Lionel Scaloni

Lionel Scaloni
Personal information
Full nameLionel Sebastián Scaloni
Date of birth16 May 1978
Place of birthRosario, Argentina
Height1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionWingback
Club information
Current team
Atalanta
Number5
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1995–1996Newell's Old Boys16(0)
1996–1998Estudiantes37(7)
1998–2006Deportivo La Coruña200(14)
2006→ West Ham (loan)13(0)
2006–2007Racing Santander30(1)
2007–2013Lazio52(1)
2008–2009→ Mallorca (loan)28(0)
2013–Atalanta12(0)
National team
1997Argentina U207(2)
2003–2006Argentina7(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 October 2014.
† Appearances (Goals).

Lionel Sebastián Scaloni (born 16 May 1978) is an Argentine footballer who plays for Italian club Atalanta BC. A player of wide range, he can appear as both a right back or right midfielder.

He spent most of his professional career with Deportivo de La Coruña in Spain, amassing La Liga totals of 258 games and 15 goals over the course of 12 seasons (three teams represented). He also spent several years in Italy with Lazio.

Scaloni appeared with Argentina at the 2006 World Cup.

Club career

Early years / Deportivo

Born in Rosario, Santa Fe, Scaloni began his career in the Argentine league with local Newell's Old Boys and then Estudiantes de La Plata, before joining Spain's Deportivo de La Coruña in March 1998 for 405 million pesetas.

Regularly used with the Galicians over an eight 1/2-years stint, he competed with Manuel Pablo and Víctor for both starting spots on the right flank. However, due to injury, he could only appear in 14 La Liga matches as Depor managed its first league title.

After falling out with manager Joaquín Caparrós, Scaloni joined Premier League team West Ham United on loan on 31 January 2006, the final day of the transfer window,[1] in an attempt to heighten his options to attend the upcoming FIFA World Cup. He took the No. 2 shirt from the departed Tomáš Řepka, and made his league debut for the East Londoners against Sunderland, on 4 February, while also helping the side reach the season's FA Cup final, a penalty shootout loss to Liverpool.[2]

Racing Santander

Scaloni left West Ham after a permanent move could not be agreed. Deportivo released him on 1 September 2006 alongside Diego Tristán,[3] one day after the close of the summer transfer window.

However, due to the fact there were no limitations for free agents, two weeks later Scaloni signed a one-year contract at Racing de Santander,[4] being essential as the Cantabrians achieved a final midtable position. He appeared – and started – in both games against his former club, both ending in 0–0 draws.[5][6]

Italy

In July 2007 Scaloni moved to Italy with S.S. Lazio, on a five-year deal. However, in January of the following year, he returned to Spain, signing a one 1/2 loan link with RCD Mallorca,[7] thus returning to the Romans in July 2009 and being irregularly used in the following three Serie A seasons.

Aged nearly 35, Scaloni joined fellow league side Atalanta B.C. in January 2013, being released at the end of the campaign but reinstated after he failed to find a new club.[8]

International career

After making his debut for Argentine on 30 April 2003 in a friendly match with Libya, Scaloni was a surprise selection for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, taking the place of veteran Javier Zanetti, who also appeared as a right-wingback.

His only appearance of the tournament would be the extra time 2–1 round-of-16 win against Mexico on 24 June 2006, at the Zentralstadion (playing the full 120 minutes).[9]

Honours

Club

Deportivo
West Ham
Lazio

Country

Personal

Scaloni's older brother, Mauro, also belonged to Deportivo, but never made it past its B-squad.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "West Ham capture defender Scaloni". BBC Sport. 1 February 2006. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  2. ↑ The demise of West Ham's 2006 FA Cup final team is a cautionary tale of what can happen when mediocre players get too big for their boots; Daily Mirror, 18 September 2009
  3. ↑ Tristán and Scaloni released by Depor; UEFA.com, 5 September 2006
  4. ↑ Racing take a chance on Scaloni; UEFA.com, 14 September 2006
  5. ↑ Deportivo La Coruña 0–0 Racing Santander; ESPN Soccernet, 3 December 2006
  6. ↑ Racing Santander 0–0 Deportivo La Coruña; ESPN Soccernet, 29 April 2007
  7. ↑ "Real Mallorca set to sign Lazio winger Scaloni". Ontheminute. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
  8. ↑ Atalanta, reintegrato Scaloni in rosa (Atalanta, Scaloni reinstated in squad); Tutto Mercato Web, 17 September 2013 (Italian)
  9. ↑ Argentina 2–1 Mexico (aet); BBC Sport, 24 June 2006
  10. ↑ Los hermanos Scaloni (Scaloni brothers); Diario Hoy, 17 December 1997 (Spanish)

External links