Gonzalo Rubén Bergessio
Encyclopedia
Gonzalo Rubén Bergessio (born 20 July 1984 in Córdoba, Córdoba Province) is an Argentine
footballer who plays for Calcio Catania
in Serie A
, as a striker.
. In 2005, he was signed by Instituto Atlético Central Córdoba
of the top level, but at the end of the 2005–06 season Instituto were relegated, and the player was sold to Racing Club de Avellaneda
.
During the Apertura 2006, Bergessio contributed with six goals, and in the following year's Clausura
, continued to score on a regular basis. His fast pace earned him a big following at the Estadio Juan Domingo Perón
, and he became a fan favourite after scoring the game winner against giants Boca Juniors
, adding another against Club Atlético River Plate
.
2.5m deal with Portuguese league powerhouse Sport Lisboa e Benfica. However, he only appeared in three league contests, one less than his UEFA Champions League
opportunities and, in January of the following year, he returned to his country.
, to play with Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
. On 8 May, he was involved in the Libertadores Cup tie against River where, after San Lorenzo had two players sent off
and were 2–0 down, he scored twice to give his team an improbable victory on aggregate.
, signing with France
's AS Saint-Étienne
for an undisclosed fee, on a four-year contract. He scored his first goal for his new club during his second appearance, a 1–1 home draw against AJ Auxerre
, but netted just five times more in his first one 1/2 seasons with the Ligue 1
outfit.
, Bergessio joined Italian
team Calcio Catania
, arriving on loan for the remainder of 2010–11
. The Sicilians
had the option to sign him player permanently at the conclusion of this loan agreement. He made his Serie A
debut on 20 February, playing the full 90 minutes and being booked in a 0–1 away loss against S.S.C. Napoli
.
After an initial delay in the transfer, Bergessio signed with Catania permanently on 20 August 2011 after a successful loan spell, for an undisclosed fee.
debut on 15 October 2008, playing the second half of a 0–1 loss in Chile
, in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
qualifiers
.
He scored his first two international goals on 20 May 2009 in a 3–1 win over Panama
.
|1 || 20 May 2009 || Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López, Santa Fe, Argentina
|| || 2–1|| 3–1 || Friendly
|-
|1 || 20 May 2009 || Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López, Santa Fe, Argentina
|| || 3–1 || 3–1 || Friendly
|}
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...
footballer who plays for Calcio Catania
Calcio Catania
Calcio Catania is an Italian football club founded in 1908 and based in Catania, Sicily. The club has spent much of its history in Serie B, gaining promotion to Italy's top league Serie A five times...
in Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
, as a striker.
Early career
Bergessio started his career in the lower leagues with Club Atlético PlatenseClub Atlético Platense
Club Atlético Platense is an Argentine sports club based in Vicente López, in the north side of Greater Buenos Aires. The club nickname is Calamar after the journalist Palacio Zino said that the team moved "like a squid in its ink"....
. In 2005, he was signed by Instituto Atlético Central Córdoba
Instituto Atlético Central Córdoba
Instituto Atlético Central Córdoba is an Argentine sports club from Córdoba, which professional football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second division of the Argentine football league system.Famous players who have played at Instituto include Osvaldo Ardiles, Mario Alberto...
of the top level, but at the end of the 2005–06 season Instituto were relegated, and the player was sold to Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
.
During the Apertura 2006, Bergessio contributed with six goals, and in the following year's Clausura
Apertura and Clausura
The Apertura and Clausura tournaments are a relatively recent innovation for many Latin American football leagues in which the traditional European football season from August to May is divided in two sections per season, each with its own champion. Apertura and Clausura are the Spanish words for...
, continued to score on a regular basis. His fast pace earned him a big following at the Estadio Juan Domingo Perón
Estadio Juan Domingo Perón
The Estadio Presidente Juan Domingo Perón is a stadium located in Avellaneda, Argentina, a suburb of Buenos Aires. It is situated on the streets of Corbatta Mozart adjoining with Italy and Columbus.Racing Club owns the stadium and plays its home matches there...
, and he became a fan favourite after scoring the game winner against giants 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....
, adding another against Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
.
Benfica
On 26 June 2007, Bergessio signed a five-year €Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
2.5m deal with Portuguese league powerhouse Sport Lisboa e Benfica. However, he only appeared in three league contests, one less than his UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
opportunities and, in January of the following year, he returned to his country.
Return to Argentina
In January 2008, Bergessio returned to ArgentinaArgentina
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...
, to play with Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro is an Argentine sports club based in Boedo neighbourhood, Buenos Aires, mostly known because of its football team....
. On 8 May, he was involved in the Libertadores Cup tie against River where, after San Lorenzo had two players sent off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
and were 2–0 down, he scored twice to give his team an improbable victory on aggregate.
Saint-Étienne
On 24 August 2009, Bergessio returned to EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, signing with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's AS Saint-Étienne
AS Saint-Étienne
Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city...
for an undisclosed fee, on a four-year contract. He scored his first goal for his new club during his second appearance, a 1–1 home draw against AJ Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...
, but netted just five times more in his first one 1/2 seasons with the Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
outfit.
Calcio Catania
In the last hours of the 2011 winter transfer windowTransfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
, Bergessio joined Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
team Calcio Catania
Calcio Catania
Calcio Catania is an Italian football club founded in 1908 and based in Catania, Sicily. The club has spent much of its history in Serie B, gaining promotion to Italy's top league Serie A five times...
, arriving on loan for the remainder of 2010–11
2010–11 Serie A
The 2010–11 Serie A was the 79th season since its establishment, the first under a league committee separate from Serie B. It began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 22 May 2011...
. The Sicilians
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
had the option to sign him player permanently at the conclusion of this loan agreement. He made his Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
debut on 20 February, playing the full 90 minutes and being booked in a 0–1 away loss against S.S.C. Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....
.
After an initial delay in the transfer, Bergessio signed with Catania permanently on 20 August 2011 after a successful loan spell, for an undisclosed fee.
International career
Bergessio made his internationalArgentina 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...
debut on 15 October 2008, playing the second half of a 0–1 loss in Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
, in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
qualifiers
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
The South American zone of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification saw 10 teams competing for places in the finals which were held in South Africa. The format is identical to that used for the previous three World Cup qualification tournaments held by CONMEBOL...
.
He scored his first two international goals on 20 May 2009 in a 3–1 win over Panama
Panama national football team
The Panama national football team is the national team of Panama and is controlled by the Panamanian Football Federation. Panama reached the 2006 World Cup CONCACAF Final Round in the qualifiers and finished as runners-up at the final game of the 2005 Gold Cup...
.
International goals
|-|1 || 20 May 2009 || Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López, Santa Fe, Argentina
Santa Fe, Argentina
Santa Fe is the capital city of province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It sits in northeastern Argentina, near the junction of the Paraná and Salado rivers. It lies opposite the city of Paraná, to which it is linked by the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel. The city is also connected by canal with the...
|| || 2–1|| 3–1 || Friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
|-
|1 || 20 May 2009 || Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López, Santa Fe, Argentina
Santa Fe, Argentina
Santa Fe is the capital city of province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It sits in northeastern Argentina, near the junction of the Paraná and Salado rivers. It lies opposite the city of Paraná, to which it is linked by the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel. The city is also connected by canal with the...
|| || 3–1 || 3–1 || Friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
|}