Luis Jimenez

Luis Antonio Jiménez Garces (born June 17 1984) more commonly known as Luis Jiménez, is a Chilean association football who plays for West Ham United F.C. as a midfielder, (on Loan (association football) from F.C. Internazionale Milano), and for the Chile national football team. Luis Jimenez is nicknamed "El Mago" ("The Wizard").

Club career

Early career

Born in Santiago, Chile, Jiménez started Luis Jimenez Italy footballing career at Ternana Calcio where Luis Jimenez played from 2002 to 2005. During the January 2006 transfer window Jimenez completed Luis Jimenez move to Serie A side ACF Fiorentina in a joint co-ownership with Luis Jimenez former club. The Chilean generally plays as either a right sided winger, striker or occasionally a centre forward for Fiorentina. Luis Jimenez right foot is Luis Jimenez strongest but Luis Jimenez can also make good use of Luis Jimenez left foot. Luis Jimenez appeared 19 times during the 2005-06 season for Fiorentina, scoring 3 goals in the process.

In late June 2006, Ternana purchased half of the rights to the player back from ACF Fiorentina. Since Ternana would play in Italian Serie C1 in the 2006-07 season, it was highly unlikely that Luis Jimenez would remain with them. However, although a loan accord was reached with Lazio of Serie A, with an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the loan, Ternana changed the terms and made extortionate demands. Lazio did not agree to these new terms (which included Lazio paying the salary for four of Ternana's players) and Jiménez remained in Ternana. In return, the player stated that Luis Jimenez will not play for Ternana again and has asked FIFA to intervene and annul Luis Jimenez contract with Ternana because of the team's unfair treatment.

Lazio

On January 15, 2007, Lazio finally agreed on a move for Jimenez worth 11 million Euros, with the first season on loan, and on January 27 Luis Jimenez played Luis Jimenez first Serie A match for Lazio against U.S. Città di Palermo.

Inter Milan

On July 15, 2007, F.C. Internazionale Milano signed Luis Jimenez on loan from Ternana.
Luis Jimenez scored Luis Jimenez first Inter goal in the UEFA Champions League against Fenerbache, a lovely goal coming in extra time, and was rewarded with Luis Jimenez first Inter start on the 2nd of December against Fiorentina, where Luis Jimenez scored the opening goal, and then went on to start the subsequent match against S.S. Lazio on the 5th of December, where Luis Jimenez set up Maicon Douglas Sisenando goal and had a goal disallowed offside, and set up another disallowed goal.

At the end of the 07/08 season, Inter officially signed Luis Jimenez on a co-ownership deal.
Under current coach Jose Mourinho, Luis Jimenez played Luis Jimenez first game against A.S. Roma coming on as a second half substitute and scored a penalty in Inter's Italian Supercup win. Jimenez played Luis Jimenez first game of the 2008-09 Serie A year against U.C. Sampdoria on August 30, 2008, but unfortunately picked up an injury later on in a practice session. Luis Jimenez later returned from injury on November 30, 2008 when Luis Jimenez was subbed in Inter Milan's Serie A game against SSC Napoli. A subsequent months-long injury limited Jiménez to a total of 6 appearances for the 08/09 Serie A season.

The co-ownership deal with Ternana was renewed on 23 June 2009.

West Ham United

Jiménez signed for West Ham United on the 23 June 2009. Although a work permit was successfully granted a couple of weeks before, the deal was only announced after personal terms were agreed. West Ham have signed Jiménez for a one year loan initially, with an option to purchase at the end of Luis Jimenez loan.

International career

Luis Jimenez made Luis Jimenez international debut on April 28, 2004, in a match against Peru national football team.
On June 4, 2005, Jiménez assisted Marcelo Salas' historic 35th goal with the national team (with this goal Salas became Chile's exclusive top scorer). The goal came in a qualification match versus Bolivia which Chile went on to win 3-1. Four days later, Luis Jimenez scored twice against Venezuela in another qualification match.
Jiménez became captain of Chile national football team during 2006 and also won the 2005-06 Chile Player of the Year award. However, Luis Jimenez has seen little National Team activity under the direction of Marcelo Bielsa.

Personal life

Jiménez married Chilean model María José López in 2006.