Archive for the ‘PLAYERS & BIOS’ Category

Luis Antonio Valencia

Sunday, August 16th, 2009

Luis Antonio Valencia was born in very poor Ecuadorian city of Lago Agrio. He spent his childhood days practicing football in the muddy fields of his hometown.

His first formal training began with the state controlled military football club of El Nacional in the year 2001.He spend three years in the club learning the game within the confinements of military barracks. In 2004 he was given a permanent seat in the El Nacional team. There he managed to score a total of 20 goals in 84 performances. In 2005 he moved to the Spanish club Villarreal. However he did not get much opportunity to play for Villarreal as he was loaned out to a English premier league team Recreativo in the year 2005.

After having spent an unsuccessful year at Recreativo he was again loaned out to Wigan Athletic. He played there for an entire period of 2006-2007 and scored 6 goals in 47 appearances. In the year 2008 he was given a permanent position with Wigan Athletic .In the following year he caught the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson from Manchester United and was subsequently absorbed into the red devils team as apart of their summer sign up for an estimated amount of about £ 16 million.

Michael Owen

Sunday, August 16th, 2009

Michael Owen son of ex- English football player Terry Owen was born on 14 December 1979 in Chester. As a youngster Owen started his youth career with Liverpool in the year 1991. After training of around 5 years he got a place in the senior team in the year 1996.He stayed with Liverpool for a total of 8 long years and scored around 118 goals in 226 appearances. He was the top goal scorer for 7 consecutive years from 1997-2004.

In 2004 he moved to Real Madrid for an amount of £8 million. His career with Real Madrid was seriously hampered by a series of injuries that he faced. In 2005 he returned back to his home country. This time it was New Castle United who paid £16 million to secure him. In New castle United he was made the captain of the team and he scored around 26 goals in 71 appearances. His tenure at New Castle United was again not very bright as he was out of action for most part of the initial years due a series of leg injuries.

On 3rd July 2009 Michael Owen preferred to join Manchester united instead of renewing his contract with New Castle United. Though he is only 29 years old experts still believe that he has a lot of football left in him and can turn the tides for the red devils suffering from the serious lack of an all rounder star performer.

Gabriel Obertan

Sunday, August 16th, 2009

Gabriel Obertan is a French player born in the Pantin region of France. Born on 26th February 1989 this 20 year old lad plays as a striker for his present club Manchester United. As an youth Gabreil started his career with Paris –Pantin in the year 1997. He later moved to Paris FC in the year 2002, and eventually joined Paris-Saint Germain the following year.

After his brief stint at various clubs in Paris he moved to the Clairfontaine academy in 2004 to enhance his skills as a footballer. In this academy he was spotted by Bordeaux and after a year’s training he moved to the Bordeaux club as one of its member. He was offered his first contract at the age of 17 with Bordeaux. For the first initial year he made around 17 appearances for his team. He got a extension in his contract and played 26 matches for Bordeaux in the following year. However his coach Laurent Blanc loaned him to fellow club FC Lorient for a period of six months where he played a total of 15 matches.

On 6th july 2009 Gabriel Obertan was picked up by Manchester United for a sum of about £ 3 million. It is believed that he is inducted into the team to fill up the void created by the departure of many high profile players who have left Manchester United

Ryan Joseph Giggs

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Ryan is probably a living legend for Manchester United. When he was signed in 1990, he was just 17 and would not have even dreamed of staying at Old Trafford forever.
ryan-giggs
Over the years there are many scalps he has surpassed. He has scored goals in every Premier League season since it was reformed in 1990. He became the first and only player ever to win 10 Premier League medallions in 2008.

As he was born in Wales, he played internationally for Wales. He retired from international services in June 2007 after earning 64 caps and scoring 12 goals for his country.

There are many important goals and assists which Giggs has provided Manchester United. But he will always be remembered for the winner he scored all alone in 1999 against Arsenal in FA cup semifinal replay.

Even now, at the age of 35 he plays an all important role in Manchester United’s midfield. He became Manchester United’s most experienced player in 2008 Champions League Final when he surpassed the record of 758 appearances set by Sir Bobby Charlton’s.

Paul Aaron Scholes

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Known for his bullets from outside the box, Paul Scholes in the second senior player in Manchester United squad after Ryan Giggs. Scholsey, as known by his team mates, joined Manchester United in 1994 and has been with them since.paul-schole

Scholes is another player in the first team who has spent almost 15 years with Manchester United. He played an important role in Manchester United’s treble winning performance in 1999. He scored two goals in the FA Cup final against Newcastle United.

Scholsey couldn’t believe his luck when he scored the only goal in the two leg tie against Barcelona in 2008 Champions League semi final. The goal sent Manchester United in the final of the all important competition.

This would be Scholsey’s first Champions League Final as he was ruled out in the 1999 edition due to suspension. So this time Sir Alex Ferguson promised Scholsey that his would be the first name in the starting 11 for 2008 final.

Manchester United eventually won the final and Shcolsey got his most awaited medallion.

He retired from international services in August 2004. He played for England and earned 66 caps scoring 14 goals in his international career.

Wayne Mark Rooney

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Just 23 years old and it seems he’s conquered it all. Youngest scorer in Premier League, youngest scorer for England, highest paid teenager ever, and if this was not enough he is getting better and better with time just like vintage wine.

Waynerooney

Though he was born in Liverpool, he hates Liverpool football club. So he joined Everton during his school days as a part of Everton’s youth team. He made a debut for Everton in the 2002/03 season. He scored his first goal against Arsenal which was a winner and stopped Arsenal’s 30 match unbeaten run.

Rooney was much big a player for Everton and needed a bigger club to spread his wings. He was finally signed by one of the greatest club in the world, Manchester United FC for ₤25.6 million in 2004. He scored a hat trick on his Manchester United debut.

Last year Rooney got married to his childhood love, Coleen. Soon he will become a father as announced by his Coleen, earlier this year.

He plays a pivotal role in all Manchester United matches. Though he is a striker, you will find him everywhere on the field.

Rio Gavin Ferdinand

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Ferdinand started his professional career at West Ham United in 1996, when he played his first match against Sheffield Wednesday. The next season saw him becoming a fan favourite and winning the player of the year for West Ham United.ferdinand

November 2000 saw Ferdinand move to another English club, Leeds United for a transfer fee of ₤18 million which made him the costliest defender in the world. He lost the title later to Lilian Thuram in 2001. He kept climbing the rankings and became the captain of Leeds United in 2001.

2002 saw Rio move to another English club, Manchester United. The transfer fee this time was a staggering ₤33 million. He got his title of most expensive defender back from Lilian Thuram.

The first season was no where next to what Ferdinand would have thought of. Real Madrid showed the world Manchester United’s defensive vulnerability in 2003 Champions League edition.

Later that year saw Ferdinand miss or say skip a drug test. Due to which he was penalized by FA for 8 months which made him lose the whole of the remaining season and the start of the next season.

Coming from suspension, Ferdinand showed his capabilities when he scored his first goal against Wigan. He soon became a specialist goal scorer through corners.

The final of Champions League 2008 saw Ferdinand lead the side and later lift the trophy alongside Ryan Giggs as Giggs captained the team for most of the season.

Federico Kiko Macheda

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Probably not many people would have known this name prior to April 5, 2009. And after that probably there won’t be many people to have not known him. May be it’s a bit early to sing praises for this 17 year old Manchester United star, but its hard to believe that one day he will not be one.
macheda

Macheda is Italian by birth and probably would have never landed in England if Italy’s signing young payers were not stringent.

Macheda was already playing for Lazio in Italy and everybody spotted the talent he had. But as rule book in Italy says no to signing players before they turn 18, they lost the player to Manchester United in England where they can sign the player as early as he turns 16.

Anyways, past is past. But what is happening right now at Manchester United is hard to believe. This kid hardly played 20 minutes for Manchester United on two separate occasions and has scored a winner each time.

The first winner came in extra time against Aston Villa and the second came against Sunderland after just 46 seconds on the pitch. He came on as a substitute for Dimitar Berbatov.

Everyone at Manchester United would be hoping Macheda magic continues as long as possible.

Gary Alexander Neville

Monday, April 13th, 2009

He started his professional career in 1992 for Manchester United and has stayed at Old Trafford ever since. Before starting professionally,he was also part of Manchester United youth team which won FA Youth
Cup under him in 1992. neville

Gary Neville along with his brother Phil and team mates like David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt were part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team reformation. They were known as Fergie’s Fledglings.
Gary Neville was appointed the new captain of Manchester United in 2005 after Roy Keane parted ways with the team. In 2007, Gary got injured in a game against Bolton which ruled him out for almst 15
months.

Though he never gave up and again made his professional come back against Roma in Champions League Quarter Final 2008. He was handed over the captains arm band when he came on as a substitute in that
match. But he was not selected in the Champions League Final same year. Though he was seen in the team celebrations after the match, the trophy was lifted by both Rio and Ryan.

He still is not the first choice of Sir Alex Fergusson but due to injuries to team mate West Brown this season, Neville has still got a lot to prove.

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Patrice Evra

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

Born in Senegal to a diplomat, it was not difficult for Evra to enter Europe, the football capital of the world. His genius was spotted early in his childhood days by a scout.

Though Evra started as a striker, his stint as a striker was short lived as his defensive ability was spotted soon in a season with Nice in ligue 2 where he earned Left Back of the season. After that there
was no looking back.

Next season he was signed by Monaco in Italy. He helped his team reach 2004 Champions League Final which lost to Porto by 3-0. Though Evra for full 90 minutes, it was just not Monaco’s day. Since that match
Monaco was on a down trail and was relegated from the league the next season. patrice_evra_

However, at Manchester United, Gabriel Heinze left for Real Madrid because of some tussle with Ferguson. Evra fitted in the vacant position perfectly and was soon signed by Sir Alex Ferguson for £5.5
million. He did not have the best of the debuts, but soon got used to the English style of football and has performed better and better every season.

He finally won the Champions League with United in 2008 when they beat Chelsea on penalties. Internationally Evra plays for France.