, he was voted the competition's best player in 1998–99, and also won – as a starter – the last UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, against RCD Mallorca,[5] and was often partnered with compatriot Juan Sebastián Verón in the heart of midfield by manager Sven-Göran Eriksson in his 4–4–2 formation, with Verón providing the creativity and Almeyda the strength.[6][7]

In the summer of 2002, Almeyda was exchanged with Vratislav Greško and moved to Inter, where he was again partnered by compatriots as in his previous clubs. Two years later he joined his final team in Italy, lowly Brescia Calcio, on a free transfer;[8] the following year, after the team's relegation, as second from bottom, he returned to Argentina and agreed to play for Quilmes Atlético Club, which appeared at the Libertadores, announcing his retirement after their elimination from that tournament.[9]

After one-and-a-half years away from football, in which he represented Argentina in a Showball tour around the world alongside Diego Maradona and participated in the Indoor Football World Cup in Spain, Almeyda joined Norwegian Premier League side FK Lyn in Oslo, in which he was accompanied by compatriot José Oscar Flores. Their friend Terje Liverod was central in these transfers.[10] The midfielder made his debut on 13 May 2007, but only played regularly in the reserves and in the domestic Cup, being released as the striker shortly after and again retiring from football.

On 16 January 2009, at almost 36, Almeyda, after nearly agreeing on a return to River, signed with modest Club Atlético Fénix in the fourth division.[11] During his brief spell, he managed to be sent off on two occasions.[12]

On 19 August 2009, veteran Almeyda finally re-joined his main club River Plate, teaming up with former teammates Marcelo Gallardo and Ariel Ortega.[1] In June 2011, the team was relegated to the second level for the first time in their history and he retired from football, being appointed team manager the following month.[13]

In early April 2013, Almeyda signed with Club Atlético Banfield also in division two.[14] On 15 September 2015 he was appointed at Mexican Liga MX club C.D. Guadalajara,[15] going on to win several accolades during his spell including the Clausura 2017.[16]

International career

Almeyda won a total of 35 caps for Argentina over the course of seven years, his debut coming in April 1996 against Bolivia.[17] Shortly after, he helped the Olympic side to the silver medal at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta.[18]

Subsequently, Almeyda was picked in the squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. He started in all five games during the tournament, as the country reached the quarter–finals.[19]

After Marcelo Bielsa became Argentina's manager, Almeyda did not get as much playing time.[20][21] He was, however, selected for the 2002 World Cup which was held in South Korea and Japan, and played in the 1–1 group stage draw against Sweden.[18]

Style of play

A tenacious, dynamic and physically strong player, Almeyda excelled in his position in midfield due to his stamina, work-rate and ability to press opponents and break down opposition plays. A hard-tackler, he was also gifted with good feet and stood out for his leadership throughout his career.[17][22][23]

Honours

Player

Club

River Plate[24]
Lazio[24]
Parma[24]

International

Argentina[18]

Individual

Manager

River Plate[26]
Banfield[26]
Guadalajara[26][16]

Individual

Managerial statistics

As of 5 July 2017[n 1]
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
River Plate Argentina July 2011 27 November 2012 60 29 22 9 98 44 +54 048.33
Banfield Argentina April 2013 3 August 2015 87 39 24 24 133 92 +41 044.83
Guadalajara Mexico 15 September 2015 Present 97 44 31 22 118 92 +26 045.36
Total 241 112 75 54 349 229 +120 046.47

Notes

  1. ^ Includes matches from Liga MX, Copa MX, Supercopa MX and Copa Libertadores

References

  1. ^ a b "Tenía muchas ganas" ("I wanted this very badly"); Olé, 19 August 2009 Template:Es icon
  2. ^ "El Sevilla paga 1. 160 millones por Almeyda, fichaje récord del fútbol argentino" [Sevilla pay 1. 160 million for Almeyda, Argentine football record signing] (in Spanish). El País. 31 August 1996. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Almeyda: "Cuando salía a la cancha oía cómo la gente decía que dónde estaba el verdadero Almeyda"" [Almeyda: «When I took the pitch I heard people wondering where the real Almeyda was»] (in Spanish). ABC. 9 July 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Ricordi e gol di Parma Lazio" [Memories and goals of Parma Lazio] (in Italian). La Repubblica. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  5. ^ "2002 World Cup profile". BBC Sport. 22 May 2002. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  6. ^ "Una Lazio mostruosa" [Monster Lazio] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 17 October 1999. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  7. ^ "How Sven-Goran Eriksson's Lazio won the great Serie A title race of 1999–2000". The Guardian. 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Brescia boosted by Almeyda". UEFA.com. 24 August 2004. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  9. ^ "10 cosas que tal vez no sabías de 'El Pelado' Almeyda" [10 things you maybe did not know about 'El Pelado' Almeyda] (in Spanish). Marca. 29 May 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  10. ^ Almeyda y el 'Turu' Flores regresan al fútbol en la Liga noruega (Almeyda and Turu Flores return to football in the Norwegian League); El Mundo, 26 March 2007 Template:Es icon
  11. ^ Almeyda: de refuerzo de River a la Primera C (Almeyda: from River signing to Primera C); DERF, 16 January 2009 Template:Es icon
  12. ^ Fine form and favoured targets; FIFA.com, 24 February 2010
  13. ^ Matías Almeyda pasa de jugador a entrenador en River (Matías Almeyda goes from player to manager in River); Marca, 28 June 2011 Template:Es icon
  14. ^ Almeyda, el nuevo DT de Banfield (Almeyda, Banfield's new HC); Todo Noticias, 1 April 2013 Template:Es icon
  15. ^ "Matías Almeyda es el nuevo pastor del Rebaño Sagrado" [Matías Almeyda is the new shepherd of the Holy Herd] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  16. ^ a b "Los 12 campeonatos de Chivas" [Chivas' 12 championships] (in Spanish). Marca. 29 May 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  17. ^ a b Matteo Dotto. "ALMEYDA, Matías Jesus" (in Italian). Treccani. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  18. ^ a b c Rex Gowar; Amlan Chakraborty (19 September 2015). "Soccer-Almeyda takes charge of relegation-haunted Guadalajara". Reuters. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  19. ^ "WORLD CUP: Croatia takes out mighty Germany". Kitsap Sun. 5 July 1998. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  20. ^ "En el nombre de Bielsa" [In the name of Bielsa] (in Spanish). Clarín. 7 November 2002. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  21. ^ Iucht, Román (2012). La vida por el fútbol: Marcelo Bielsa, el último romántico [Life for football: Marcelo Bielsa, the last romantic] (in Spanish). Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial Argentina. pp. 206–. ISBN 978-950-07-3749-4. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |authormask= (help)
  22. ^ Nicola Ghio (28 January 2014). "Il lìder massimo: i 18 anni del Petroliere #8 (2002/03)" [Top leader: the 18th anniversary of Petroliere #8 (2002/03)] (in Italian). Sport Main. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  23. ^ Stefano Chioffi (29 March 2013). "Erbes, corsa e pressing: ecco un altro Almeyda" [Erbes, stamina and pressing: here is another Almeyda] (in Italian). Corriere dello Sport. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  24. ^ a b c "Matías Almeyda". Eurosport. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  25. ^ "Italy – Footballer of the Year". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ a b c "M. Almeyda". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 December 2015.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matías_Almeyda&oldid=809048071"