Gonzalo Higuaín

Infobox Football biography
playername = Gonzalo Higuaín


fullname = Gonzalo Gerardo Higuaín
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|12|10
cityofbirth = Brest
countryofbirth = France
height = height|meter=1.84
position = Striker, Winger
currentclub = Real Madrid
clubnumber = 20
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2004–2006
2007–
clubs = River Plate
Real Madrid

caps(goals) = 38 (14)
48 (12)
nationalyears = 2008-
nationalteam = Argentina U23
nationalcaps(goals) = 01 0(2)
pcupdate = 8:51, 3 June 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 6 Feb 2008

Gonzalo Gerardo Higuaín (born December 10, 1987 in Brest, Finistère, France) is an Argentine-French footballer. He currently plays as a striker [cite news |url=http://www.clarin.com/diario/2006/08/07/um/m-01248139.htm
title=Higuaín defines himself as a striker
publisher=Clarín
date=2006-08-07
language=Spanish] at the Spanish club Real Madrid.

Biography

Gonzalo Higuaín was born in France while his father, professional Argentine footballer Jorge "El Pipa" Higuaín, was playing for Brest, at that time in the French Ligue 1. Having left the country at the age of 10 months, he did not return to France until the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Even though he does not speak French, [cite news
url=http://www.clarin.com/diario/2006/10/24/deportes/d-05201.htm
title=Higuaín admits he doesn't speak a word of French
publisher=Clarín
date=2006-10-24
language=Spanish] he holds a French passport, because his father was naturalized French. But in January 2007, he successfully applied for the Argentine nationality. [cite news
url=http://www.clarin.com/diario/2007/01/31/um/m-01355553.htm
title=Higuaín get Argentine Citizenship
publisher=Clarín
date=2006-10-31
language=Spanish] He is the younger brother of Federico Higuaín, who plays football for Independiente.

Club career

River Plate

Following his double strike in the "Superclásico" local derby against Boca Juniors, River Plate manager Daniel Passarella declared that he had an 'enormous future' and was 'destined for superstardom'. [cite news
url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/09/sports/LA_SPT_SOC_River_Plate_Higuain.php
title=Passarella predicts River's 18-year-old Higuain has "enormous future"
publisher=International Herald Tribune
date=2006-10-09]

Touted by many as a star of the future, he attracted the interest of several big clubs such as A.C. Milan, Lazio, Manchester United and Chelsea.Fact|date=October 2007 After Real Madrid's capture of another South American starlet, Marcelo, rumours were mounting that Higuaín and Fernando Gago of Boca Juniors would be signing for the Whites in the future.Fact|date=October 2007

Real Madrid

2006/2007

Real Madrid successfully signed Higuaín for €13 million, after River Plate had earlier turned down a €10 million offer for the 19-year-old striker from Real.

The striker announced at the signing of his six and a half-year contract, "it's great to have the chance of playing for such an important club as Real Madrid. I feel proud that Madrid has noticed me." [ [http://www.sportsnews24h.com/Soccer/Spain/Real-Madrid/12663.html Higuain nearing move to Madrid] SportsNews24h.com. Retrieved on October 27, 2007]

Higuaín's first game for Real Madrid was against Real Zaragoza at home. [cite web|title=Tactical Formation|work=Football-Lineups.com
url=http://www.football-lineups.com/wiki/_match3271.php | accessdate=January 16 | accessyear=2007] Higuaín shone by creating several chances and delivering the assist which resulted in Madrid's 1-0 crucial win against Zaragoza.

Higuaín's first ever goal for Real Madrid came during the 62nd minute in Real Madrid's draw with local rivals Atlético Madrid on February 24, 2007. His first home goal for Real Madrid came in the dying minutes of Real's crucial encounter with Espanyol on May 12, 2007. With the match tied at 3-3, Higuaín won the ball with a sliding tackle before exchanging a one-two with Jose Antonio Reyes and slotting the ball into the net. It was this goal which enabled Real Madrid to overtake rivals Barcelona into first place and propelled them to their 30th League Title.

2007/2008

On May 4, 2008, with Real Madrid down 1-0 against Osasuna, and needing just 3 points from their final fours games, Higuaín came on for Saviola in the 67th minute and from a free kick, assisted Arjen Robben's equalizer in the 88th minute. Higuaín then struck the winning goal two minutes later to clinch Real Madrid's 31st La Liga championship and has now become a new idol for Real Madrid fans.

Despite being Real Madrid's title hero, Higuain found himself on the bench for Barcelona's visit to the Bernabeu four days later. However, as he had in previous games, Higuain came on to devastating effect, scoring with his first touch within a minute and helped his team to a crushing 4-1 victory.

2008/2009

On August 24, 2008 he became Real Madrid's cup hero, scoring in the 89th minute, giving Real Madrid a victory over Valencia and it's eighth Supercopa de España. After the close of the summer transfer window, Real Madrid revealed that they have turned down a €25 million offer for Higuaín from Zenit St. Petersburg.

International career

Higuaín initially rejected calls from both the Argentine under 20s and French national teams, [cite news
url=http://www.ole.clarin.com/jsp/v4/pagina.jsp?pagId=01306412&fecha=20061110
title=La Celeste y Blanca pesa
publisher=Olé
date=2006-11-10
language=Spanish] specifically a friendly against Greece, November 15, 2006, [cite news
url = http://www.uefa.com/competitions/EURO/news/Kind=1/newsId=477168.html
title = Domenech turns to uncapped tyros
publisher = UEFA
date = 2006-11-09] claiming at the time he was undecided for which country he would prefer to play.

Higuaín's international career was looking set to mirror that of David Trézéguet, whose father was Argentinian, but went on to play successfully for France. When Les Bleus called up Higuaín against Greece, they assigned him the shirt number 20, the number originally worn by Trézéguet. He was dubbed the new "David Trézéguet".Fact|date=October 2007 Nevertheless, at the beginning of 2007 Higuaín expressed his desire to play for Argentina, and started the procedures to obtain Argentine citizenship. [ [http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-spainhiguain&prov=reuters&type=lgns "Higuain to choose Argentina over France"] - Yahoo sports]

In February 2008, Higuaín was called up by the Argentina football team, for a friendly match against Guatemala. He scored two goals in his debut and Argentina won 5 : 0. Unfortunately, it was not officially recognized as FIFA as an "A" international match, and will not count towards his caps and goals in international play.

Club career statistics

:"(correct as of 25 September, 2008)"

Honours

Real Madrid

;Domestic
*Spanish League:* Winner (2): 2006-07, 2007-08

*Spanish Super Cup:* Winner (1): 2008:* Runner-up (1): 2007

References

External links

* [http://touchline.onthespot.co.uk/guardian/StatsCentre.asp?Lang=0&CTID=29&CPID=68&pStr=Player&PLID=191762&TEID=543 Statistics] at Guardian Stats Centre
* [http://www.football-lineups.com/players/player.php?route=4989 Tactical Profile] at Football-Lineups.com
* [http://www.gonzalohiguain.com/ GonzaloHiguain.com] Gonzalo Higuain Online
* [http://www.higuain.net/ Higuain.Net] Gonzalo Higuain Fansite