Nicolás Medina
Encyclopedia
Nicolás Rubén Medina (born 17 February 1982 in Buenos Aires
) is an Argentine
football who plays for O'Higgins
of Chile
.
FA Premier League
team Sunderland A.F.C.
for £3.5 million, joining up with Argentinian U-21 colleague Julio Arca
. At his signing, manager Peter Reid
hailed him as "a complete midfield player" http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2001/5/19/170455.html.
While Arca had become an instant hit at the Stadium of Light
, Medina failed to make it into the first team and spent most of his time at Sunderland in the reserve team. Both fans and the media began to speculate as to why such an expensive signing was not given a chance. This led to popular theories that he was suffering a serious illness, or that he had fallen out with Reid. Neither rumour was proven.
Medina briefly courted controversy early in his Sunderland career, after being quoted in an Argentinian newspaper that he was planning to live in Newcastle
(home to Newcastle United
, Sunderland's fiercest rivals) rather than in the City of Sunderland
. The story was picked up and reported by the Daily Mirror.
When new Sunderland manager Howard Wilkinson
took over at Sunderland, he did what Peter Reid
had failed to do and publicly explain why Medina was not being picked for Sunderland, despite playing for the Argentinian national team. In an interview he stated that: "The evidence suggests that Nicolas hasn't got it because the previous manager didn't pick him." http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2002/12/31/109218.html
Medina eventually left Sunderland having only played once for the first team; in an FA Cup
tie against Bolton Wanderers
(he was substituted in this game). He remains the most expensive Sunderland player to never play a first-team league game.
, Club Atlético Nueva Chicago and Talleres de Córdoba
and now Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata.
2008 - 2009 CHILE: OHIGGINS. First Division.
2009- 2010 ARGENTINA: TIRO FEDERAL. Second Division.
2010- 2011 MEXICO: REBOCEROS DE LA PIEDAD. Second Division
winning Argentine team at the 2004 Summer Olympics
and has played for the Argentina national football team
.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
) 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 who plays for O'Higgins
Club Deportivo O'Higgins
Club Deportivo O'Higgins, is a Chilean football club based in the city of Rancagua. The club was founded on April 7, 1955 following the merger of the clubs America and O'Higgins Braden, and plays in the first division of the Chilean football league. The club was previously called PARHS FC...
of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
.
Sunderland
In 2001, Medina signed for EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
team Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
for £3.5 million, joining up with Argentinian U-21 colleague Julio Arca
Julio Arca
Julio Andrés Arca is an Argentine footballer, he currently plays for Middlesbrough. Arca is also a former Argentina Under-20 captain. He is a left back or midfielder...
. At his signing, manager Peter Reid
Peter Reid
Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career...
hailed him as "a complete midfield player" http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2001/5/19/170455.html.
While Arca had become an instant hit at the Stadium of Light
Stadium of Light
The Stadium of Light is an all-seater football stadium in Sunderland, England. With space for 49,000 spectators, the Stadium of Light has the fifth-largest capacity of any English football stadium. The stadium primarily hosts Sunderland A.F.C. matches...
, Medina failed to make it into the first team and spent most of his time at Sunderland in the reserve team. Both fans and the media began to speculate as to why such an expensive signing was not given a chance. This led to popular theories that he was suffering a serious illness, or that he had fallen out with Reid. Neither rumour was proven.
Medina briefly courted controversy early in his Sunderland career, after being quoted in an Argentinian newspaper that he was planning to live in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
(home to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, Sunderland's fiercest rivals) rather than in the City of Sunderland
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
. The story was picked up and reported by the Daily Mirror.
When new Sunderland manager Howard Wilkinson
Howard Wilkinson
Howard Wilkinson is a former English football player and manager, and has recently stepped down as a Non-Executive Director at Sheffield Wednesday after formerly relinquishing the chairman role to Milan Mandaric...
took over at Sunderland, he did what Peter Reid
Peter Reid
Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career...
had failed to do and publicly explain why Medina was not being picked for Sunderland, despite playing for the Argentinian national team. In an interview he stated that: "The evidence suggests that Nicolas hasn't got it because the previous manager didn't pick him." http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2002/12/31/109218.html
Medina eventually left Sunderland having only played once for the first team; in an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
tie against Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
(he was substituted in this game). He remains the most expensive Sunderland player to never play a first-team league game.
Return to Argentina
He has returned to Argentina and played for Rosario CentralRosario Central
Club Atlético Rosario Central is a sports club based in Rosario, Argentina. Its football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second tier of the Argentine football league system, after being relegated in the 2009-10 season....
, Club Atlético Nueva Chicago and Talleres de Córdoba
Talleres de Córdoba
Club Atlético Talleres is a sports club from the city of Córdoba, Argentina, mostly known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the regionalised third division, the Torneo Argentino A...
and now Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata.
2008 - 2009 CHILE: OHIGGINS. First Division.
2009- 2010 ARGENTINA: TIRO FEDERAL. Second Division.
2010- 2011 MEXICO: REBOCEROS DE LA PIEDAD. Second Division
International
Nico Medina was part of the gold medalFootball at the 2004 Summer Olympics
The football tournament at the 2004 Summer Olympics started on 11 August, , and ended on 28 August.The men's tournament is played by U-23 national teams, with up to three over age players allowed per squad...
winning Argentine team at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
and has played for the Argentina 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...
.
Honours
- FIFA World Youth Championship winner: 2001
- Men's Olympics Football tournamentFootball at the 2004 Summer OlympicsThe football tournament at the 2004 Summer Olympics started on 11 August, , and ended on 28 August.The men's tournament is played by U-23 national teams, with up to three over age players allowed per squad...
gold medal: 2004
External links
- Career details at National Football Teams
- Guardian statistics Argentine Primera statistics BDFA profile