*** Welcome to piglix ***

Juan Roman Riquelme

Juan Román Riquelme
Riquelme 2009.jpg
Riquelme training with Boca Juniors in 2009
Personal information
Full name Juan Román Riquelme
Date of birth (1978-06-24) 24 June 1978 (age 38)
Place of birth San Fernando, Argentina
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 12 in)
Playing position Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1992–1995 Argentinos Juniors
1995–1996 Boca Juniors
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2002 Boca Juniors 151 (38)
2002–2005 Barcelona 30 (3)
2003–2005 Villarreal (loan) 70 (27)
2005–2007 Villarreal 49 (15)
2007 Boca Juniors (loan) 15 (2)
2008–2014 Boca Juniors 165 (35)
2014 Argentinos Juniors 18 (5)
Total 495 (123)
National team
1997–1998 Argentina U20 21 (7)
2000–2008 Argentina Olympic 9 (2)
1997–2008 Argentina 51 (17)

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



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

Juan Román Riquelme (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxwan roˈman riˈkelme]; born 24 June 1978) is an Argentine retired footballer.

Considered one of the most talented Argentine players of his generation, Riquelme was best known for his creative passing. An offensive midfield playmaker, he combined passing, vision, and technical skills with goalscoring ability from midfield; he was also capable of playing as a deep-lying playmaker. He spent most of his career with Boca Juniors, but also had a significant spell in Spain with Villarreal. He is considered one of the best playmakers of his generation, and he has been recognised as one of the "last true number 10s" due to his playmaking abilities and unique playing style, which drew comparisons with Diego Maradona, in his youth.

Riquelme was named the Argentine Footballer of the Year four times. An Argentine international for 11 years, Riquelme represented the nation at the 2006 World Cup and two Copa América tournaments, reaching the final in the 2007 edition; he also participated in the 2005 Confederations with Argentina, reaching the final, and he led his country as captain to win a Gold medal at the 2008 Olympics.


...
Wikipedia

...