Andrés D'Alessandro

Andrés D'Alessandro

D'Alessandro in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Andrés Nicolás D'Alessandro
Date of birth	(1981-04-15) 15 April 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1991–1999	River Plate
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2003	River Plate	70	(20)
2003–2007	Wolfsburg	61	(8)
2006	→ Portsmouth (loan)	13	(1)
2006–2007	→ Zaragoza (loan)	36	(2)
2007	Zaragoza	4	(2)
2008	San Lorenzo	15	(2)
2008–2020	Internacional	284	(45)
2016	→ River Plate (loan)	17	(2)
2021	Nacional	14	(1)
2022	Internacional	1	(1)
Total		478	(84)
International career
2001	Argentina U20	7	(2)
2004	Argentina U23	6	(1)
2003–2010	Argentina	25	(3)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Argentina Olympic Games 2004 Athens Team FIFA U-20 World Cup Winner 2001 Argentina Team Copa América Runner-up 2004 Peru
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Andrés Nicolás D'Alessandro (born 15 April 1981) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He has played top-flight football in Argentina, Germany, England, Spain, Brazil and Uruguay.

He won an Olympic gold medal with Argentina in 2004 and also played at that year's Copa América.

In 2020, he was awarded Brazilian citizenship.^[1][2]

Club career

Early career

D'Alessandro was born in the La Paternal section of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He joined the labor force as a pizza delivery boy before becoming a professional footballer.^[3] Known as El Cabezón ("The Big Headed") for how large his big head looks on his small frame rather than any ego connotations,^[4] he emerged through the River Plate youth system^[5] that has produced much of Argentina's top talent over the years. He followed the likes of Santiago Solari and Pablo Aimar through the ranks, together with Javier Saviola, with whom he shared the limelight in the 2001 Youth World Championship. With the River Plate senior team, he won the 2001–02 and 2002–03 Primera División titles.

Spell in Europe

D'Alessandro attracted attention from European clubs following his success and performances at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship. He eventually transferred to Wolfsburg in July 2003 for a club record €9 million.^[6] On 21 September 2005, D'Alessandro scored the Bundesliga's 40,000th goal since its creation in 1963, netting the fourth goal in a 4–2 victory over Hannover 96.

On 31 January 2006, to the surprise of most fans, D'Alessandro joined English Premier League club Portsmouth on loan for the remainder of the season.^[7] His main objective with his new club was to blend in with new teammates and help his club to avoid relegation. On Easter Monday, 17 April, he scored his first goal in English football – a contender for goal of the season – in Portsmouth's 2–1 defeat away to Charlton Athletic.^[8]

Portsmouth survived and manager Harry Redknapp sought to sign D'Alessandro on a permanent basis. But he was attracting the attention of many European clubs with strong interest from the likes of Atlético Madrid and Benfica. On 17 June he ended the speculation regarding his career by completing a season-long loan switch to La Liga outfit Real Zaragoza, citing his desire to play in Spain as a major factor in his decision. On 6 June 2007, he signed a contract at Zaragoza, keeping him at the club until 2011.

Return to South America

In 2008, he joined his former River Plate manager Ramón Díaz at Argentine club San Lorenzo. However, after Díaz left the club, D'Alesandro opted to move to Brazil to play for Internacional. Playing for the former Copa Libertadores champions, he described as a "step forward" in his career.^[9]

On 13 December 2008 it was reported on ESPN Deportes that the Los Angeles Galaxy had made a $10 million offer to Internacional for D'Alesandro but was declined. Their vice president Fernando Carvalho was quoted; "The offer came from the Los Angeles Galaxy of the United States. I didn't even want to listen to the details. The offer was for more money than we paid for D'Alessandro, who arrived here for five million euro, but we want to keep the Argentinian."^[10] D'Alessandro has become one of Internacional's most idolized players of all time along the likes of Falcão, Valdomiro, and Fernandão. In 2008, he was part of Inter's Sulamericana Championship. In 2009 Internacional finished in second place in both the Brasileirão and Copa do Brasil. In 2010, D'Alessandro led Internacional to their second Libertadores Championship, and was elected the best player in South America for that year;^[11] in the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup, he also helped Internacional to a third-place finish, and was awarded the Bronze Ball as the tournament's third best player. In 2011 D'Alessadro had personally an even better year, but Internacional only managed to win the State Gaucho Championship. 2012 was a bad year for both Internacional and D'Alessandro. Furthermore, rumours of him leaving to play in China caused a major distraction; after long drawn out drama he stayed but soon was injured. In 2013 his game improved again, and while Inter only won the State Championship, he was praised as the only positive factor of the team that year. 2014 started well; D'Alessandro continued to play well and led Inter to their 4th straight Gaucho Championship.

On 3 February 2016, he returned to River Plate after 12+1⁄2 years on a loan deal.^[12] He won his second Recopa Sudamericana and the Copa Argentina during his stay at the club. After that, he returned to Internacional de Porto Alegre on Dec 2016, and his successful career continues in this latter.

International career

D'Alessandro won the 2001 Under-20 World Championship with the Argentine youth side, held in Buenos Aires; due to his performances alongside his club teammate Javier Saviola, he was awarded the Silver Ball as the tournament's second best player. D'Alessandro had originally started the tournament as a substitute, but injuries allowed him a place in the team in later matches. Argentina beat Ghana 3–0 in the final.

D'Alessandro has represented Argentina's senior side on 28 occasions, scoring 4 times between 2001 and 2011. He also represented Argentina's under-23 side at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where Argentina won a gold medal.^[13]

D'Alessandro also took part in the 2004 Copa América with Argentina. He scored his only goal of the tournament in the group stage, in Argentina's 6–1 victory over Ecuador^[14] In the final, against rivals Brazil, he missed Argentina's first penalty in the resulting shootout, following a 2–2 draw after extra time; Argentina were defeated 4–2 in the shootout.^[15][16]

On 20 August 2010, Sergio Batista recalled D'Alessandro to the national team for a friendly against Spain, which was played on 7 September 2010 at the Monumental Stadium River Plate.

Style of play

A talented attacking midfielder, D'Alessandro is best known for his dribbling ability, creativity, and technical skill, and is capable beating players with body feints and tricks, such as the dragback (boba), nutmeg, or the Blomqvist shuffle;^[17][18] he is also an accurate free-kick taker.^[18] D'Alessandro is also known for his short passing ability, which makes him a capable assist provider.^[18]

In 2001, he was named one of the 100 best young footballers in the world by Don Balón,^[19] and he was also labelled one of Maradona's potential heirs by the media and by Maradona himself; despite his precocious talent however, he was not able to fully fulfill the potential he demonstrated in his youth.^[18]

Career statistics

Club

As of 5 January 2021^[20]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League		Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
River Plate	1999–2000	1	0	—		0	0	—		1	0
	2000–01	4	0	—		3	0	—		7	0
	2001–02	36	9	—		5	0	—		41	9
	2002–03	29	11	—		11	4	—		40	15
	Total	70	20	0	0	19	4	0	0	89	24
VfL Wolfsburg	2003–04	29	3	1	1	4	0	—		34	4
	2004–05	19	3	0	0	—		—		19	3
	2005–06	13	2	2	0	3	1	—		18	3
	Total	61	8	3	1	7	1	0	0	71	10
Portsmouth (loan)	2005–06	13	1	—		—		—		13	1
Real Zaragoza (loan)	2006–07	36	2	5	2	—		—		41	4
Real Zaragoza	2007–08	14	2	3	0	2	0	—		19	2
San Lorenzo	2007–08	15	2	—		9	0	—		24	2
Internacional	2008	11	2	—		7	2	—		18	4
	2009	22	6	7	1	3	0	9	4	41	11
	2010	20	1	—		13	10	11	4	44	5
	2011	30	9	—		8	1	10	5	48	15
	2012	21	1	—		5	1	7	1	33	3
	2013	35	11	7	4	0	0	16	5	58	20
	2014	33	6	3	0	0	0	10	2	46	8
	2015	15	0	2	0	11	4	8	1	36	5
	2016	1	0	—		—		1	0	2	0
	2017	31	5	7	2	—		14	1	52	8
	2018	24	3	6	2	—		7	2	37	7
	2019	23	1	6	0	10	0	7	0	46	1
	2020	20	0	0	0	0	0	7	2	27	2
	Total	285	45	32	9	57	8	110	28	490	90
River Plate (loan)	2016–17	17	2	4	0	9	3	—		30	5
Nacional	2021	14	1	—		5	0	1	0	20	1
Career total		525	83	53	12	108	16	111	28	797	139

International

As of 17 February 2011^[21]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Argentina	2003	9	2
	2004	10	1
	2005	3	0
	2006	0	0
	2007	0	0
	2008	0	0
	2009	0	0
	2010	3	0
Total		25	3

Honours

Club

River Plate

• Argentine Primera División: 2000 Clausura, 2002 Clausura, 2003 Clausura
• Recopa Sudamericana: 2016
• Copa Argentina: 2015–16

Internacional

• Copa Sudamericana: 2008
• Campeonato Gaúcho: 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
• Copa Libertadores: 2010
• Recopa Sudamericana: 2011

International

Argentina U20

• FIFA World Youth Championship: 2001

Argentina Olympic

• Summer Olympics Gold Medal: 2004

Argentina

• Copa América runner-up: 2004

Individual

• South American Team of the Year: 2001, 2002, 2008, 2010^[22]
• FIFA World Youth Championship Silver Ball: 2001
• FIFA Club World Cup Bronze Ball: 2010
• South American Footballer of the Year: 2010
• EFE Brazil Trophy: 2013

References

1. Povo, Correio do. "D'Alessandro é naturalizado brasileiro após 12 anos de Inter". Correio do Povo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 10 July 2021.
2. "Andrés D'Alessandro se nacionalizó brasileño". ESPN.com.ar (in Spanish). 17 September 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
3. Page 12 of News of the World sport section; 9 April 2006.
4. Brega, Giordano (9 February 2008). "Si affloscia la "boba" di Andres D'Alessandro. Il cabezon torna in Argentina" [The "boba" of Andres D'Alessandro comes to an end. El cabezón returns to Argentina] (in Italian). Affari Italiani. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
5. "Player Profile: Andres D´Alessandro". Southamericanfutbol.com. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
6. "Wolfsburg snap up D'Alessandro". UEFA.com. 12 June 2003. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009.
7. "Portsmouth snap up d'Alessandro". BBC Sport. 31 January 2006. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
8. "Charlton 2–1 Portsmouth". BBC. 17 April 2006. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
9. "D'Alessandro Pens Four-Year Inter Deal". Goal.com. 1 August 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
10. "Internacional turn down Galaxy D'Alessandro bid". ESPN Soccernet. 14 December 2008. Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
11. Rinaldi, Cesare (31 December 2010). "Calcio Sudamericano: Andres D'Alessandro è il Balon de Oro 2010". calcioblog.it. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
12. "Argentino de maior sucesso na história do Brasil, d'Alessandro deixa Inter após 8 anos".
13. "Andres D ALESSANDRO". FIFA. Archived from the original on 18 March 2008. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
14. "Saviola blows Ecuador away". The Guardian. 8 July 2004. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
15. "Brazil win Copa shoot-out". BBC News. 25 July 2004. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
16. O'Connor, Michael (26 July 2004). "Brazil snatch cup in late twist". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
17. Brega, Giordano (9 February 2008). "Si affloscia la "boba" di Andres D'Alessandro. Il cabezon torna in Argentina" [The "boba" of Andres D'Alessandro comes to an end. El cabezon returns to Argentina]. affaritaliani.it (in Italian). Retrieved 1 March 2015.
18. Dotto, Matteo (7 February 2006). "D' Alessandro, la maledizione del mancato Maradona" [D'Alessandro, the curse of the unfulfilled New Maradona]. archiviostorico.corriere.it (in Italian). Il Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
19. "Don Balon's list of the 100 best young players in the world". thespoiler.co.uk. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
20. "A. D'Alessandro". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
21. "D'Alessandro, Andrés". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
22. "South American Team of the Year". 16 January 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2015.

External links

• Argentine Primera statistics at Fútbol XXI at Futbol XXI (in Spanish) at the Wayback Machine (archived 5 June 2015)
• Andrés D'Alessandro at ESPN FC
• Short Bio at the Wayback Machine (archived 26 April 2006)
• Guardian.co.uk at the Wayback Machine (archived 17 July 2011)