Pablo Aimar
Aimar playing for Johor Darul Ta'zim in 2014
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Pablo César Aimar Giordano | ||
| Date of birth | 3 November 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Río Cuarto, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Playing position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1985–1993 | Estudiantes Río Cuarto | ||
| 1993–1997 | River Plate | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1996–2000 | River Plate | 82 | (21) |
| 2001–2006 | Valencia | 162 | (27) |
| 2006–2008 | Zaragoza | 53 | (5) |
| 2008–2013 | Benfica | 107 | (12) |
| 2013–2014 | Johor Darul Ta'zim | 8 | (2) |
| 2015 | River Plate | 1 | (0) |
| Total | 413 | (67) | |
| National team | |||
| 1995 | Argentina U17 | 6 | (2) |
| 1997 | Argentina U20 | 7 | (1) |
| 1999–2009 | Argentina | 52 | (8) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Pablo César Aimar Giordano (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈpaβlo aiˈmar]; born 3 November 1979) is a former Argentine professional footballer.
A technically gifted and creative attacking midfielder with a vast array of skills, Aimar excelled as an advanced playmaker, where he was best able to utilise his dribbling, vision, and passing ability to create chances for team-mates. Due to his talent and flamboyance, he was given the nicknames El Payaso (the clown) and "El Mago" (the wizard) throughout his career. As a youth, compatriot Lionel Messi stated in 2002 that Aimar was one of his biggest influences as a player.
After starting his senior career at River Plate in 1996, he amassed La Liga totals of 215 games and 32 goals over eight seasons with Valencia and Real Zaragoza between 2001 and 2008, before spending five years in Portugal with Benfica, winning nine major titles between the three teams.
Aimar earned 52 caps for Argentina over ten years, representing the nation in two World Cups and as many Copa América tournaments, as well as a Confederations Cup. He reached the final of the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2007 Copa América with the Argentine national side.
Born in Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Aimar began playing football semi-professionally for hometown club, Estudiantes de Río Cuarto. It was there that he was spotted by River Plate and offered the chance to join the club's academy. Aimar's father initially prevented him from joining River as he felt he was too young to be playing football, but relented after manager Daniel Passarella personally asked him to allow his son to play. Having turned down the opportunity to attend medical school to pursue a career in football, Aimar made his debut for River on 11 August 1996 against Club Atlético Colón. His first goal for the club came on 20 February 1998 against Rosario Central. Aimar lifted five titles with River between 1996 and 2000, scoring 22 goals in 87 across all competitions appearances for the club, with his final appearance coming on 17 December 2000 in a 3-2 loss to Lanús.
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