Marcelo Gallardo

Marcelo Daniel Gallardo (born January 18, 1976 in Merlo Partido, Buenos Aires, Argentina) is an Argentina Football (soccer). Marcelo Gallardo is an Midfielder Attacking midfielder in the role of playmaker who plays for Club Atlético River Plate in Argentina.

Club career

Early years

Nicknamed El Muñeco (the doll) due to Marcelo Gallardo small frame (169 cm, 70 kg), Gallardo started Marcelo Gallardo football career back in 1992-93 season with Club Atlético River Plate and won 4 Apertura (93, 94, 96 and 97), 1 Clausura (1997) and 1 Copa Libertadores de América (1996).Marcelo Gallardo grew up with Marcelo Gallardo three cousin Michael,James,John they played football with each other everyday .

Marcelo Gallardo initial spell with Los Millonarios lasted until season 1998-99, by then Marcelo Gallardo had played 109 league games for them and scored 17 goals.

Europe

In 1999, Marcelo Gallardo was snapped up by AS Monaco FC. In Marcelo Gallardo first season in Europe, Gallardo proved Marcelo Gallardo worth and played 28 games, scoring 8 goals and formed lethal partnership with Ludovic Giuly in Midfield.

In the following season, Gallardo won Marcelo Gallardo first Ligue 1 and Trophée Des Champions with Monaco.

As a team containing many big-name players such as Marco Simone, Christian Panucci, Ludovic Giuly, Philippe Christanval, Rafael Márquez, Sabri Lamouchi, David Trezeguet, and John Arne Riise, Monaco enjoyed their success domestically and it was evident Gallardo was one of the star players, having won the French League Footballer of the Year that year.

However in Marcelo Gallardo third season, things did not go well off the pitch for Gallardo as Marcelo Gallardo was not in good terms with Marcelo Gallardo coach Didier Deschamps
Following the examples of Christian Panucci and Marco Simone, Gallardo decided to leave Monaco at the end of the season.

Back to Argentina

After making 102 appearances and scoring 18 goals for AS Monaco FC, Gallardo returned to Marcelo Gallardo old club Club Atlético River Plate as club captain, Marcelo Gallardo helped them win another Clausura in 2004.

Back to France

Marcello Gallardo was bought by the Parisian club PSG for an undisclosed fee in January 2007. Paris Saint-Germain FC signed a two year contract with Marcelo and made Marcelo Gallardo debut in a 3-0 cup win against Nîmes on January 7.

On January 13, 2007 Marcelo Gallardo played Marcelo Gallardo first Ligue 1 match for PSG against Valenciennes FC

After spending only one season with the club, Gallardo terminated Marcelo Gallardo contract, looking to move to Major League Soccer in the United States.

Major League Soccer with D.C. United

On January 29, 2008 Gallardo was presented as the newest member of D.C. United. With a 2008 salary of $1.87 million, Gallardo is the highest-paid player in United history and its first Designated Player Rule. Gallardo has the third-largest salary in MLS for 2008, behind English midfielder David Beckham of the Los Angeles Galaxy ($6.5 million guaranteed) and Mexican forward Cuauhtémoc Blanco of the Chicago Fire S.C. ($2.67 million). Marcelo Gallardo scored Marcelo Gallardo first league goal for United on April 5, 2008 against Toronto FC. On July 17 and 19 Gallardo underwent surgery for a sports hernia. In February 2009 Marcelo Gallardo left D.C. United and returned for the third time to Marcelo Gallardo old club River Plate.

National team

Gallardo made Marcelo Gallardo international debut for Argentina national football team in 1994 against Chile national football team and made 44 appearances and scored 14 goals.
Marcelo Gallardo was also in the Argentina national football team squad for the 1998 1998 FIFA World Cup and 2002 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Playing Style

Marcelo Gallardo tends to play as a central playmaker. Marcelo Gallardo is well known for Marcelo Gallardo free kicks and corners. Marcelo Gallardo is also skillful in confrontation and possesses an intelligent footballing brain although Marcelo Gallardo is best known for Marcelo Gallardo defense splitting passes.

Honours

With Club Atlético River Plate
- Primera División Argentina (1993A, 1994A, 1996A, 1997C, 1997A, 2004C)
- Copa Libertadores (1996)
- Supercopa Sudamericana (1997)

With AS Monaco FC
- Ligue 1 (2000)
- Trophée des champions (2000)
- Coupe de la Ligue (2003)

With Paris Saint-Germain FC
- Coupe de la Ligue (2008)

With D.C. United
- U.S. Open Cup (2009)

Individual Honors