Giovanny Espinoza

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Espinoza and the second or maternal family name is Pabón.
Giovanny Espinoza
Personal information
Full nameGiovanny Patricio Espinoza Pabón
Date of birth12 April 1977
Place of birthCharguayaco, Ecuador
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing positionCentral defender
Club information
Current team
Deportivo Quito
Number6
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1997–2001Aucas137(3)
2001–2002Monterrey6(0)
2002Aucas24(3)
2003–2006LDU Quito144(9)
2007–2008Vitesse28(0)
2008–2009Cruzeiro25(1)
2009Barcelona SC15(0)
2009–2010Birmingham City0(0)
2010–2012Unión Española17(0)
2012–Deportivo Quito25(2)
National team‡
2000–Ecuador90(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:00, 12 January 2010 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 December 2009

Giovanny Patricio Espinoza Pabón (born 12 April 1977) is an Ecuadorian footballer who plays for Deportivo Quito.[1]

Club career

His strong physique and speed helped his old club side LDU Quito win two league championships in 2001 and 2004. His nickname is La Sombra, which translates as "the shadow", because of his size, he creates large shadows.

In the 2006 edition of the FIFA World Cup, Espinoza was nominated for a place in FIFA's ideal 11, which rewards the top players in each position.

On 25 January 2007, Giovanny Espinoza was transferred from LDU Quito to Vitesse. There he has to replace Ruud Knol. He signed for 1.5-year till June 2008. On 10 February 2007 he played his first Eredivisie match for Vitesse against SC Heerenveen.[2] He was a regular starter in the first half of the 2007–08 season.

On 14 January 2008, Espinoza was signed by Cruzeiro of Brazil. He captained of the side and showed some very impressive displays and leadership on the field.[3] There were many rumors swirling around in late 2008, some had Espinoza signing with Argentinian struggling giants, River Plate and that unspecified English teams were also on the hunt for La Sombra. On 15 January 2009, it was confirmed that Espinoza would be playing for Barcelona Sporting Club and that his presence was asked by the head coach Benito Floro.

Birmingham City

In June 2009, Espinoza's agent claimed that a fee had been agreed for the player to move to English Premier League club Birmingham City, and the parties were only awaiting final paperwork for the deal to be completed.[4] The two-year deal was confirmed on 24 June 2009,[5][6] where he will play alongside compatriot Christian Benítez. Espinoza was an unused substitute in the league game against Stoke City on 22 August 2009,[7] and made his Birmingham debut three days later, playing the whole of the 2–1 second round League Cup win away against Southampton.[8] On 12 January 2010 his contract with Birmingham was cancelled by mutual consent, having only made two League Cup appearances for the club.[9]

Unión Española

In 2010, Giovanny Espinoza signed for Unión Española for a contract of three years.

Deportivo Quito

In January 2012, he signed a contract with Deportivo Quito for the 2012 season.

International career

He was named in the Ecuador national side for the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups. He currently is the second highest capped player for his country behind Ivan Hurtado with 157 caps. He made his international debut in 1996 just a week after his 19th birthday in a World Cup qualification match where Ecuador beat Peru 4–1.

Espinoza and Hurtado together hold the international record for the longest unbroken pairing in the position of centre half – they have played the last 65 games together, dating back to 1999. This is partly due to South American nations playing more international qualification matches than any other region. In the 2006 edition of the FIFA World Cup, Espinoza was nominated for a place in FIFA's ideal 11, which rewards the top players in each position. He was also included in Ecuador's squad for the 2001, 2004, and 2007 Copas America.

References

  1. ↑ "Giovanny Espinoza". www.goal.com. 4 February 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  2. ↑ "Tactical Formation". Football-Lineups.com. Retrieved 14 February 2007.
  3. ↑ ecuagol.com .::. Todo sobre el fútbol ecuatoriano :: Noticias
  4. ↑ Walker, Andy (9 June 2009). "Birmingham City agree to sign defender". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
  5. ↑ "Blues land Espinoza". Birmingham City F.C. 24 June 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  6. ↑ "Birmingham sign Hart and Espinoza". BBC Sport. 24 June 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  7. ↑ Chowdhury, Saj (22 August 2009). "Birmingham 0–0 Stoke". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  8. ↑ Tattum, Colin (26 August 2009). "Alex McLeish has praised the performance of Christian Benitez at Southampton". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  9. ↑ "Espinoza Leaves Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2010.

External links