Thursday, February 2, 2012

Javier Mascherano

Mascherano moved to Europe, signing for Premier League side West Ham United. However, contract terms are not familiar with Media Sports Investments bleak short time at the club and in early 2007 he joined Liverpool on loan. Two Mascherano is the most widely used nicknames (in Argentina) are Masche and El Jefecito (Head slightly). Former Argentine footballer Jorge Valdano and Jorge Solari regard it as likely the best midfielders in the world.


Personal Information
Full name : Javier Alejandro Mascherano
Date of birth : 8 June 1984 (age 27)
Place of birth : San Lorenzo, Argentina
Height : 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position : Defensive midfielder

Club Information
Current club : Barcelona
Number : 14


Club Career


River Plate

Born in San Lorenzo, Santa Fe, Mascherano came through the youth ranks at River Plate in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Mascherano won his first silverware River won the 2003-04 Clausura (Closing) championship. In the 2004 Copa Libertadores River reached the semi-finals, but lost on Penalties to arch-Rivals Boca Juniors.


In the Copa Libertadores River again lost in the semi-finals, this time to São Paulo. After the Confederations Cup in Germany, Brazilian club Corinthians acquired Mascherano from River Plate for U.S. $ 15 million


Corinthians
The Brazilian Série A runs from April, so Mascherano joined Corinthians in mid-season. In total, Mascherano was out of action for six months, only returning on 5 March 2006. Corinthians were the resource persons forced to start Their 2006 Copa Libertadores without Mascherano, but he returned in time for the Round of 16 tie against River Plate, the which Corinthians lost. The 2006 Brazilian Série A also went badly for Corinthians, and at one stage battling against Relegation They were the resource persons. In June, the league season was interrupted for the 2006 World Cup.


West Ham
The move to West Ham was seen as Surprising, with many of Europe's top clubs having been linked with Mascherano all summer. There were the resource persons many rumors about the nature of the transfer, primarily regarding Media Sports Investment's interest in buying-out West Ham. 


Before Mascherano joined West Ham, Had won game one, drawn one and lost one. In October, the Argentina national coach, Alfio Basile, declared That he hoped Mascherano would leave West Ham "as soon as possible," and "I hope for God's sake That Mascherano can go to Juventus."


On 16 January 2007, Liverpool requested clearance from FIFA to take Mascherano on loan from West Ham. That FIFA's rules state no player can play for more than two different clubs the between 1 July and 30 June the following year, but Mascherano Had already played for Corinthians and West Ham Both During this time. On 27 April the Premier League West Ham Issued a world-record fine of £ 5.5 million.


Liverpool
On 10 February, Liverpool added Mascherano to Their Champions League squad and gave him the number 20 shirt. Eventually, on 20 February 2007, Mascherano's move to Liverpool Became official after the Premier League accepted Liverpool's request to register the player at Anfield.


Mascherano made his debut for Liverpool against Sheffield United on 24 February 2007, and was praised by the Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez and team captain Steven Gerrard after Liverpool's 4-0 victory. After playing in a match against Arsenal on 31 March, Called Benítez Mascherano a "monster of a player". Hastily Establishing Himself as a starter at the club, Mascherano played in the Champions League Final against AC That year Milan. He and teammate Alonso were the resource persons Successful in stifling the creative play of Both Kaká and Clarence Seedorf for much of the match but Liverpool eventually succumbed to Milan, losing 2-1. He was voted Liverpool's man of the match by the fans on the official Liverpool website.


Following months of Speculation, Mascherano signed a four-year permanent contract with Liverpool on 29 February 2008, ending his association with Media Sports Investments. The transfer reportedly cost Liverpool £ 18.6 m, and covered not only the transfer fee, but also the player's wages for the four-year deal.


The goal Officially went down as an own goal. Mascherano has the worst disciplinary record of the 2009-10 Premier League season with seven yellow cards and two red. On 27 July 2010, after returning from a break after the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Mascherano informed new Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson That he wanted to leave the Anfield club. 


Barcelona 
On 28 August 2010, he Agreed terms on a four-year deal contract with Barcelona for £ 22 million. On 30 August 2010, Mascherano passed his medical to complete his transfer to Barca, and toll Barça TV's "All is fair in love and fair". 


He made his league debut on 11 September 2010, starting in a 2-0 home defeat against Hercules CF Promoted recently, marking the first defeat at the Camp Nou for 16 months. On 28 May 2011, Mascherano started alongside Gerard Pique in the 2011 Champions League Final against Manchester United. 


International Career
Mascherano's first international appearance came in 2001. Halfway through the 2003-04 Apertura (Opening) championship, Mascherano was Called up to play in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship. Argentina again finished fourth with Mascherano the team's outstanding player. In January 2004, he joined up with Argentina's under-23 team for the South American Pre-Olimpico tournament in Chile. Argentina won the tournament, thereby qualifying for the 2004 Summer Olympics. In August, Mascherano and the team went on to Become gold medal-winners in Greece.


Argentina lost to Brazil on Penalties in the finals, but Mascherano impressed enough to be voted Argentina's player of the tournament by his team-mates. In the 2006 World Cup, he played every minute of every game for Argentina, with Argentina being knocked out by Germany in the Quarter-finals. Argentina won the tournament making Mascherano the second Argentine Sportsman only ever (following a polo player Juan Nelson) to win two Olympic Gold Medals.


Soon after being appointed head coach of Argentina in November 2008, Diego Maradona Mascherano Announced That he wanted to be the team's captain. Sure enough, Mascherano accepted Diego Maradona's offer to Become the new Argentina captain on 10 November, Replacing Javier Zanetti. At the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Argentina, captained by Mascherano, got to the quarter finals where They were the resource persons Defeated 4-0 by Germany.


Honours


















Olympic medal record
Men's football
Gold 2004 Athens Team
2008 Beijing Gold Team

River Plate
     Primera División Argentina : 1
         2003-04 Clausura

Corinthians
     Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1
         2005

Barcelona
     La Liga: 1
         2010-11
     UEFA Champions League: 1
         2010-11
     Supercopa de España : 1
         2011
     UEFA Super Cup : 1
         2011
     FIFA Club World Cup : 1
         2011

International
     Olympic Gold Medal : 2
         2004, 2008.