Gabriel Heinze

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Personal information
Gabriel Heinze
Full name	Gabriel Iván Heinze
Date of birth	April 19, 1978
Place of birth	Crespo, Argentina
Height	1.78 m (5' 10")
Nickname	Gabi / Gringo
Position	Left Back, Centre Back
Club information
Current club	Manchester United
Number	4
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2001 2001-04 2004-	Newell's Old Boys Real Valladolid Sporting (loan) Real Valladolid Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United F.C.	26 (3) 18 (1) 7 (1) 54 (8) 112 (19) 42 (6)
National team**
2003-	Argentina	39 (2)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of January 2006. ** National team caps and goals correct as of August 25, 2006.

Gabriel Iván Heinze (born April 19, 1978 in Crespo, Entre Ríos Province) is an Argentine football player who currently plays for the English team Manchester United as a left-back, having transferred from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2004. Heinze is a descendant of Volga German immigrants that settled in Argentina, although unsubstatiated rumours that he also speaks Welsh persist. ^[1] His ever solid displays for Man Utd in his first season saw him win fans player of the year award. He is now established his place in the national side and is now regarded as one of the best left-back's in the world. ^[2]

He marked his debut for United in September 2004 with a goal in the 2-2 draw against Bolton Wanderers and immediately established himself as United's first choice left-back with a number of highly impressive performances. The Manchester United fans have taken to the Argentine for his exemplary attitude, showing fierce determination on the pitch. Heinze's impressive play is regularly lauded by United fans with the familiar chant of "Ar-gen-tina!" Heinze was voted Manchester United fans' player of the year for the 2004-05 season, beating top-scorer Wayne Rooney, and is the first South American to do so. In August 2005 he was voted by the fans as Best defence player in the history of Paris Saint-Germain. When he played in Spain, he had a Spanish passport, therefore, he is considered a Spanish-Argentine.

Heinze was injured in a UEFA Champions League match with Villarreal on 13 September and was out of first-team action for the rest of the 2005-06 season. United suffered a dip in form in Heinze's absence, further highlighting the Argentine's importance to the Manchester club. Kieran Richardson, John O'Shea and new arrival Patrice Evra all tried and ultimately flattered to deceive in Heinze's left-back position, and while Mikael Silvestre brought some stability to the position towards the end of the season, Ferguson has said that his team have missed Heinze's experience and leadership. Gabriel made a comeback of sorts for the reserve team in April, but a minor niggling injury picked up in his third game back prevented him making a first-team appearance before the end of the campaign, and this appeared to have ended his chances of representing Argentina in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. However, national coach José Pekerman showed great faith in Heinze and called him up into his 23-man squad for the finals.

His World Cup ended in penalty heartache against Germany. Argentina made it through to the Quarter Finals, but were unable to capitalise on their 1-0 lead, and Germany equalised with just minutes to go to take it to Extra-time and penalties. Heinze did not take a penalty, but could only sit in tears as Jens Lehmann saved his teammates Roberto Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso's penalties.^[3]

He is married to Maria Florencia and has two children, Paula and Agustín.

[edit] Playing Career (All competitions)

Season	Club	Games	Goals
1997-98	Newell's Old Boys	8	0
1997-98	Real Valladolid	0	0
1998-99	Sporting Clube de Portugal	5	1
1999-00	Real Valladolid	18	0
2000-01	Real Valladolid	36	1
2001-02	Paris Saint-Germain	37	0
2002-03	Paris Saint-Germain	39	2
2003-04	Paris Saint-Germain	33	2
2004-05	Manchester United F.C.	33	1
2005-06	Manchester United F.C.	4	2

Olympic medal record
Men's Football
Gold	2004 Athens	Team

[edit] References

^ http://home.skysports.com/worldcup/player.aspx?plid=6127&clid=632
^ http://www.manutdzone.com/playerpages/GabrielHeinze.htm
^ http://www.golaccio.com/heinze/WC06review.php Heinze World Cup Review

[edit] External links

	Argentina squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup Quarter-finalists
1 Abbondanzieri \| 2 Ayala \| 3 Sorín \| 4 Coloccini \| 5 Cambiasso \| 6 Heinze \| 7 Saviola \| 8 Mascherano \| 9 Crespo \| 10 Riquelme \| 11 Tévez \| 12 Franco \| 13 Scaloni \| 14 Palacio \| 15 Milito \| 16 Aimar \| 17 Cufré \| 18 Rodríguez \| 19 Messi \| 20 Cruz \| 21 Burdisso \| 22 González \| 23 Ustari \| Coach: Pekerman

Manchester United F.C. - Current Squad
1 Van der Sar \| 2 Neville \| 3 Evra \| 4 Heinze \| 5 Ferdinand \| 6 Brown \| 7 Ronaldo \| 8 Rooney \| 9 Saha \| 11 Giggs \| 13 Park \| 14 Smith \| 15 Vidić \| 16 Carrick \| 18 Scholes \| 20 Solskjær \| 22 O'Shea \| 23 Richardson \| 24 Fletcher \| 27 Silvestre \| 29 Kuszczak \| 34 Shawcross \| 35 Lee \| 36 Gray \| 38 Heaton \| 41 Marsh \| 42 Barnes \| 43 Rose \| 49 R. Jones \| Manager: Ferguson