Gaizka Mendieta
| Gaizka Mendieta | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gaizka Mendieta Zabala | |
| Date of birth | March 27 1974 | |
| Place of birth | Bilbao, Spain | |
| Height | m ({{FORMATNUM:5 ft 91⁄2 in}}) | |
| Playing position | Midfielder | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Middlesbrough | |
| Number | n/a | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1990-1992 1992-2001 2001-2004 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004- |
Castellón Valencia Lazio → FC Barcelona (loan) → Middlesbrough (loan) Middlesbrough |
16 (0) 231 (45) 20 (0) 33 (4) 31 (2) 31 (2) |
| National team2 | ||
| 1999- | Spain | 38 (10) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Gaizka Mendieta Zabala (born 27 March, 1974 in Bilbao) is a Spanish football player. He is a midfielder who currently plays for Middlesbrough of the English Premiership.
Mendieta started his club career with Castellón in 1991 and moved to Valencia a year later. He became one of the most sought-after players in Europe after leading his club to two consecutive Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001. That led to a €48 million transfer to Lazio in 2001, but Mendieta disappointed in Serie A, spending only a year with the Rome club. He was loaned out to Barcelona for the 2002-03 season, and then to Middlesbrough for 2003-04. The latter move was later made permanent. For Spain, Mendieta has been capped 39 times (as of 2007), scoring eight goals. He played for his country at Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup.
In his time at Middlesbrough FC, Mendieta was part of several memorable footballing moments including Carling Cup glory bringing Middlesbrough their first ever silverware, and also an inspriational performance against Manchester United scoring two goals. In the last two years, a string of injuries and long duration of regaining match fitness relegated Mendieta to the substitutes bench. He is out of favour with current Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate and some of the Middlesbrough fans causing a divide within supporters. Reports suggested that Real Sociedad, Athletico Bilbao and Malaga CF were interesting in purchasing the midfielder in the January 2007 trasnfer window, however no concrete agreement was ever made. The 2007 summer transfer window passed amid speculation that Mendieta was set for a move to LA Galaxy, however towards the end of the transfer window, Mendieta was quoted to have said that he will fight for his place at Middlesbrough. A day later Middlesbrough F.C. Chief Executive Keith Lamb disregarded Mendieta's comments saying that there was 'no chance' of Mendieta entering the first team. This has sparked concern over his treatment at Middlesbrough as he rarely features in the reserve team but continues to train with the senior squad.
External links
- Gaizka Mendieta Polish Website
- Gaizka Mendieta career stats at Soccerbase
- Gaizka Mendieta Transfer Rumours
| Preceded by David Beckham |
UEFA Champions League Best
Midfielder 1999-2000, 2000-01 |
Succeeded by Michael Ballack |
| Spain squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup | |
|---|---|
| 1 Casillas • 2 Torres •
3 Juanfran • 4 Helguera • 5 Puyol •
6 Hierro • 7 Raúl • 8 Baraja •
9 Morientes • 10 Tristán • 11 de Pedro •
12 Luque • 13 Ricardo • 14 Albelda •
15 Romero • 16 Mendieta • 17 Valerón •
18 Sergio • 19 Xavi • 20 Nadal •
21 Luis Enrique •
22 Joaquín • 23 Contreras • Coach: Camacho |
 |
| Middlesbrough F.C. – current squad |
|---|
|
1 Schwarzer • 2 Young • 3 Arca • 4 O'Neil • 5 Riggott • 6 Pogatetz • 7 Boateng • 8 Woodgate • 9 Mido • 10 Rochemback • 11 Aliadière • 14 Huth • 15 Shawky • 17 Tuncay • 18 Lee • 19 Downing • 21 Turnbull • 22 Jones • 26 Bates • 27 Cattermole • 29 McMahon • 31 Wheater • 32 Steele • 33 Taylor • 35 Owens • 36 Hutchinson • 38 Hines • 40 Grounds • 41 Walker • 42 Craddock • Manager: Southgate |
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