Walter Gaitan
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Walter Nicolás Gaitán Sayavedra | ||
| Date of birth | March 13, 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | La Rioja, Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Attacking Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
|
Current team
|
Los Angeles Galaxy | ||
| Number | 29 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997–1998 | Rosario Central | 22 | (6) |
| 1998–2000 | Villarreal CF | 48 | (7) |
| 2001–2002 | Boca Juniors | 32 | (12) |
| 2002–2007 | Tigres UANL | 179 | (80) |
| 2008–2010 | Necaxa | 18 | (3) |
| 2010 | Veracruz | 4 | (0) |
| 2011 | Los Angeles Blues | 7 | (4) |
| 2011–2012 | Atlético Rafaela | 12 | (1) |
| 2013 | Monterrey Flash (indoor) | 1 | (0) |
| – | Los Angeles Galaxy | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 November 2013 (UTC). |
|||
Walter Nicolás Gaitán Sayavedra (March 13, 1977) is a semi-retired Argentine professional footballer.
An attacking midfielder, Gaitán was known for his vision on the pitch, passing, powerful left shot and a classy ball control. Nicknamed Divino (Spanish for Divine), Gaitán played his best seasons with Liga MX club Tigres UANL.
Gaitán began his career in Argentina with Rosario Central in 1997. He left the team in 1998 and moved to Villarreal CF of the Spanish Liga. After two years in Spain, he returned to Argentina in 2000, joining the prestigious Boca Juniors. It is interesting to note that odd coincidences have made this player to always play with teams that have the yellow and blue colors (until signing with Necaxa). When Tigres UANL qualified for the Copa Libertadores, he wore the shirt of Rosario Central at the celebration.
Gaitán moved to Mexico for the 2002 Apertura tournament, signing with Tigres UANL of the Primera División (First Division). After scoring four goals in 15 games in his first season, Gaitán scored eight in the 2003 Clausura. Considered as one of the top midfielders in the Mexican league since his arrival, he became the top goal-scorer of the 2005 Apertura. He was also named Best Player of the Clausura 2006 tournament.
He has been regarded by some as the best player in Tigres of the last decades. He was selected to wear the number 7, retired to honor team legend Gerónimo Barbadillo, in Copa Libertadores where regulations command that the number be used. The only other Tigres player to have that honor is Claudio "El Diablo" Nuñez. Gaitán is also the all-time top scorer in Copa Libertadores for Tigres along with Néstor Silvera with 4 goals each.
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