Matías Almeyda
Encyclopedia
Matías Jesús Almeyda is a retired Argentine
footballer who played as a defensive midfielder, and the current manager of Club Atlético River Plate
.
Ironically nickname
d El Pelado ("bald one", "shaven") in spite of his long hair, he played most of his professional career at River Plate
and in Italy
, representing four different teams in the latter country.
Having represented Argentina
during nearly one full decade, Almeyda appeared with the national team in two World Cups
.
, first as understudy to Leonardo Astrada
, then as a starter, helping the team to the 1996 first division title after his insertion in the starting XI. Shortly after, he moved to Sevilla FC
in Spain
, for a then-record fee for a player in the country of $
9 million. Almeyda appeared regularly in his first and only season with the Andalusia
ns, but suffered La Liga
relegation.
In the following seven years, Almeyda would play in Serie A
of Italy
, successively representing S.S. Lazio
, Parma F.C.
and F.C. Internazionale Milano
, always partnered by compatriots, especially at the latter club: he spent three seasons in Rome
with Lazio, becoming a firm fan favourite, especially after scoring a 35-yard goal against Parma's Gianluigi Buffon
, his only of the 1999–2000 season, which ended with league and cup
conquest; additionally, he was voted the competition's best player in 1998–99, and also won - as a starter - the last UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
, against RCD Mallorca
.
In the summer of 2002, Almeyda was exchanged with Vratislav Greško
and moved to Inter, where he was again partnered by compatriots as in his previous clubs. Two years later, he joined his final club in Italy, lowly Brescia Calcio
, on a free transfer. The following year, after the team's relegation, as second from bottom, he returned to Argentina and agreed to play for Quilmes Atlético Club
, which appeared at the Libertadores Cup, announcing his retirement after the team's elimination from that tournament.
After one 1/2-years away from football, in which he represented Argentina in a Showball tour around the world alongside Diego Maradona
and participated in the Indoor Football World Cup in Spain, Almeyda joined Norwegian Premier League
outfit of FK Lyn, in Oslo
, in which he was accompanied by compatriot José Oscar Flores
. The midfielder made his debut on 13 May 2007, but only played regularly in the reserves and in the domestic Cup
, being released (as the striker) shortly after, and again retiring from football.
On 16 January 2009, at almost 36, Almeyda, after nearly agreeing on a return to River, signed with modest Club Atlético Fénix
, in the fourth division
. During his brief spell with the team, he managed to be sent off
on two occasions.
On 19 August 2009, veteran Almeyda finally re-joined his main club River Plate, teaming up with former club teammates Marcelo Gallardo
and Ariel Ortega
. In June 2011, the team was relegated to the second level for the first time in its history, and the 37-year old retired from football, being appointed the side's manager the following month.
for the Argentine national football team
, his debut coming in April 1996 against Bolivia
. Shortly after his debut, he helped the Olympic side
win silver
at the Summer Olympics
in Atlanta.
Subsequently, Almeyda was selected for two FIFA World Cup
s: 1998
(playing all five matches - as a starter - as Argentina reached the quarterfinals) and 2002
(one group stage appearance, the 1–1 against Sweden
, as the national team exited after the first three contests).
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 played as a defensive midfielder, and the current manager of 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....
.
Ironically nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d El Pelado ("bald one", "shaven") in spite of his long hair, he played most of his professional career at 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....
and in Italy
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...
, representing four different teams in the latter country.
Having represented 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...
during nearly one full decade, Almeyda appeared with the national team in two World Cups
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
.
Club career
Born in Azul, Buenos Aires Province, Almeyda started playing professionally for local and national powerhouse Club Atlético River PlateClub 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....
, first as understudy to Leonardo Astrada
Leonardo Astrada
Leonardo Rubén Astrada is a retired Argentine football player, who went on to become a football manager. He currently manages Paraguayan team Cerro Porteño.-Playing career:...
, then as a starter, helping the team to the 1996 first division title after his insertion in the starting XI. Shortly after, he moved to Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, for a then-record fee for a player in the country of $
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
9 million. Almeyda appeared regularly in his first and only season with the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns, but suffered La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
relegation.
In the following seven years, Almeyda would play 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...
of Italy
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...
, successively representing S.S. 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...
, Parma F.C.
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
and F.C. Internazionale Milano
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...
, always partnered by compatriots, especially at the latter club: he spent three seasons in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
with Lazio, becoming a firm fan favourite, especially after scoring a 35-yard goal against Parma's Gianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi "Gigi" Buffon, Ufficiale OMRI , is an Italian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Juventus and the Italian national team. He has won the FIFA World Cup and is widely considered by fans and experts to be one of most dominant and successful goalkeepers in history...
, his only of the 1999–2000 season, which ended with league and cup
Coppa Italia
The 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...
conquest; additionally, he was voted the competition's best player in 1998–99, and also won - as a starter - the last UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
, against RCD Mallorca
RCD Mallorca
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca is a Spanish football team based on Palma, Majorca, in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, the team currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at Son Moix....
.
In the summer of 2002, Almeyda was exchanged with Vratislav Greško
Vratislav Greško
Vratislav Greško is a Slovak footballer who currently plays for the 2. liga club ŽP ŠPORT Podbrezová. His preferred position is left-back, although he has also been used as a left-sided midfielder or defender during his career...
and moved to Inter, where he was again partnered by compatriots as in his previous clubs. Two years later, he joined his final club in Italy, lowly Brescia Calcio
Brescia Calcio
Brescia Calcio , known simply as Brescia, is the largest football club in the Lombard city of Brescia, where it was founded in 1911.In the 2009–10 season, in the return leg of the Serie B playoff final, they defeated Torino 2-1 at home , returning to Serie A after a 5-year absence...
, on a free transfer. The following year, after the team's relegation, as second from bottom, he returned to Argentina and agreed to play for Quilmes Atlético Club
Quilmes Atlético Club
Quilmes Atlético Club is a sports clubs of Argentina, based on the Partido de Quilmes, Buenos Aires Province. Quilmes is one of the oldest clubs of Argentina, having been founded in 1887. Its football squad currently plays in the Primera B Nacional Division....
, which appeared at the Libertadores Cup, announcing his retirement after the team's elimination from that tournament.
After one 1/2-years away from football, in which he represented Argentina in a Showball tour around the world alongside Diego Maradona
Diego 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...
and participated in the Indoor Football World Cup in Spain, Almeyda joined Norwegian Premier League
Tippeligaen
Tippeligaen is a Norwegian professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the Norwegian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. The league is also unofficially known under its neutral name Eliteserien , although the name has never been official...
outfit of FK Lyn, in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, in which he was accompanied by compatriot José Oscar Flores
José Oscar Flores
José Oscar "Turu" Flores is a retired Argentine footballer who played as a striker, and the current assistant manager at Vélez Sársfield....
. The midfielder made his debut on 13 May 2007, but only played regularly in the reserves and in the domestic Cup
Norwegian football cup
The Norwegian Football Cup is the main knockout cup competition in Norwegian football. It is run by the Football Association of Norway and has been contested since 1902, making it the oldest football tournament in the country. The tournament is commonly known as Cupen or NM, an acronym formed...
, being released (as the striker) shortly after, and again retiring from football.
On 16 January 2009, at almost 36, Almeyda, after nearly agreeing on a return to River, signed with modest Club Atlético Fénix
Club Atlético Fénix
Club Atlético Fénix is a football club from Pilar in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The team currently plays in the Primera C Metropolitana, which is the regionalised fourth tier of the Argentine Football Association league system....
, in the fourth division
Primera C Metropolitana
The Primera C is one of the two leagues that form the regionalised fourth level of the Argentine football league system. The other league at level four is the Torneo Argentino B....
. During his brief spell with the team, he managed to be 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....
on two occasions.
On 19 August 2009, veteran Almeyda finally re-joined his main club River Plate, teaming up with former club teammates Marcelo Gallardo
Marcelo Gallardo
Marcelo Daniel Gallardo is an Argentine ex footballer who is currently the manager for Nacional de Uruguay....
and Ariel Ortega
Ariel Ortega
Arnaldo Ariel Ortega is an Argentine football attacking midfielder. His nickname is "El Burrito" , thus he is called "Burrito Ortega"....
. In June 2011, the team was relegated to the second level for the first time in its history, and the 37-year old retired from football, being appointed the side's manager the following month.
International career
Almeyda won a total of 35 capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the Argentine national football team
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...
, his debut coming in April 1996 against Bolivia
Bolivia national football team
The Bolivia national football team is the national team of Bolivia and is controlled by the Federación Boliviana de Fútbol. After playing in the 1930 and 1950 World Cups, they qualified just once—in 1994...
. Shortly after his debut, he helped the Olympic side
Argentina Olympic football team
Argentina Olympic football team represents Argentina in international football competitions in Olympic Games. The selection is limited to players under the age of 23, except three overage players...
win silver
Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The association football competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics was held in Birmingham, Alabama; Washington, D.C; Orlando, Florida; Miami, Florida; and Athens, Georgia....
at the Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta.
Subsequently, Almeyda was selected for two FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
s: 1998
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
(playing all five matches - as a starter - as Argentina reached the quarterfinals) and 2002
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
(one group stage appearance, the 1–1 against Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
, as the national team exited after the first three contests).
Club
- River PlateClub Atlético River PlateClub 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....
:- Libertadores Cup: 1996
- Argentine LeaguePrimera División ArgentinaThe 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...
: 1993, 1994, 1996
- LazioS.S. LazioSocietà 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...
:- UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: 1998–99 - UEFA Super Cup: 1999
- Italian LeagueSerie 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...
: 1999–2000 - Italian CupCoppa 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...
: 1997–98, 1999–2000 - Italian SupercupSupercoppa 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...
: 1998
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup