Roberto Ayala
Ayala with Argentina in 2007
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Roberto Fabián Ayala | ||
| Date of birth | 14 April 1973 | ||
| Place of birth | Paraná, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Centre Back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Ferro Carril Oeste | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1991–1993 | Ferro Carril Oeste | 72 | (1) |
| 1994–1995 | River Plate | 40 | (0) |
| 1995–1998 | Napoli | 87 | (1) |
| 1998–2000 | Milan | 24 | (0) |
| 2000–2007 | Valencia | 188 | (9) |
| 2007 | Villarreal | 0 | (0) |
| 2007–2010 | Zaragoza | 72 | (4) |
| 2010–2011 | Racing Club | 16 | (0) |
| Total | 499 | (15) | |
| National team | |||
| 1994–2007 | Argentina | 115 | (7) |
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Honours
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| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Roberto Fabián Ayala (locally: [roˈβeɾto faˈβjan aˈʒala]; born 14 April 1973), nicknamed El Ratón (English: "The Mouse"), is an Argentine former footballer who played as a centre back for the Argentina national team, as well as Valencia and Real Zaragoza in Spain, Milan and Napoli in Italy and River Plate in his native Argentina.
Regarded as one of the best central defenders of his generation, he stood out for his leadership and ability in the air throughout his career. Ayala captained the Argentina in a record 63 matches. He played in three FIFA World Cups and made a total of 115 international appearances, second only to Javier Zanetti. He inherited the nickname El Ratón from the Argentine 1974 World Cup player Rubén Ayala, although they are not related.
Ayala began his career in his native Argentina, playing for Ferro Carril Oeste. After three seasons, he moved to River Plate where his good form attracted the attention of clubs in Europe.
Italian side Parma brought the Argentine defender to Europe. However, the club, having already used their quota of three non-EU players, loaned him to Napoli, who purchased 50% of his rights on a co-ownership deal. Ayala was bought by Milan at the end of the 1997–98 season and played there for two seasons until Valencia purchased him for £6.25 million.
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