Argentine footballer Javier Mascherano: biography and career in sports

Javier Mascherano, whose biography is presented in this article, is considered one of the best players in the defensive plan in the world. Successfully performs as part of the Catalan "Barcelona", and also protects the color of the national team of Argentina.

Biography

Javier Mascherano was born in June 1984 in the Argentine city of San Lorenzo. From the earliest years of the boy "sick" football, constantly playing in his yard with the other boys. In 4 years, Javier began to engage in the local nursery school, "Ceramics". Despite his very young age, Mascherano was different from other boys extraordinary tenacity in fighting for the ball.

When Javier was ten years old, he moved to another, more famous football school of the city - "Barrio Vila". Thrust training and natural talent soon bore fruit - a 14-year-old Mascherano was spotted by scouts club "Renato Cesarini" from Rosario.

But even here, the young defender lingered long. After a successful season, Javier Mascherano was invited to the junior team of one of the most prestigious football clubs in Argentina - "River Plate".

Professional career

After two seasons spent in the youth team, and a successful debut in the national team 19-year-old defender made his debut in the main part of the capital club. In the following two seasons Mascherano 46 times out on the field in the "River Plate" and scored 1 goal. Together with his team of a player in 2004, he won the Argentine championship. Great game on the defensive Mascherano has attracted attention from the top of the South American and European coaches. In 2005, after a lengthy bidding and negotiation, "River Plate" sold one of its top stars of the Brazilian club "Corinthians".

The new team almost from the first match, Javier Mascherano, a photo of which is presented to your attention in this article demonstrated excellent skills. In the 2005/06 season the defender spent 26 matches for "Corinthians" and became part of his champion Brazil.

Moving to Europe

After a successful season in the "Corinthians" Javier Mascherano decided to try his hand at European football. His new club was English, "West Ham". 22-year-old defender is not high it was hard to adjust to the British Steel game, so could not seriously compete for a spot in the starting lineup. In total, the "Hammers" Mascherano has spent 15 matches.

In the period of the winter transfer window Argentinian defender became interested in the coach, "Liverpool" Rafael Benitez. Mascherano was rented until the end of the season, followed by the right to buy the rights to the player.

Javier with the first match tried to justify confidence in Benitez, and soon became one of the key players on the team. In total, the "Liverpool" Mascherano on the midfielder spent 94 match, which was able to distinguish one goal.

In 2010 there were loud transfers - Argentine joined the Spanish "Barcelona" for 18 million pounds. The new team, Javier Mascherano was fairly quickly adapt, but it was very difficult to fight for a place in the first team, competing with Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta. Since the middle of the season the Argentinian football has changed roles, taking place in central defense in place of the injured Puyol. In this position, Mascherano is firmly entrenched as the player of the basic structure of the Catalan club, with whom he won the Champions League and La Liga.

Beginning in 2010, Argentine defender "Barcelona" won 16 trophies. He won four national championships, twice - Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. In the 2013/14 season, he has been recognized by fans of "Barcelona" the best player on the team this season.

In just six years, Javier Mascherano has played 180 matches in the "Blau-grande", which scored six goals, all in the gate.

Games for Argentina

In 203, the 19-year-old Javier Mascherano made his debut in the national team. The first trophy was for him the Olympic gold at the Athens Games. 4 years later he repeated this success in Beijing.

In total, the national team Mascherano spent 133 match and scored three goals. He took part in three World Cups, the last of which, together with the Argentine team reached the finals. Four times he played in the final of the Copa America.