Julio Arca
Arca in 2014
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Julio Andrés Arca | ||
| Date of birth | 31 January 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Quilmes, Argentina | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Playing position | Central midfielder / Left wingback | ||
| Club information | |||
|
Current team
|
South Shields | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1992–1999 | Argentinos Juniors | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–2000 | Argentinos Juniors | 36 | (0) |
| 2000–2006 | Sunderland | 167 | (23) |
| 2006–2013 | Middlesbrough | 180 | (9) |
| 2014–2015 | Willow Pond | 3 | (1) |
| 2015– | South Shields | 67 | (21) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2001 | Argentina U20 | 2 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:55, 12 September 2015 (UTC). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 June 2011 |
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Julio Andrés Arca (born 31 January 1981) is an Argentine footballer, who currently plays as a left back or central midfielder for semi-professional football club South Shields. Arca has spent the majority of his career in the North East of England, firstly for Sunderland from 2000 to 2006, and then for Middlesbrough from 2006 to 2013. He retired from professional football following his release from Middlesbrough, and subsequently played Sunday League football for Willow Pond for the 2014–15 season. He later signed for South Shields, in addition to his return to Sunderland as part of the club's youth coaching staff.
During his professional career, he was seen as an attack minded player, with his key attributes including good long and short passing, as well as being a hard worker.
Sunderland's manager Peter Reid signed Arca in 2000 from Argentinos Juniors with a £3.5 million five-year deal, while holding off competition from Newcastle United and Leeds United. He was an immediate success, scoring on his debut at the Stadium of Light against West Ham United. Peter Reid spotted him in an Under 21s match playing against England at Craven Cottage and tracked him until completing the signing in July 2000.
Arca played for his previous club and national team at left back, but was successfully converted to left midfield by Reid. Arca was Reid's most expensive signing of that summer and was then second only behind Stefan Schwarz as the club's record buy. The youngster was tipped for the brightest of futures and full international honours in the near future.
Arca scored three times for the Black Cats in his first season in the Premiership. However, like so many Sunderland players, Arca's 2001–02 campaign was disappointing as he was troubled by a series of niggling injuries. He did not manage to rediscover his form of the previous season, and was out of action from February.
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