Javier Saviola

Javier Pedro Saviola (born 11 December 1981 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentina professional Association football who currently plays for S.L. Benfica in the Portuguese Liga, usually as a striker.

Known for Javier Saviola speed and ability to score from almost any position, Javier Saviola is also an Argentina national football team, and was named, as the youngest player, to Pelé's FIFA 100 list of the 125 greatest living footballers. Saviola also holds Spanish nationality law.

Club career

River Plate

Nicknamed El Conejo (rabbit), Saviola made Javier Saviola debut for Club Atlético River Plate at the age of 16, and went on to be a prolific goalscorer for the club. Javier Saviola helped River to the 1999 Apertura and Clausura and 2000 Apertura and Clausura championships, and earned the 1999 South American Footballer of the Year award. Still only 18, Javier Saviola gained a reputation as a good prospect.

FC Barcelona

In 2001, aged 19, Saviola moved abroad to play for FC Barcelona in a £15 million transfer. Javier Saviola obtained Spanish citizenship shortly after, thereby not being restricted by the Spanish league maximum on the number of non-European Union citizens allowed in each club. Under coach Louis van Gaal, Javier Saviola scored 17 goals in La Liga 2001-02, finishing third best scorer in La Liga.

Javier Saviola second year at the club did not start well, as Javier Saviola only scored two goals in the first half of the season. When van Gaal was fired and Radomir Antić became the new Barcelona manager, Saviola went on to score 11 goals in the latter half of the campaign. At the start of La Liga 2003-04, Frank Rijkaard was appointed as new manager, and Saviola scored 14 goals in the league alone, but was deemed surplus at the club, as was longtime offensive partner Patrick Kluivert.

Saviola was sent loan (football) the following year, moving to AS Monaco FC in the Ligue 1 championship in the summer 2004. As Javier Saviola did not fit into Rijkaard's plans, Saviola was again loaned out in the summer of 2005, this time to Spanish club Sevilla FC, in order to replace Júlio Baptista, on the move to Real Madrid C.F.. At Sevilla, Saviola won Javier Saviola first title in Europe, when the club won the UEFA Cup 2005-06 - Javier Saviola also scored nine times in the league, good enough La Liga 2005-06.

Saviola returned to Barcelona for La Liga 2006–07, playing in 18 league games (six as a starter) and scoring five goals. Javier Saviola benefited greatly from injuries to teammates, most notably to Samuel Eto'o, and added five in as much games in Copa del Rey 2006-07, notably a hat-trick against Deportivo Alavés (3-2 win at home, 5-2 aggregate).

Real Madrid

On 10 July 2007, Real Madrid C.F. signed Saviola after Javier Saviola Barcelona contract expired, on a three-year deal. Although on a financially lucrative contract, Javier Saviola endured a difficult time at Real. Javier Saviola was mainly restricted to cup matches and sporadic appearances (mainly as a substitute) in the league and the UEFA Champions League. The arrival of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar limited Javier Saviola opportunities even more, and Saviola finished Javier Saviola Real Madrid spell with five goals in 28 overall appearances.

Benfica

On 26 June 2009, S.L. Benfica and Real Madrid agreed on a €5 million deal that would see Saviola play in Portugal for the next three years, with an option for one more; a €30 million clause was added. Saviola scored Javier Saviola first goal for the club on a penalty in a friendly match against FC Sion and, on 16 July 2009, Saviola scored twice to put Javier Saviola team to the Guadiana tournament trophy finals. Saviola has scored three goals in three games for Benfica so far.

International career

Saviola starred in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship of the Football World Youth Championship, held in Argentina. Javier Saviola was top scorer and was voted player of the tournament, as the Argentina national under-20 football team won the competition. With 11 goals in seven games, Javier Saviola became the record goal-scorer in World Youth Cups history. Javier Saviola vintage performance earned himself many offers from European clubs but, surprisingly, Javier Saviola failed to get a call up of the Argentina national football team to take part in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Two years later, Saviola played in the 2004 Summer Olympics and won the Olympic Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Under coach Marcelo Bielsa, Saviola was given few playing opportunities for Argentina, but after Bielsa's resignation in 2004, new coach José Pekerman, who also coached the player at youth level, gave Javier Saviola more playing time with the A's.

Saviola was called up to represent Argentina at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Luciano Figueroa and Winger (football) Luciano Galletti were also in contention for a place on the roster, but Saviola's excellent form for Sevilla secured Javier Saviola place in the squad. Javier Saviola made Javier Saviola presence felt at the tournament, as Javier Saviola scored a goal against Côte d'Ivoire national football team in Argentina's opening game, and made two Assist (football)s in the 6-0 victory against Serbia and Montenegro national football team.

Club statistics

86: 1999A, 2000C

Sevilla
- UEFA Cup: UEFA Cup 2005-06

Real Madrid
- La Liga: La Liga 2007-08
- Supercopa de España: 2008 Supercopa de España

International

Argentina
- FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship
- Olympic Games: Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Individual

- Primera División Argentina: Top scorer 1999A
- South American Footballer of the Year: 1999
- Player of the Year of Argentina: 1999
- FIFA U-20 World Cup Top Scorers: Top scorer 2001
- FIFA U-20 World Cup: MVP 2001