Lionel Scaloni

Lionel Scaloni
Personal information
Full name Lionel Sebastián Scaloni
Date of birth (1978-05-16) May 16, 1978 (age 35)
Place of birth Rosario, Argentina
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 12 in)
Playing position Wingback
Club information
Current club Atalanta
Number 5
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1996 Newell's Old Boys 16 (0)
1996–1998 Estudiantes 37 (7)
1998–2006 Deportivo La Coruña 200 (14)
2006 West Ham (loan) 13 (0)
2006–2007 Racing Santander 30 (1)
2007–2013 Lazio 52 (1)
2008–2009 Mallorca (loan) 28 (0)
2013– Atalanta 1 (0)
National team
1997 Argentina U20 6 (2)
2003–2006 Argentina 7 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 February 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).

Lionel Sebastián Scaloni (born 16 May 1978) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Atalanta B.C. in Serie A. A player of wide range, he can appear as both a right defender or midfielder.

He spent most of his professional career with Deportivo de La Coruña in Spain, amassing La Liga totals of 258 games and 15 goals over the course of 12 seasons (three teams represented). He also spent several years in Italy with Lazio.

Scaloni appeared with Argentina at the 2006 World Cup.

Club career

Early years / Deportivo

Born in Rosario, Santa Fe, Scaloni began his career in the Argentine league with local Newell's Old Boys and then Estudiantes de La Plata, before joining Spain's Deportivo de La Coruña in March 1998, for 405 million pesetas.

Regularly used with the Galicians over an eight 1/2-years stint, he competed with Manuel Pablo and Víctor for both starting spots on the right flank. However, due to injury, he could only appear in 14 La Liga contests as Depor managed its first league title.

After falling out with manager Joaquín Caparrós, Scaloni joined Premier League team West Ham United on loan, on 31 January 2006, the final day of the transfer window, in an attempt to heighten his options to attend the upcoming FIFA World Cup. He took the #2 shirt from the departed Tomáš Řepka, and made his league debut for the East Londoners against Sunderland, on 4 February, while also helping the side reach the season's FA Cup final, a penalty shootout loss to Liverpool.[1]

Racing Santander

Scaloni left West Ham after a permanent move could not be agreed. Deportivo released him on 1 September 2006 alongside striker Diego Tristán,[2] one day after the close of the Summer transfer window.

However, due to the fact there were no limitations for free agents, two weeks later Scaloni signed a one-year contract at Racing de Santander,[3] being essential as the Cantabrians achieved a final midtable position. He appeared – and started – in both games against his former club, both ending in 0–0 draws.[4][5]

Lazio

In July 2007 Scaloni moved to Italy with S.S. Lazio, on a five-year deal. However, in January of the following year, he returned to Spain, signing a one 1/2 loan link with RCD Mallorca,[6] thus returning to the Romans in July 2009, and being irregularly used in the following three Serie A seasons.

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International career

After making his debut for Argentine on 30 April 2003 in a friendly match with Libya, Scaloni was a surprise selection for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, taking the place of veteran Javier Zanetti, who also appeared as a right-wingback.

His only appearance of the tournament would be the extra time 2–1 round-of-16 win against Mexico on 24 June 2006, at the Zentralstadion (playing the full 120 minutes).[7]

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Personal

Scaloni's older brother, Mauro, also belonged to Deportivo, but never made it past its B-squad.[8]

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External links

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Last modified on 8 April 2013, at 15:48