Julio Ricardo Cruz
Encyclopedia
Julio Ricardo Cruz is a former Argentine
footballer.
in 1993. He moved to River Plate
in 1996.
.
, Cruz was mainly used as a lone striker. While he was often derided by fans and the media alike for his lack of goalscoring proficiency, he did prove to be extremely apt at holding the ball up in order to bring the other attackers into the game. In 2001–02, he played an integral part in Bologna's 7th-placed finish in Serie A, and while he only netted ten goals in the league, he earnt back the respect of his critics for his intelligent and passionate football.
.
With the Nerazzurri, Cruz rarely played regularly in the first team, finding some playing time usually just when the leading strikers were unavailable, and often being used as a substitute, thus scoring 12 league goals in his first two seasons with Internazionale
. He scored his first goal for Internazionale in the 3–0 victory over Arsenal
at Highbury Stadium
on 17 September 2003 in the Champions League
. In a Champions League match against Porto on 1 November 2005, he scored twice in thirty minutes after being sent in to replace striker Adriano
, turning a 0-1 into a 2–1 victory.
In the winter of 2005, Cruz was linked with rumours to Roma
and other clubs because his contract was running out, but
in February 2006, he extended his contract to the summer of 2008. He ended the season as the top scorer for Internazionale with 21 goals, including fifteen league goals, and the second goal in the return match for the final of the 2006 Coppa Italia Final
that Inter won 3–1 against Roma. He signed a new contract in September 2007.
and signed with Lazio
on a two-year contract as free agent, but also paid €2.15 million sign-on fees. At the end of 2009–10
season, Lazio mutually terminated the contract, as Cruz was suffering from injury. Lazio was his last club.
. He participated in the 2006 World Cup
, coming on as a late substitute in the matches against the Netherlands
and Germany
. He scored the opening penalty in the penalty shoot-outs against Germany
, but Argentina lost 4–2 on penalties.
in 1993 when he was summoned by Oscar López
to fill in for a missing player one day for a practice match. Upon noticing his talent, Banfield signed Cruz, and the nickname was born.
|1997||5||0
|-
|1998||0||0
|-
|1999||2||1
|-
|2000||1||0
|-
|2001||4||0
|-
|2002||1||1
|-
|2003||0||0
|-
|2004||0||0
|-
|2005||2||1
|-
|2006||2||0
|-
|2007||0||0
|-
|2008||5||0
|-
!Total||22||3
|}
Feyenoord
Internazionale
Lazio
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.
Early career
A tall, physical striker at , Cruz started his career with BanfieldClub Atlético Banfield
Club Atlético Banfield is an Argentine sports club located in the city of Banfield, part of Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires province. Founded on 21 January 1896 by residents of the town of British origin , its main activity is football...
in 1993. He moved to 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....
in 1996.
Feyenoord
In 1997, he moved to Europe, being signed by Feyenoord, and showing a great potential in terms of scoring proficiency. He then moved in 2000 to BolognaBologna F.C. 1909
Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history...
.
Bologna
At Bologna, under the management of Francesco GuidolinFrancesco Guidolin
Francesco Guidolin is an Italian football manager and former player, currently serving as head coach of Serie A outfit Udinese.-Playing career:...
, Cruz was mainly used as a lone striker. While he was often derided by fans and the media alike for his lack of goalscoring proficiency, he did prove to be extremely apt at holding the ball up in order to bring the other attackers into the game. In 2001–02, he played an integral part in Bologna's 7th-placed finish in Serie A, and while he only netted ten goals in the league, he earnt back the respect of his critics for his intelligent and passionate football.
Internazionale
In 2003, Cruz left Bologna and signed for InternazionaleF.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
.
With the Nerazzurri, Cruz rarely played regularly in the first team, finding some playing time usually just when the leading strikers were unavailable, and often being used as a substitute, thus scoring 12 league goals in his first two seasons with Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
. He scored his first goal for Internazionale in the 3–0 victory over Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
at Highbury Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Ashburton Grove, currently known as the Emirates Stadium, is a UEFA elite football stadium which is home to Arsenal FC, where they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has an current capacity of 60,361, and there have been rumours of an expansion...
on 17 September 2003 in the 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...
. In a Champions League match against Porto on 1 November 2005, he scored twice in thirty minutes after being sent in to replace striker Adriano
Adriano Leite Ribeiro
Adriano Leite Ribeiro , commonly known as simply Adriano, is a Brazilian footballer who played striker who currently plays for Corinthians...
, turning a 0-1 into a 2–1 victory.
In the winter of 2005, Cruz was linked with rumours to Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
and other clubs because his contract was running out, but
in February 2006, he extended his contract to the summer of 2008. He ended the season as the top scorer for Internazionale with 21 goals, including fifteen league goals, and the second goal in the return match for the final of the 2006 Coppa Italia Final
2006 Coppa Italia Final
The 2006 Coppa Italia Final was a double match played between AS Roma and Internazionale.The first leg was played in Rome on 3 May 2006, while the second leg on 11 May.Inter won the trophy with an aggregate result of 4–2....
that Inter won 3–1 against Roma. He signed a new contract in September 2007.
Lazio
On 31 July 2009, Cruz left InternazionaleF.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
and signed with Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
on a two-year contract as free agent, but also paid €2.15 million sign-on fees. At the end of 2009–10
2009–10 Serie A
The 2009–10 Serie A was the seventy-eighth season since its establishment. There were three promoted teams from the Serie B, replacing the three teams that were relegated following the 2008–09 season. Nike provided a new match ball - the T90 Ascente - for this season...
season, Lazio mutually terminated the contract, as Cruz was suffering from injury. Lazio was his last club.
International career
Cruz has twenty two caps and four goals for ArgentinaArgentina 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...
. He participated in the 2006 World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, coming on as a late substitute in the matches against the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
and Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
. He scored the opening penalty in the penalty shoot-outs against Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
, but Argentina lost 4–2 on penalties.
Nickname
Cruz's nickname, El Jardinero (Spanish for "the gardener"), was given to him at an early age. He was working as a groundskeeper for local team BanfieldClub Atlético Banfield
Club Atlético Banfield is an Argentine sports club located in the city of Banfield, part of Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires province. Founded on 21 January 1896 by residents of the town of British origin , its main activity is football...
in 1993 when he was summoned by Oscar López
Oscar López (born 1937)
Oscar López is a retired Argentina footballer and football manager.López started his playing career in 1957 with Independiente. In 1960 he moved down a division to play for Banfield where he was part of the team that won the Argentine 2nd division in 1962.In 1966 he had an unsuccessful spell with...
to fill in for a missing player one day for a practice match. Upon noticing his talent, Banfield signed Cruz, and the nickname was born.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | Domestic League | Domestic Cups | European games | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||||
| Banfield Club Atlético Banfield Club Atlético Banfield is an Argentine sports club located in the city of Banfield, part of Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires province. Founded on 21 January 1896 by residents of the town of British origin , its main activity is football... |
1993–94 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1994–95 | 26 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 6 | |||
| 1995–96 | 32 | 10 | — | — | — | — | 32 | 10 | |||
| 1996–97 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 64 | 16 | — | — | — | — | 64 | 16 | |||
| 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.... |
1996–97 | 29 | 17 | — | — | — | — | 29 | 17 | ||
| Total | 29 | 17 | — | — | — | — | 29 | 17 | |||
| Feyenoord | 1997–98 | 27 | 14 | — | — | 6 | 3 | 33 | 17 | ||
| 1998–99 | 29 | 15 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 31 | 15 | |||
| 1999–2000 | 30 | 15 | — | — | 8 | 3 | 38 | 18 | |||
| 2000–01 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 86 | 44 | — | — | 17 | 6 | 103 | 50 | |||
| Bologna Bologna F.C. 1909 Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history... |
2000–01 | 27 | 7 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 28 | 7 | ||
| 2001–02 | 33 | 10 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 35 | 12 | |||
| 2002–03 | 28 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 35 | 11 | |||
| Total | 88 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 98 | 30 | |||
| Internazionale F.C. Internazionale Milano Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always... |
2003–04 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 35 | 11 | ||
| 2004–05 | 18 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 32 | 9 | |||
| 2005–06 | 31 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 45 | 21 | |||
| 2006–07 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 12 | |||
| 2007–08 | 28 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 38 | 19 | |||
| 2008–09 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 23 | 3 | |||
| Total | 125 | 49 | 25 | 13 | 39 | 13 | 190 | 75 | |||
| Lazio S.S. Lazio Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football... |
2009–10 2009–10 Serie A The 2009–10 Serie A was the seventy-eighth season since its establishment. There were three promoted teams from the Serie B, replacing the three teams that were relegated following the 2008–09 season. Nike provided a new match ball - the T90 Ascente - for this season... |
25 | 4 | — | — | 4 | — | 29 | 4 | ||
| Total | 25 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 29 | 4 | |||
| Career Totals | 417 | 153 | 29 | 15 | 62 | 20 | 513 | 189 | |||
| Updated 23 May 2010 | |||||||||||
National team statistics
|-|1997||5||0
|-
|1998||0||0
|-
|1999||2||1
|-
|2000||1||0
|-
|2001||4||0
|-
|2002||1||1
|-
|2003||0||0
|-
|2004||0||0
|-
|2005||2||1
|-
|2006||2||0
|-
|2007||0||0
|-
|2008||5||0
|-
!Total||22||3
|}
Honours
River Plate- Argentine Primera: 1
-
- 1996
- Argentine Primera: 1
- 1997
- 1996
Feyenoord
- EredivisieEredivisieThe Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
: 1
-
- 1999
- Johan Cruijff-schaalJohan Cruijff-schaalThe Johan Cruijff Schaal is a football trophy in the Netherlands named after legendary Dutch football player Johan Cruyff, also often referred to as the Dutch Super Cup. The winner is decided in one match only, played by the winner of the national football league and the winner of the national...
: 1
- Johan Cruijff-schaal
- 1999
- 1999
Internazionale
- Serie ASerie ASerie 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...
: 4
-
- 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
- Coppa ItaliaCoppa ItaliaThe Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
: 2
- Coppa Italia
- 2005, 20062006 Coppa Italia FinalThe 2006 Coppa Italia Final was a double match played between AS Roma and Internazionale.The first leg was played in Rome on 3 May 2006, while the second leg on 11 May.Inter won the trophy with an aggregate result of 4–2....
- Supercoppa ItalianaSupercoppa ItalianaThe Supercoppa Italiana is a pre-season football competition held the week before the season begins in Italy every year. It is contested by the winners of the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in the previous season, as a curtain raiser to the new season. It is usually played at the home of the Serie A...
: 3
- Supercoppa Italiana
- 20052005 Supercoppa ItalianaThe 2005 Supercoppa Italiana was a match contested by 2004-05 Serie A champions Juventus and 2004-05 Coppa Italia winners Internazionale. The match took place on 20 August 2005, and resulted in a 1-0 win for Internazionale after extra time.-Match details:...
, 20062006 Supercoppa ItalianaThe 2006 Supercoppa Italiana was a match contested by the 2005-06 winners Internazionale and the 2005-06 Coppa Italia runners-up Roma. The Coppa Italia runners-up were chosen to play instead of the winners because of the aftermath of the 2006 Serie A match-fixing scandal...
, 20082008 Supercoppa ItalianaThe 2008 Supercoppa Italiana is a football match that was played by Serie A 2007-08 winners Internazionale and Coppa Italia 2007-08 winners Roma. The match proved to be a tightly contested affair. After exchanging goals, it appeared that Inter was on its way to victory on Mario Balotelli's goal...
- 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Lazio
- Supercoppa ItalianaSupercoppa ItalianaThe Supercoppa Italiana is a pre-season football competition held the week before the season begins in Italy every year. It is contested by the winners of the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in the previous season, as a curtain raiser to the new season. It is usually played at the home of the Serie A...
: 1
-
- 20092009 Supercoppa ItalianaThe 2009 Supercoppa Italiana was a match played by the 2008–09 Serie A winners Internazionale and 2008–09 Coppa Italia winners Lazio. It took place on 8 August 2009 at the Beijing National Stadium in Beijing, China. Lazio won the match 2–1 to earn their third Supercoppa...
- 2009
External links
- FootballDatabase provides Julio Cruz's profile and stats
- Statistics at Guardian Stats Centre
- Career details at National Football Teams