Mauricio Pellegrino

Not to be confused with Maurizio Pellegrino.
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Pellegrino and the second or maternal family name is Luna.
Mauricio Pellegrino

Pellegrino as Valencia manager in 2012
Personal information
Full name Mauricio Andrés Pellegrino Luna
Date of birth (1971-10-05) 5 October 1971
Place of birth Leones, Argentina
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Independiente (manager)
Youth career
1982–1987 CA Sarmiento
1987–1990 Vélez Sarsfield
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1990–1998 Vélez Sarsfield 186 (11)
1998–1999 Barcelona 23 (0)
1999–2005 Valencia 140 (5)
2005 Liverpool 12 (0)
2005–2006 Alavés 13 (0)
Total 374 (16)
National team
1993 Argentina U20 2 (0)
1997 Argentina 3 (0)
Teams managed
2008–2010 Liverpool (assistant)
2010 Internazionale (assistant)
2012 Valencia
2013–2015 Estudiantes
2015– Independiente

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (goals)

Mauricio Andrés Pellegrino Luna (born 5 October 1971) is an Argentine retired footballer who played as a central defender, and the current manager of Club Atlético Independiente.

After playing nearly one decade with Vélez Sarsfield, he spent the vast majority of his remaining career in Spain, amassing La Liga totals of 176 games and five goals over the course of eight seasons for three clubs, notably Valencia, with which he won five major titles (he conquered nine in his spell in his country). He also spent six months with Liverpool.

Pellegrino appeared with Argentina at the 1997 Copa América. After retiring, he embarked in a managerial career.

Playing career

Club

Early years

Born in Leones, Córdoba, Pellegrino played for Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield during a large portion of the 90's, as the Buenos Aires-based lived its golden era, winning four leagues and the 1994 Intercontinental and Libertadores Cups.

In 1998–99 he had his first abroad experience, joining Louis van Gaal's FC Barcelona. He made his La Liga debut on 12 September 1998 in a 1–0 home win against CF Extremadura, and would be fairly used during the campaign, which ended with league conquest.

Valencia

Pellegrino had his best years with another Spanish side, Valencia CF, partnering countryman Roberto Ayala in the heart of the back-four while helping the Che to two league titles during his tenure, with the addition of the 2003–04 UEFA Cup.

His main dark spot occurred during the 2000–01 UEFA Champions League final as he missed the decisive penalty shootout attempt against FC Bayern Munich (1–1 after 120 minutes)[1]– he also played in the previous season's decisive match, which also ended in defeat, against Real Madrid (0–3). Overall though, in his six years at Valencia, he was a very important first-team member, and amassed nearly 200 official appearances for the club.

Liverpool / Retirement

In early January 2005, after having been frozen out by Claudio Ranieri, Pellegrino joined former Valencia boss Rafael Benítez at Liverpool on a free transfer, signing a six-month contract[2]– this move made him the first Argentine player in the history of the club. He played 12 times for the Reds in the Premier League – 13 overall – but his performances were not enough to secure a longer contract, and he was released by the club at the end of the season.

After being released Pellegrino returned to Spain, having an unassuming stint with Deportivo Alavés (less than half of the matches played, first division relegation).[3]

International

Pellegrino gained three caps for Argentina, all during 1997. He was picked for the squad at that year's Copa América and made his debut precisely in the continental tournament, against Ecuador in the group stage.

Coaching career

After retiring in June 2006 Pellegrino stayed connected with Valencia, coaching its Cadete-B (youth team). Two years later he decided to return to Liverpool, who still had Benítez in charge, as first-team coach,[4] a position in which he remained until the summer of 2010 as the pair moved to Inter Milan.

In December 2010, as Benítez resigned from his post, Pellegrino was also dismissed. On 7 May 2012 he was appointed at former team Valencia, signing for two years as a replacement for Unai Emery who left at the end of the season.[5]

On 1 December 2012, following a 2–5 home loss against Real Sociedad which left the club in 12th place, Pellegrino was relieved of his duties.[6] He subsequently returned to his country, signing with Estudiantes de La Plata.

On 14 April 2015, Pellegrino was sacked by president Juan Sebastián Verón.[7] In June, he was appointed at fellow league side Club Atlético Independiente.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Bayern crowned European champions". BBC Sport. 23 May 2001. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  2. ↑ Liverpool seal Pellegrino signing; BBC Sport, 5 January 2005
  3. ↑ "Alaves sign defender Pellegrino". BBC Sport. 17 June 2005. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  4. ↑ "Pellegrino returns as Reds coach". BBC Sport. 30 June 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  5. ↑ Valencia appoint Pellegrino; ESPN Soccernet, 7 May 2012
  6. ↑ "Pellegrino sacked by Valencia". ESPN Soccernet. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  7. ↑ "Estudiantes sack Pellegrino after six matches without win". Daily Mail. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "Pese a la resistencia de los hinchas, Mauricio Pellegrino es el nuevo DT de Independiente" [In spite of resistance from fans, Mauricio Pellegrino is new Independiente HC] (in Spanish). La Nación. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.

External links

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