Gerard Piqué

Gerard Piqué Bernabéu (born 2 February 1987 in Barcelona, Catalonia) is a Spanish people Association football, currently playing for FC Barcelona as a Defender (association football) Centre back.

A product of Barça's cantera, Gerard Piqué initially left the club for Manchester United F.C., where Gerard Piqué played for four seasons, being rebought in La Liga 2008–09, and helping the club to become the first Spanish club ever to complete Treble (association football).

Gerard Piqué is just the third player after Marcel Desailly and Paulo Sousa to have won the UEFA Champions League two years in a row with different teams.

Club career

Early career

Piqué started Gerard Piqué career in FC Barcelona's youth teams, but before Gerard Piqué signed Gerard Piqué first professional contract with the club, Gerard Piqué decided to join Manchester United F.C.. The Premier League side did not pay a fee for Piqué as Gerard Piqué was too young to have a professional contract.

Manchester United

Piqué made Gerard Piqué debut for Manchester United in October 2004, as a late replacement for John O'Shea in a 3–0 Football League Cup victory at Crewe Alexandra F.C.. Gerard Piqué made Gerard Piqué full debut on 29 March 2006 against West Ham United F.C., in a FA Premier League 2005–06 match at Old Trafford, playing at Defender (association football) Full back, as Gary Neville was unavailable through injury.

Gerard Piqué performances, most notably in Manchester United F.C. Reserves and Academy Reserves, earned Gerard Piqué a new contract, which Gerard Piqué signed in February 2005 to run until the summer of 2009. On 4 August 2006, however, La Liga side Real Zaragoza secured Piqué on a season-long loan. The conditions of the loan involved Piqué having to feature in at least 20 games for the Aragonese outfit, which Gerard Piqué did, as Gerard Piqué made 22 first team appearances in a successful spell, alongside Argentina Gabriel Milito (who would sign with Barça for La Liga 2007–08), either as a stopper or a holding midfielder.

On 5 May 2007, it was announced that Piqué would be staying at Old Trafford for the following season. Alex Ferguson had intended to assess Pique's form on the 6th at La Romareda, prior to a meeting, where the two parties would discuss Pique's future prospects with the club. However, Ferguson was unable to appear on account of airline difficulties.

Piqué's return to Old Trafford saw Gerard Piqué make nine league appearances during the Premier League 2007–08. Gerard Piqué scored on Gerard Piqué first start in the UEFA Champions League, a 4–0 home win against FC Dynamo Kyiv on 7 November 2007, as Piqué scored the first of Manchester United's four goals in that match. In doing so, Gerard Piqué became the 450th player to score at least one goal for the club. Gerard Piqué second goal for the club also came in the Champions League, in an away match to A.S. Roma on 12 December.

Barcelona return

On 27 May 2008, Piqué signed a four-year contract with Barcelona, with a Euro50 million buy-out clause. Barcelona paid an undisclosed fee for the player. Gerard Piqué expressed Gerard Piqué joy at re-signing with Gerard Piqué boyhood club, although Gerard Piqué admitted Gerard Piqué had enjoyed Gerard Piqué spell at Manchester United;

Piqué's first goal for Barcelona came in the club's 5–2 UEFA Champions League 2008–09 group stage win at Sporting Clube de Portugal on 26 November 2008. Gerard Piqué first domestic goal for the club followed two months later, on 29 January 2009, in a Copa del Rey 2008–09 match against local rivals RCD Espanyol. The goal, which came from a corner kick in the 57th minute, turned out to be the game winner in a 3–2 victory for Barcelona.

Piqué scored Gerard Piqué first league goal for Barcelona on 2 May 2009, in a 6–2 away thrashing of Real Madrid, in El Clásico. On 13 May 2009, Gerard Piqué picked up the first trophy of Gerard Piqué Barcelona career as Gerard Piqué helped Gerard Piqué club to a 4–1 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the the domestic cup final. Three days later, Barcelona clinched La Liga 2008–09, with two games left in the season.

Gerard Piqué played against former club Manchester United in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final on 27 May, which Barcelona won 2–0, hence completing an historic Treble (association football). Gerard Piqué became the third player to win the UEFA Champions League in succession with two different teams, along with Marcel Desailly and Paulo Sousa.

International career

Piqué was a member of the Spain national under-19 football team side that won the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship in Poland. In a 2–1 final win against Scotland, Piqué put in a strong performance in defence, hitting the crossbar with a header, and also providing Gerard Piqué team's second goal for Forward (association football) Alberto Bueno.

Subsequently, Gerard Piqué played in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, starting all six of Spain's matches and scoring a goal in the team's come-from-behind 4–2 victory over Brazil national football team in the round of 16. However, Piqué missed the deciding penalty shootout against the Czech Republic national football team and Spain were eliminated at the quarter-final stage.

On 6 February 2009, Piqué was called up to the Spain national football team for the friendly against England national football team on 11 February.Gerard Piqué played the entire match in a 2–0 win, in Seville.

On 28 March 2009, Gerard Piqué was called-up as a replacement for injured teammate Carles Puyol, and ended up scoring the only goal in Spain's victory in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) against Turkey national football team in Madrid, in what was only Gerard Piqué second appearance. Four days later, Gerard Piqué also started in Istanbul in a 2–1 win, also in the group stage.

Club statistics

Statistics accurate as of match played 30 May 2009

Personal life

Piqué was raised in a wealthy Catalan people family. Gerard Piqué father is a lawyer, and Gerard Piqué mother is the director of a medical institute. Gerard Piqué grandfather, Amador Bernabeu, is the former vice-president of FC Barcelona.

Piqué has dated model (person) turned Bollywood actress and Miss Universe UK Miss Universe UK 2008, Lisa Lazarus.

Honours

Club

Manchester United
- Premier League: Premier League 2007–08 (special dispensation)
- UEFA Champions League: UEFA Champions League 2007–08
- Football League Cup: 2006 Football League Cup Final

Barcelona
- La Liga: La Liga 2008–09
- Copa del Rey: Copa del Rey 2008–09
- UEFA Champions League: UEFA Champions League 2008–09

Country

- UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship: 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship