Gino Padula
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gino Mauro Padula | ||
| Date of birth | 11 July 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | Lanús, Argentina | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Playing position | Left back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1996–1997 | River Plate | 3 | (0) |
| 1997–1998 | Huracán | 31 | (1) |
| 1998–1999 | Xerez | 7 | (0) |
| 1999 | Bristol Rovers | 0 | (0) |
| 1999–2000 | Walsall | 25 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | Wigan Athletic | 4 | (0) |
| 2002–2005 | Queens Park Rangers | 90 | (4) |
| 2005–2006 | Nottingham Forest | 3 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Montpellier | 7 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | Columbus Crew | 56 | (1) |
| Total | 195 | (6) | |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2011– | SP Soccer Academy | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Gino Mauro Padula (born 11 July 1976) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a left back.
Born in Lanús, Padula played in Argentina, Spain, England, France and the United States. He started his career in the esteemed River Plate system, but achieved highest accolades while at Queens Park Rangers and Columbus Crew.
Arguably his most successful spell came at QPR, where he became somewhat of a cult hero. Padula was signed in 2002 by then QPR manager Ian Holloway but initially found it hard to break into the first team. He eventually got his chance due to injuries away at Plymouth, where he finally displayed his tough slide tackling and steely determination. Padula became an overnight fan-favourite and one of the first names on the team sheet. As his confidence grew, he became more and more attacking and his prowess from dead balls became legendary with the QPR faithful.
Padula helped QPR to the 2003 Division Two playoff final which he started and performed solidly against Cardiff City at the Millennium Stadium. He was withdrawn in the 79th minute, being replaced by Tommy Williams. QPR lost the game one nil after extra time. The following season, Gino started 36 league games for QPR and scored 3 goals. QPR finished second only to Plymouth and won promotion back to the second tier of English football, the newly renamed Championship. Upon winning promotion on the final day of the season, beating Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 at Hillsbrough, Padula danced in front of the 8000 travelling QPR fans, holding an Argentina flag.
He remains one of the most popular modern-era QPR characters.
Padula and fellow Argentine, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, helped lead the Columbus Crew to the 2008 MLS Supporters Shield and 2008 MLS Cup. They repeated as Supporters' Shield winners in 2009.
Following his retirement in 2011, he and Schelotto established SP Soccer Academy in Westerville, Ohio. Padula has been certified to coach by FIFA and holds an "A" license.
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