Gabriel Heinze

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Gabriel Iván Heinze (born April 19 1978 in Crespo, Entre Ríos Province) is an Argentine football (soccer) player who currently plays for the English team Manchester United as a left-back, having transferred from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2004. Heinze is a descendant of Volga German immigrants that settled in Argentina.

He marked his debut for United in September 2004 with a goal in the 2-2 draw against Bolton Wanderers and immediately established himself as United's first choice left-back with a number of highly impressive performances. The Manchester United fans have taken to the Argentine for his exemplary attitude, showing fierce determination on the pitch. Heinze's impressive play is regularly lauded by United fans with the familiar chant of "Ar-gen-tina!" Heinze was voted Manchester United fans' player of the year for the 2004-05 season, beating top-scorer Wayne Rooney, and is the first South American to do so. In August 2005 he was voted by the fans as Best defence player in the history of Paris Saint-Germain.

Heinze was injured in a UEFA Champions League match with Villarreal on 13 September and was out of first-team action for the rest of the 2005-06 season. United suffered a dip in form in Heinze's absence, further highlighting the Argentine's importance to the Manchester club. Kieran Richardson, John O'Shea and new arrival Patrice Evra all tried and ultimately flattered to deceive in Heinze's left-back position, and while Mikael Silvestre brought some stability to the position towards the end of the season, Ferguson has said that his team have missed Heinze's experience and leadership. Gabriel made a comeback of sorts for the reserve team in April, but a minor niggling injury picked up in his third game back prevented him making a first-team appearance before the end of the campaign, and this appeared to have ended his chances of representing Argentina in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. However, national coach Jose Pekerman showed great faith in Heinze and called him up into his 23-man squad for the finals. It is sometimes said that he is fluent in Welsh due to his alleged roots in Patagonia, although he is in fact from the Entre-Rios province in the north of Argentina which borders Uruguay, not the Welsh-speaking region of Chubut which is in central-Patagonia.

http://home.skysports.com/worldcup/player.aspx?plid=6127&clid=632

His World Cup ended in penalty heartache against Germany. Argentina made it through to the Quarter Finals, but were unable to capitalise on their 1-0 lead, and Germany equalised with just minutes to go to take it to Extra-time and penalties. Heinze did not take a penalty, but could only sit in tears as Jens Lehmann saved his teammates Roberto Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso's penalties.http://www.golaccio.com/heinze/WC06review.php Heinze World Cup Review

Playing Career (All competitions)

References