Pablo Aimar

Pablo Aimar
Personal information
Full name Pablo César Aimar Giordano
Date of birth November 3, 1979 (1979-11-03) (age 31)
Place of birth Río Cuarto, Argentina
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club Benfica
Number 10
Youth career
1995–1997 River Plate
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1997–2000 River Plate 82 (21)
2001–2006 Valencia 157 (27)
2006–2008 Zaragoza 53 (5)
2008– Benfica 50 (6)
National team‡
1999–2009 Argentina 52 (8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 January 2010 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 8 November 2009 (UTC)
This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Aimar and the second or maternal family name is Giordano.

Pablo César Aimar Giordano (born 3 November 1979 in Río Cuarto, Córdoba) is an Argentine professional footballer who currently plays for Sport Lisboa e Benfica in the Portuguese first division.

An attacking midfielder with a vast array of skills,[1] he also holds a Spanish passport.[2]

Contents

Club career

Aimar began his ascent to stardom with Club Atlético River Plate, whose first team he joined for the 1997–98 season, after rejecting a place at medical school, and with whom he quickly established himself as one of the best young players in Argentina.

Valencia CF of Spain signed Aimar in January 2001, at a price of €24 million. The purchase proved justified, as Aimar helped lead the team to a first-place finish in 2001–02 (with 33 matches and four goals), as well as to a runners-up finish in the previous seasons's Champions League, being defeated by FC Bayern Munich. Aimar also won the 2004 UEFA Cup, appearing in eight (scoreless) matches during the campaign; this included the final against Olympique de Marseille, where he replaced Francisco Rufete with 30 minutes to go.

On 12 April 2006, Aimar was hospitalized after being diagnosed with acute viral meningitis,[3] but made a quick recovery and returned to play for his team. During his career with the Che, he was also often troubled with injuries.[4][5][6]

During the summer of 2006, Aimar joined fellow first divisioner Real Zaragoza for €12 million.[7] The Aragonese side relegated at the end of 2007–08, with the playmaker appearing in 22 scoreless matches, while also often hindered with injuries;[8] during that campaign, he teamed up with former Valencia teammate Roberto Ayala.

On 17 July 2008, after a period of intense negotiations, Aimar signed a four-year contract with Portuguese side S.L. Benfica for a fee of €6.5 million.[9] After a difficult first half of the season, he managed to defeat his constant injuries and finished it in good shape.

In 2009–10, Aimar was in better physical conditions, and displayed a good offensive chemistry with countryman Javier Saviola, newly signed, as Benfica had the best offensive record of the competition.

International career

Aimar first represented Argentina at youth levels. Along with future senior team stars Esteban Cambiasso and Juan Román Riquelme, he won the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, and went on to gain over 50 full caps since his debut in 1999.[10] He played in the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups.

In the 2002 World Cup, for which he was picked ahead of Riquelme, he appeared against England, subbing in for Juan Sebastián Verón in the 0–1 loss, which led coach Marcelo Bielsa to start him against Sweden, at the latter's expense.

Aimar scored the last goal of the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, during Argentina's 4–1 loss in the final to champions Brazil, also appearing with the national side in the 2007 Copa América (losing in the final to the same team, this time 0–3).

After several months in the sidelines, Aimar received another international callup in October 2009, for decisive 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay. In the match against the former, he repaid the faith placed in him by coach Diego Maradona, assisting Gonzalo Higuaín for Argentina's opener, with a sublime through ball, in an eventual 2–1 win.

International goals

As of 10 August 2009. Argentina's goal tally first

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 16 August 2000 Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina  Paraguay 1–1 1–1 2002 World Cup qualification
2. 27 March 2002 Geneva, Switzerland  Cameroon 2–1 2–2 Friendly
3. 30 April 2003 June 11 Stadium, Tripoli, Libya  Libya 3–1 3–1 Friendly
4. 6 September 2003 River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina  Chile 2–0 2–2 2006 World Cup qualification
5. 9 September 2003 Estadio Olímpico, Caracas, Venezuela  Venezuela 1–0 3–0 2006 World Cup qualification
6. 15 November 2003 River Plate Stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina  Bolivia 3–0 3–0 2006 World Cup qualification
7. 29 June 2005 Waldstadion, Frankfurt, Germany  Brazil 1–4 1–4 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup
8. 28 June 2007 Estadio José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela  United States 3–1 4–1 2007 Copa América

Club statistics

Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
River Plate 1996-97 1
1997-98 16 4
1998-99 18 2
1999-00 32 13
2000-01 15 2
Total 82 21
Valencia 2000–01 10 2 - - - - - - 10 2
2001–02 29 4 6 2 - - 35 6
2002–03 31 8 11 3 - - 42 11
2003–04 25 4 8 0 - - 33 4
2004–05 30 4 6 2 - - 36 6
2005–06 32 5 - - - - 32 5
Total 157 27 31 7 - - 188 34
Zaragoza 2006–07 31 5 1 0 - - - - 32 5
2007–08 22 0 - - - - - - 22 0
Total 53 5 1 0 - - - - 54 5
Benfica 2008–09 22 1 - - 1 0 4 1 27 2
2009–10 25 4 7 1 - - 32 5
2010–11 3 1 3 1
Total 50 6 8 1 4 1 62 8
Career Total 339 58 383 67

As of 28 August 2010

National team statistics

Argentina national team
Year Apps Goals
1999 2 0
2000 5 1
2001 7 0
2002 6 1
2003 9 4
2004 2 0
2005 6 1
2006 6 0
2007 7 1
2008 0 0
2009 1 0
Total 51 8

Honours

Club

Country

Personal

Aimar's younger brother, Andrés, is also a professional footballer and a midfielder. He represented several teams in his country - starting his career at River Plate - also playing for a few months in Israel.

References

  1. ↑ Aimar's divine improvisation; UEFA.com, 23 September 2004
  2. ↑ Aimar jura la Constitución y será jugador comunitario (Aimar swears the constitution and will play as a non-foreign); El Periódico de Aragón, 14 June 2007 (Spanish)
  3. ↑ Aimar hospitalized with meningitis; UEFA.com, 13 April 2006
  4. ↑ Aimar agony for Valencia; UEFA.com, 18 November 2002
  5. ↑ Aimar concern for Valencia; UEFA.com, 20 September 2004
  6. ↑ Aimar absence vexes Valencia; UEFA.com, 1 November 2004
  7. ↑ Aimar adds zest for Zaragoza; UEFA.com, 29 July 2006
  8. ↑ Zaragoza lose Aimar inspiration; UEFA.com, 30 January 2007
  9. ↑ Aimar leaves Zaragoza for Benfica; UEFA.com, 17 July 2008
  10. ↑ Argentina – Record International Players; at RSSSF

External links

EFE Trophy
1990–91: Fernández | 1991–92: Zalazar | 1992–93: Zamorano | 1993–94: Romário | 1994–95: Zamorano | 1995–96: Simeone | 1996–97: Ronaldo | 1997–98: Roberto Carlos | 1998–99: Rivaldo | 1999–2000: Herrera | 2000–01: Acuña | 2001–02: Saviola | 2002–03: Ronaldo | 2003–04: Ronaldinho | 2004–05: Forlán | 2005–06: Aimar | 2006–07: Messi | 2007–08: Agüero | 2008–09: Messi | 2009–10: Messi
S.L. Benfica – current squad

1 Moreira · 2 Airton · 3 F. Faria · 4 Luisão · 5 R. Amorim · 6 Javi García · 7 Cardozo · 8 Salvio · 10 Aimar · 11 Jara · 12 Roberto · 13 Júlio César · 14 Maxi Pereira · 15 Roderick · 16 F. Menezes · 17 C. Martins · 18 F. Coentrão · 19 Weldon · 20 Gaitán · 21 Nuno Gomes (C) · 22 Luís Filipe · 23 David Luiz · 25 C. Peixoto · 27 Sidnei · 30 Saviola · 31 Kardec · Manager: Jesus