Christian Giménez (1981)
Encyclopedia
Christian "El Chaco" Giménez (born February 1, 1981 in Resistencia
, Chaco
) is an Argentine
football player who currently plays for Cruz Azul in Mexico
's professional league, the Mexican First Division
. Labeled an Attacking Midfielder, Giménez is one of many talented players to be exported from Boca Juniors
.
and was immediately enrolled in the team's youth squad. Almost a decade later, Giménez debuted in the professional Argentine league
with Boca Juniors and quickly enjoyed success, being part of the teams that won the Apertura '98, Clausura '99 and Apertura 2002 championships for the Xeneizes, as well as two international titles, the Copa Libertadores of 2000 and 2001.
In 2003, Christian split time at Independiente
and Unión
and later returned to Independiente for the first half of the 2004 season. Then Giménez migrated to Mexico, as he was transferred to Veracruz
.
, Cuauhtémoc Blanco
, Kléber Boas
, Braulio Luna
and Gustavo Biscayzacú
. In Giménez's first season at Veracruz, the team led the entire league in points
, with Christian scoring four goals throughout the regular season. Despite being the top-seeded team, Veracruz exited the playoffs in the first round. The following season, Veracruz lost Blanco and Boas in the transfer window, and new signing Leandro Romagnoli
was not performing at top level despite his seven figure salary. As a result, the team's performance dropped and Veracruz missed the playoffs. Giménez also saw a drop in production at a personal level, failing to score a goal despite increased play.
Before the Apertura 2005 season, it was reported that Christian's old teammate, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, was trying to convince his team's (América
) bosses to sign Giménez for the following season. The executives took Blanco's advice and Giménez was signed to a contract shortly after. In his first season at América, Giménez scored three goals despite limited play (coming off the bench in eight of his nine appearances) and América led the league in points at the end of the regular season. Strangely enough, the set of events that occurred during Blanco and Giménez's (and Kléber Boas, who also migrated to América with Blanco in 2004) partnership in Veracruz repeated themselves at América. Like at Veracruz, their team was the top-seeded club going into the playoffs, and like at Veracruz, América failed to get past the first round of the playoffs, being defeated by UANL Tigres
.
Prior to the start of the Apertura 2006 season, Giménez was transferred to Pachuca, who days before had won the Clausura 2006 tournament, defeating Club San Luis - a sister club of Christian's last employer, Club América. 2007 started promisingly to Giménez, scoring 8 goals in three matches.
El Chaco Giménez is a member of the "Blanco Four", a group of players who once played at Veracruz with Blanco and were signed by América after being recommended by the striker. The other members are Kléber Boas
, Carlos Infante
and Armando Navarrete
. He left his club Pachuca
on 17 December 2009 and signed for Cruz Azul. In the tornement Bicentario 2010 Gimenez was a quik starter for the team Cruz Azul, because of the coach Enrique Meza already knowing the great skills that Gimenez had from the years that Meza coached with Pachuca. Although Gimenez was one of the most important transfers of the season, he was not able to lead Cruz azul to qualify for the quarter final's, and was only able to score 2 goals in 16 appearrences. In the Apertura 2010 season Christian Gimenez was criticized by the media because of his bad performance in the first season, and was wanted to be kicked out of Cruz Azul. But in the fifth jornada of the season Christian Gimenez scored his first hat-trick with Cruz Azul in a 3-2 win over Jaguares de Chiapas
.
, called up 'El Chaco' for Argentina
's world cup qualifiers in June vs. Colombia
and Ecuador
, but did not play on any of the two matches.
Resistencia, Chaco
Resistencia is the capital and largest city in the province of Chaco, in northeastern Argentina. At the 2001 census, the population of the Resistencia city proper was 274,490 inhabitants. It is the anchor of a slightly larger metropolitan area, Greater Resistencia, which comprises three more...
, Chaco
Chaco Province
Chaco is an Argentine province located in the north of the country, near the border with Paraguay. Its capital is Resistencia on the Paraná River opposite the city of Corrientes...
) is an Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
football player who currently plays for Cruz Azul in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
's professional league, the Mexican First Division
Primera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
. Labeled an Attacking Midfielder, Giménez is one of many talented players to be exported from Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
.
Argentina
From a very early age, Christian was playing football in a competitive environment. In 1989, he was signed by scouts working for Boca JuniorsBoca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
and was immediately enrolled in the team's youth squad. Almost a decade later, Giménez debuted in the professional Argentine league
Primera División Argentina
The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs...
with Boca Juniors and quickly enjoyed success, being part of the teams that won the Apertura '98, Clausura '99 and Apertura 2002 championships for the Xeneizes, as well as two international titles, the Copa Libertadores of 2000 and 2001.
In 2003, Christian split time at Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....
and Unión
Unión de Santa Fe
Club Atlético Unión is a sports club from Santa Fe, the capital city of the province with the same name in Argentina. The club, founded in 1907, has a strong rivalry with Colón de Santa Fe....
and later returned to Independiente for the first half of the 2004 season. Then Giménez migrated to Mexico, as he was transferred to Veracruz
CD Veracruz
Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz, known as Veracruz, is a Mexican professional football club. Veracruz plays in the Liga de Ascenso de México. Their nickname "Tiburones Rojos" means red sharks. The club was founded in 1943 after two clubs from the city state of Veracruz, Iberia de Córdoba and Veracruz...
.
Mexico
At Veracruz, Giménez was joined by a talented squad that included Walter JiménezWalter Jiménez
Walter Adrián Jiménez is an Argentine footballer. He currently plays as a midfielder for Puebla FC in the Primera División de Mexico.-Club:Santos Laguna* Primera División de México - Clausura 2008...
, Cuauhtémoc Blanco
Cuauhtémoc Blanco
Cuauhtémoc Blanco Bravo is a Mexican professional footballer currently signed for Irapuato in the Mexican Liga de Ascenso.Known for his aggressive yet charismatic personality on the field, playing most of his career as a deep-lying forward and his last years as an attacking midfielder...
, Kléber Boas
Kléber Boas
Kléber João Boas Pereira is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Moto Club de São Luís...
, Braulio Luna
Braulio Luna
Braulio Luna Guzmán is a Mexican footballer. He currently plays as a midfielder for Tecos in the Primera División de México....
and Gustavo Biscayzacú
Gustavo Biscayzacú
Gustavo Javier Biscayzacú Perea is a footballer, who currently plays for Portuguesa, also known as "grillito" .- Career :...
. In Giménez's first season at Veracruz, the team led the entire league in points
Three points for a win
Three points for a win is a standard used in many sports leagues and group tournaments, especially in association football, in which three points are awarded to the team winning a match, with no points to the losing team. If the game is drawn, each team receives one point...
, with Christian scoring four goals throughout the regular season. Despite being the top-seeded team, Veracruz exited the playoffs in the first round. The following season, Veracruz lost Blanco and Boas in the transfer window, and new signing Leandro Romagnoli
Leandro Romagnoli
Leandro Atilio Romagnoli is an Argentine footballer who plays for San Lorenzo de Almagro in the Argentine first division....
was not performing at top level despite his seven figure salary. As a result, the team's performance dropped and Veracruz missed the playoffs. Giménez also saw a drop in production at a personal level, failing to score a goal despite increased play.
Before the Apertura 2005 season, it was reported that Christian's old teammate, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, was trying to convince his team's (América
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
) bosses to sign Giménez for the following season. The executives took Blanco's advice and Giménez was signed to a contract shortly after. In his first season at América, Giménez scored three goals despite limited play (coming off the bench in eight of his nine appearances) and América led the league in points at the end of the regular season. Strangely enough, the set of events that occurred during Blanco and Giménez's (and Kléber Boas, who also migrated to América with Blanco in 2004) partnership in Veracruz repeated themselves at América. Like at Veracruz, their team was the top-seeded club going into the playoffs, and like at Veracruz, América failed to get past the first round of the playoffs, being defeated by UANL Tigres
UANL Tigres
Tigres de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, often known only as Tigres or UANL, a Mexican football club that plays in the Primera División. It is one of the two professional football teams of the state of Nuevo León. The team plays home games at the Estadio Universitario, located in San...
.
Prior to the start of the Apertura 2006 season, Giménez was transferred to Pachuca, who days before had won the Clausura 2006 tournament, defeating Club San Luis - a sister club of Christian's last employer, Club América. 2007 started promisingly to Giménez, scoring 8 goals in three matches.
El Chaco Giménez is a member of the "Blanco Four", a group of players who once played at Veracruz with Blanco and were signed by América after being recommended by the striker. The other members are Kléber Boas
Kléber Boas
Kléber João Boas Pereira is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Moto Club de São Luís...
, Carlos Infante
Carlos Infante
Carlos Jesús Infante Figueroa is a Mexican football defender who currently plays for Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz in the Liga de Ascenso.- Career :...
and Armando Navarrete
Armando Navarrete
Armando Navarrete García is a Mexican football goalkeeper who currently plays for Atlante in the Primera División de México...
. He left his club Pachuca
Pachuca
Pachuca, formally Pachuca de Soto is the capital of the Mexican state of Hidalgo. It is located in the south-central part of the state. Pachuca de Soto is also the name of the municipality of which the city serves as municipal seat...
on 17 December 2009 and signed for Cruz Azul. In the tornement Bicentario 2010 Gimenez was a quik starter for the team Cruz Azul, because of the coach Enrique Meza already knowing the great skills that Gimenez had from the years that Meza coached with Pachuca. Although Gimenez was one of the most important transfers of the season, he was not able to lead Cruz azul to qualify for the quarter final's, and was only able to score 2 goals in 16 appearrences. In the Apertura 2010 season Christian Gimenez was criticized by the media because of his bad performance in the first season, and was wanted to be kicked out of Cruz Azul. But in the fifth jornada of the season Christian Gimenez scored his first hat-trick with Cruz Azul in a 3-2 win over Jaguares de Chiapas
Jaguares de Chiapas
The Club de Fútbol Jaguares de Chiapas, is a Mexican football club now based in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, in the state of Chiapas. They currently play in Primera División de México...
.
International career
Former manager Diego MaradonaDiego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
, called up 'El Chaco' for Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
's world cup qualifiers in June vs. Colombia
Colombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
and Ecuador
Ecuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
, but did not play on any of the two matches.
Titles
| Season | Club | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Apertura 1998 |  Boca Juniors |
Primera División Argentina Primera División Argentina The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs... |
| Clausura 1999 | Boca Juniors |
Primera División Argentina Primera División Argentina The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs... |
| Apertura 2000 | Boca Juniors |
Primera División Argentina Primera División Argentina The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs... |
| 2000 | Boca Juniors |
Copa Libertadores |
| 2001 | Boca Juniors |
Copa Libertadores |
| 2005 |  Club AméricaClub América Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas .... |
Primera División de México Primera División de México The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing... |
| 2006 | Club América Club América Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas .... |
CONCACAF Champions Cup |
| 2006 | C.F. Pachuca |
Copa Sudamericana Copa Sudamericana The Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana de Clubes , known simply as the Copa Sudamericana , is an annual international club football competition organized by the CONMEBOL since 2002. It is the second most prestigious club competition in South American football. CONCACAF clubs were invited between 2004... |
| 2007 | C.F. Pachuca |
CONCACAF Champions Cup |
| 2007 | C.F. Pachuca |
Primera División de México Primera División de México The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing... |
| 2007 | C.F. Pachuca |
North American SuperLiga North American SuperLiga The SuperLiga was an official North American association football competition between teams from the Primera División of Mexico and Major League Soccer of the United States and Canada, the top divisions in each country. The competition was sanctioned by CONCACAF, U.S... |
| 2008 | C.F. Pachuca |
CONCACAF Champions Cup |
External links
- Statistics at Guardian Stats Centre Profile Club América Profile