PLAYER PROFILE GONZALO HIGUAÍN
Gonzalo Higuaín jumped onto the world football stage after being named Breakthrough Player on Argentina’s 2006 Torneo Apertura. “Pipita” is known for his speed in the last third of the pitch, his great striking ability, and his precisionpassing. Quick, elegant, and a knack for decision-making make Higuaín a fashionable forward in today’s world of football.
After several unsuccessful attempts, Higuaín scored his first goal as Madridista against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderón Stadium in 2006/07. His propensity for scoring in derbies dates back to his first Boca-River clash, when he led Los Millonarios to victory with a stunning brace. During his first year with Real Madrid he was criticised for rushing his shots on goal, but his few successful finishes were worth their weight in gold; Higuaín netted the game winner in the team’s amazing 4-3 comeback against Espanyol and lit a spark under his teammates in the season-closer against Mallorca.
“People criticise me for not scoring goals,” says the player now, “But every striker has his ups and downs. Scoring is something you also have to work hard on. I’m going to be more patient because last year I missed many chances by being rushing too much.” Whether he plays close to the six-yard box or along the right wing, Higuaín has what it takes to be a goal-scoring machine.
Gonzalo Higuaín was born on 10 December 1987 in Brest, France, where his father played after stints with Boca Juniors and River Plate in Argentina. Gonzalo is known as Pipita after his father, who was nicknamed Pipa. Higuaín does not occupy an extracommunitarian spot on the squad because he is a French national. He had little difficulty when it came time to choose whether to play for Argentina or France, however.
His brother Federico plays for River Plate, where they played together in Gonzalo’s debut on 30 May 2005 (Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata 2-1 River Plate).
Higuaín is very down to earth and he doesn’t follow fashion trends. He is simple and quiet-spoken, although seeing him joking around and having fun with the Brazilians on the squad is a common sight.
La Liga: 2006/07, 2007/08
- River Plate (2005-2006)
- Real Madrid (2006-present)
- La Liga debut: 14 January 2007
Match: Real Madrid 1-0 Zaragoza - Real Madrid debut: 14 January 2007
Match: Real Madrid 1-0 Zaragoza - International for Argentina’s Under-21 side
Ruud Van Nistelrooy is one of the best centre forwards in Europe and already a Champions League veteran. He’s your prototypical striker who combines prowess and strength with outstanding technique. Van Nistelrooy has been instrumental to Real Madrid’s success since landing in Spain. His scoring stats are absolutely astonishing, and he’s already put on countless highlight reel performances such as the 3-3 draw in the Camp Nou and his four-goal night against Osasuna, both during the 2006/07 season. The Dutchman tied a record held by Olsen, Puskas, Olmedo, and Hugo Sánchez to become the fifth player to score in seven straight matches, all of which were crucial to the 2006/07 title run. He also became the third Madridista after Di Stéfano and Hugo Sánchez to win Pichichi honours in his first season with Real Madrid. French sports paper L’Équipe included Van Nistelrooy in its 2007 all-star starting eleven.
There’s something special about Javier Saviola. He landed at Real Madrid’s doorstep at the age of 26, which for many footballers is the peak of their careers, having already graced the dressing rooms of River Plate, Barcelona, Monaco, and Sevilla.
The name Raúl has become synonymous with records in the world of football. Hundreds of matches, hundreds of goals, an enviable track record, and a Gold Medal for Sports Merit are just a few of the countless accomplishments of one of the best Spanish football players of the last 50 years.
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Rubén de la Red is the perfect example of the brilliance of Real Madrid’s youth system. Comparisons can easily be made with other great players on the squad that have excelled thanks to their elegant touch on ball, vision, and outstanding technique. At 23 years old, De la Red is a product of the Club’s academy. Since he joined the Under-17’s, the player stood out among his teammates and caught the attention of the Under-20’s coach, Quique Sánchez Flores. From then on, he evolved remarkably.
‘Madridista’ is the perfect word to describe Guti. The player has spent most of his life with Real Madrid and is a great example of the kind of talent that emerges from the youth system. Guti has played for almost every youth team since his arrival at the age of nine and has been considered as a special player by every one of his coaches. His rise to stardom kicked into high gear when he averaged 30 goals per season with the Under-20 team, and he wasn’t even played as a striker!
Arjen Robben is a rare breed in modern day football. There may be many fast attacking midfielders nowadays, but very few are as capable as Robben is of dribbling the ball with such class inside the box and changing the pace of the game in such a way that thwarts any defenders attempts to steal the ball. He has a phenomenal knack for scoring and is an excellent shot, which also make deadly from outside the box.
Rubén Gago was born on 14 April 1986 in Ciudadela, Buenos Aires. He began his career at Parque, a modest Club where former Madridistas Fernando Redondo and Esteban Cambiasso, whose styles resembles that of Gago, also got their start. His next stop was the Boca Juniors youth system, where his entire professional career was developed. He made his First Division debut with Boca on 5 December 2004 in a 1-0 win over Quilmas, but it was during the 2005 season that his career took off and made him the star he is today. In 2005/06 Gago was one of the centrepieces of a team that won five titles in as many competitions.