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
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.
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
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.