Lionel Scaloni

infobox Football biography
playername = Lionel Scaloni
fullname = Lionel Sebastián Scaloni
height = height|m=1.82
nickname = El Toro (The Bull)
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1978|5|16
cityofbirth = Rosario
countryofbirth = Argentina
currentclub = RCD Mallorca
clubnumber = 5
position = Right back/winger
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1995–1996 1996–1998 1998–2006 2006 2006–2007 2007 2008–| clubs = Newell's Old Boys Estudiantes Deportivo de La Coruña → West Ham "(loan)" Racing Santander Lazio RCD Mallorca
caps(goals) = 016 0(0) 037 0(7) 202 (14) 013 0(0) 030 0(1) 012 0(0) 006 0(0)
nationalyears = 2003–2006
nationalteam = Argentina
nationalcaps(goals) = 007 0(0)
ntupdate = 26 May 2008
pcupdate = 26 May 2008|

Lionel Sebastián Scaloni (born 16 May 1978 in Rosario, Argentina) is an Argentine football player. He is currently playing for RCD Mallorca in Spain. Due to his Italian descent, he also holds an Italian passport. [cite web | title=Scaloni y Pandiani acreditan su ascendencia italiana| work=lavozdegalicia.es (in Spanish) | url=http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/buscavoz/ver_resultado.jsp?TEXTO=411942| accessdate=June 16 | accessyear=2006 ] He also holds a Spanish passport due to the length of time he spent playing in Spain.

A right sided defender who can also operate in a more attacking role on the right side of midfield, he has also played in the centre of midfield on various occasions. Scaloni began his career in the Argentine Primera División with Newell's Old Boys, and then Estudiantes de La Plata, before joining Depor in March 1998.

He made over 200 appearances for the Primera División team, but has found himself out of favour in recent times. He joined English Premiership team West Ham United on loan from Depor on 31 January 2006, the final day of the January transfer window. Deciding that he needed first team football to have a chance at attending the upcoming World Cup, he accepted the opportunity of joining West Ham on loan for the second half of the 2005-06 season. He took the number 2 shirt from the departed Tomáš Řepka, and made his full Premiership debut against Sunderland on February 4 2006. Scaloni left West Ham after the East London club could not agree a deal with Depor over a permanent move.

Deportivo released him on September 1, 2006, one day after the close of transfer windows. But due to no limitation for free agent, two weeks later he signed a one year contract at Racing Santander.

In summer 2007, he moved again, this time to Italy. His European matches experience caused Lazio, which entered UEFA Champions League 2007-08 third qualifying round, to offer him a contract. In late January 2008 it was revealed that he was set to move back to Spain and join Real Mallorca. [cite web | title=Real Mallorca set to sign Lazio winger Scaloni| work=Ontheminute.com | url=http://www.ontheminute.com/news/news.php?news=9346| accessdate=January 22 | accessyear=2008 ]

He was named in the Argentina squad for a friendly match against Croatia on 1 March 2006, and was also a surprise selection for the 2006 FIFA World Cup squad, taking the place of veteran full back Javier Zanetti. The versatile Argentinian started for his nation in their extra-time win over Mexico on the 24 June2006 at the Zentralstadion.

Trivia

*His brother is Mauro Scaloni, who plays for Deportivo de La Coruna B.

Honours and awards

*FIFA World Youth Championship: 1997
*Spanish Liga Primera: 2000

External links

* [http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=19372 Statistics] at soccerbase.com
* [http://www.4thegame.com/club/west-ham-united-fc/player-profile/2218/lionelscaloni.html Profile] at 4thegame.com
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=12515 Photo and stats] at sporting-heroes.net
* [http://premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=forwardOnly&nextPage=enPlayerProfile&playerId=101738 Profile] at premierleague.com
* [http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=7080&pn=Lionel_Sebastián_Scaloni Lionel Scaloni] profile, detailed club and national team statistics, honours and timeline
* [http://www.realsoccer.it/NotiziaInterna.php?table=HOMENEWS&recid=11931 I volti nuovi della serie A: Lionel Scaloni] , Realsoccer.it - 09/04/2007 it icon

References

External links

* [http://www.national-football-teams.com/v2/player.php?id=329 Career details] at National Football Teams
* [http://touchline.onthespot.co.uk/guardian/StatsCentre.asp?Lang=0&CTID=29&CPID=68&pStr=Player&PLID=41695&TEID=1172 Guardian statistics]