Antonio Luis Jiménez

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Luis Jiménez
Personal information
Full name Antonio Luis Jiménez Garces
Date of birth June 17, 1984 (age 22)
Place of birth    Santiago de Chile, Chile
Height ft 11 in (1.8 m)
Nickname El Mago
Playing position Winger, Midfielder, Striker
Club information
Current club Lazio
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
 ?-2002
2002-2005
2006
2006
2007-
Palestino
Ternana
Fiorentina (co-ownership)
Ternana
Lazio (on loan)
 ? (?)
88 (24)
19 (3)
? (?)
2 (0)   
National team2
2004-present Chile 13 (2)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of February 11, 2007.
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of February 11, 2007.
* Appearances (Goals)

Antonio Luis Jiménez Garces commonly known as Luis Jiménez (born June 17, 1984 in Santiago, Chile), is a Chilean footballer who plays for the Chilean National Football Team. He is nicknamed "El Mago" ("The Wizard").

Jiménez started his Italian footballing career at Ternana Calcio where he played from 2002 to 2005. During the January 2006 transfer window Jimenez completed his move to Serie A side ACF Fiorentina in a joint co-ownership with his former club. Jimenez generally plays as either a right sided winger, striker or occasionally a centre forward for Fiorentina. His right foot is his strongest but he can also make good use of his left foot. He appeared 19 times during the 2005/2006 season for Fiorentina, scoring 3 goals in the process.

On June 4, 2005, Jiménez assisted Marcelo Salas' historic 35th goal with the national team. The goal came in a qualification match versus Bolivia which Chile went on to win 3-1. Four days later, Jimenez scored twice against Venezuela in another qualification match.

Jiménez recently became captain of Chile and also won the 2005/2006 Chile Player of the Year award. He made his international debut on April 28, 2004, in a match against Peru.

In late June 2006, Ternana purchased half of the rights to the player back from Fiorentina. Since Ternana will play in Italian Serie C1 in the 2006/2007 season, it was highly unlikely that he would remain with them. However, although a loan accord was reached with Lazio of Serie A with an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the loan deal, Ternana changed the terms and made extortionate demands. Lazio did not agree to these new terms (which included Lazio paying the salary for four of Ternana's players) and Jiménez remained in Ternana. Jiménez in return has said that he will not play for Ternana again and has asked FIFA to intervene and annul his contract with Ternana because of unfair treatment from them.[1]

Jiménez married Chilean model María José López in 2006.

On January 15, 2007, Lazio finally agreed on a move for Jimenez worth 11 million euros, as first season on loan.[1] and on January 27 he played his first Serie A match for Lazio against Palermo [2]

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