.jpg) Medel withChile in 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Gary Alexis Medel Soto[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1987-08-03)3 August 1987 (age 38)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Santiago, Chile | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)[3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder,defender | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Universidad Católica | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2006 | Universidad Católica | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2009 | Universidad Católica | 68 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Boca Juniors | 46 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Sevilla | 78 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Cardiff City | 34 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2017 | Inter Milan | 91 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2019 | Beşiktaş | 51 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2023 | Bologna | 96 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Vasco da Gama | 30 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Boca Juniors | 9 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Universidad Católica | 17 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Chile U20 | 15 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Chile U23 | 8 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2023 | Chile | 161 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 30 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 08:23, 18 November 2023 (UTC) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gary Alexis Medel Soto (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈɡaɾimeˈðel]; born 3 August 1987) is a Chilean professionalfootballer who plays forChilean Primera División clubUniversidad Católica as acentre-back and adefensive midfielder.[4]
Medel has played club football with several teams in numerous countries, starting out with Chilean sideUniversidad Católica, and later playing for Argentine sideBoca Juniors, Spanish sideSevilla, Premier League sideCardiff City, and Italian sideInter Milan, before moving toBeşiktaş in Turkey in 2017. He then moved back to Italy and joined Bologna in 2019.
A full Chilean international with over 160 caps since 2007, Medel has represented the nation at twoFIFA World Cups, fiveCopa América tournaments, and one edition of theFIFA Confederations Cup. He was part of the squad that won the2015 Copa América (where he was named in theTeam of the tournament)[5] and theCopa América Centenario (2016). He was also included in squads that finished fourth at the2019 Copa América and as the runners-up at the2017 Confederations Cup.
Medel joinedUniversidad Católica at the age of 12. His youth team coachMario Lepe put his name forward to join the senior ranks.[6]
On 20 July 2009, he joinedBoca Juniors on an initial loan for US$300,000 with the option to buy for $2.5 million, withDamián Díaz being sent in the opposite direction. Medel said of the move "This is a dream come true. It is a very important club, and one which has players which I admire a lot,Juan Román Riquelme,Martín Palermo andSebastián Battaglia. He is my idol and has me very happy to play by his side".[7] Medel scored both goals in a 2–0 win in theSuperclásico againstRiver Plate on 25 March 2010.[8]
Before he joinedSevilla, his farewell match with Boca was a friendly against River inMar del Plata. He came on in the 77th minute of the 2–0 win.[9]
Medel joined Sevilla for €3 million on 28 January 2011, on a4+1⁄2-year contract, on the same day as the club also signedIvan Rakitić for their central midfield. He said "I am happy to be here, I hope that everything goes well. I'm a player who puts a lot into my heart on the pitch, I hope that with my playing that I can contribute to Sevilla".[10]
On 12 February, he made hisLa Liga debut, playing all 90 minutes of a 3–2 away defeat atRacing Santander.[11] He helped Sevilla to a 1–1 draw againstFC Barcelona at home on 12 March, clearing the ball off the line twice, the second on an attempt byLionel Messi.[12]
On 11 August 2013,Cardiff City confirmed that they had signed Medel from Sevilla for a club record £11 million fee on a four-year deal.[13][14] He made his debut for the club on 17 August, in a 2–0 defeat againstWest Ham United.[15] He made his home debut at theCardiff City Stadium on 25 August, in a 3–2 win againstManchester City. Medel played all 90 minutes and received the fans'man of the match award.[16]
After Cardiff's relegation, Medel joined Italian clubInter Milan for a reported £10 million fee on 9 August 2014.[17] The fee, which was £1 million less than what Cardiff had signed Medel for, was criticised by former strikerNathan Blake,[18] but was justified by Cardiff managerOle Gunnar Solskjær.[19] Medel made hisSerie A debut for Inter on 31 August as they began the season with a goalless draw atTorino, playing the full 90 minutes.[20]
On 31 October 2015, Medel scored his first goal for Inter to give theNerazzurri a 1–0 victory overScudetto rivalsRoma at theStadio Giuseppe Meazza.[21]
On 23 October 2016, in the 2–1 away defeat atAtalanta, Medel hitJasmin Kurtić in the face with his left arm, an incident that was not spotted by the referee.[22] A day later, however, he was banned for three league games by Lega Serie A after examining TV images.[23]
On 20 November 2016, in theDerby della Madonnina against cross-town rivalsA.C. Milan, Medel played as centre-back for 37 minutes before replaced byJeison Murillo due to a knee injury.[24] Following the match, which ended in a 2–2 draw,[25] it was confirmed that Medel had damaged hislateral meniscus and would be sidelined until January 2017.[26][27]
Medel returned to action on 28 January by playing in Inter's 3–0 home defeat ofPescara.[28] Later on 12 March, he made his 100th appearance for Inter as theNerazzurri beat Atalanta 7–1 at home.[29]
On 11 August 2017, Medel signed forSüper Lig championsBeşiktaş for a reported €3 million.[30] He signed a three-year contract.[31]
On 29 August 2019, Medel signed a three-year contract with Serie A clubBologna for a reported fee of €2.5 million. He debuted for Bologna against rivalsSPAL on 30 August 2019.[32][33][34]
In July 2023, he returned to South America and signed withBrazilian Série A sideVasco da Gama.[35]
In June 2024, he returned toBoca Juniors.[36]
Still a player of Boca Juniors, Medel graduated as afootball manager atINAF [es] (National Institute of Football, Sports and Physical Activity of Chile) in December 2024.[37]
On 9 January 2025, Universidad Católica announced his return on a one-year deal.[38]
In March 2007, Medel made his international debut forChile in a friendly againstArgentina. Later that year, he played a key role inChile's third-place finish in theU-20 World Cup held in Canada. He was sent off in the semi-final match against Argentina, when he kickedGabriel Mercado in the 24th minute and was suspended for the third-place play-off. Medel claimed that he wastasered by police after the match.[39]
He made his competitive debut for Chile in the2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match againstBolivia in a 2–0 victory at theEstadio Hernando Siles inLa Paz, scoring both goals, the first being abicycle kick.[39] Medel played an important role in Chile's qualification for the2010 FIFA World Cup, playing as a central defender or right back. He started in the three group-stage matches at the World Cup finals in South Africa, but was suspended for the round of 16 match againstBrazil, wherela Roja were eliminated.
He was named in Chile's squad for the2011 Copa América, featuring in all threegroup matches, the first two as a starter. In the quarter-final match againstVenezuela inSan Juan, Argentina, he was sent off for handball and Chile lost 2–1.[40]
Medel played a key role in2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, scoring the goal that secured qualification for the2014 FIFA World Cup, heading a goal againstEcuador. Medelcaptained Chile in a 1–0 friendly defeat toGermany on 5 March 2014.[41] He was one of 23 players who were called up by coachJorge Sampaoli to play in2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.[42] Medel played as a starter alongsideGonzalo Jara in the center of defense, for Chile who beatAustralia 3–1 inCuiabá to get their first three points of the World Cup campaign.[43] He also played a full 90 minutes in second match against thereigning world championsSpain, with Chile getting a historic 2–0 win.[44] Spain's loss sealed the qualification of both Chile and the Netherlands to the knockout stage, and eliminated both Spain and Australia. Spain became the fifth defending champion to be knocked out in the group stage.[45] Medel played 90 minutes in the final group match againstthe Netherlands who won 2–0 and won the group, while Chile finished Group B as runner-up with six points.[46] Chile was eliminated in the round of 16 against the same team that eliminated them in last tournament,Brazil, but this time, Brazil advanced to the quarter-finals by winning on penalty shootout.[47][48][49]
At the2015 Copa América, held in Chile, Medel scored during a 5–0 win againstBolivia which ensured thatLa Roja would progress to theknockout stage asGroup A winners.[50] In the semi-final againstPeru, he scored anown goal fromLuis Advíncula's cross to equalise, but Chile advanced tothe final winning 2–1.[51] In the final againstArgentina, Medel played as a starter and helped the team to win the trophy on penalty kicks, after the regular time ended in a goalless draw.[52] Medel became the fourth most capped player with 80 matches, equaling his defense partnerGonzalo Jara. That was Medel's first major trophy with Chile.[53] For his performances he was named in theTeam of the tournament.[5]
In June 2017, Medel was named in the2017 FIFA Confederations Cup squad in Chile's first ever participation.[54] On 13 June, in the friendly againstRomania, Medel received a red-card in 33rd minute as Chile slumped into a 3–2 away defeat. It was his fourth red-card with the national team in 99 appearances.[55] He captained Chile in the first twoGroup B matches againstCameroon andGermany due toClaudio Bravo's injury, also earning his 100th cap in the process, becoming the fourth Chile player to achieve the feat.[56][57] Then he was rested for the final group match as Chile achieved a second-place which allowed them to go toknockout stage.[58]
In the third-place match of the2019 Copa América against Argentina on 6 July, Medel was sent off along withLionel Messi in the 37th minute of play, after being involved in an altercation with the Argentine; Chile lost the match 2–1.[59]
Medel usually plays as a defensive midfielder;[60] however, he is also capable of playing as a defender, and has even been deployed as a centre-back throughout his career, as well as in other midfield roles, or even as aright-back.[4][61] Due to his work-rate, physicality, tenacity, tactical intelligence, and his aggressive, hard-tackling style of play, as well as his leadership on the pitch, he is nicknamedPitbull.[6][39] In 2015, managerRoberto Mancini described Medel as awarrior.[62][63]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | State league[b] | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Universidad Católica | 2008 | Chilean Primera División | 28 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 28 | 4 | |
| 2009 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 6[c] | 0 | 19 | 1 | |||
| Total | 41 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | 47 | 5 | |||
| Boca Juniors | 2009–10 | Argentine Primera División | 29 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 0 | 31 | 7 | |
| 2010–11 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |||
| Total | 46 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 48 | 7 | |||
| Sevilla | 2010–11 | La Liga | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[e] | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| 2011–12 | 31 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | 2[f] | 0 | 37 | 2 | |||
| 2012–13 | 32 | 6 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 39 | 7 | ||||
| Total | 78 | 8 | 12 | 1 | — | 4 | 0 | 94 | 9 | |||
| Cardiff City | 2013–14 | Premier League | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 0 | ||
| Inter Milan | 2014–15 | Serie A | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 7[f] | 0 | 44 | 0 | |
| 2015–16 | 30 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 1 | ||||
| 2016–17 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 3[f] | 0 | 31 | 0 | |||
| Total | 91 | 1 | 8 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | 109 | 1 | |||
| Beşiktaş | 2017–18 | Süper Lig | 25 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | 8[e] | 0 | 40 | 1 | |
| 2018–19 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 11[f] | 0 | 35 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 51 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | 19 | 0 | 77 | 1 | |||
| Bologna | 2019–20 | Serie A | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 0 | ||||
| 2022–23 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 96 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 101 | 0 | ||||
| Vasco da Gama | 2023 | Série A | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 | ||
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| Total | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | 32 | 0 | |||
| Boca Juniors | 2024 | Argentine Primera División | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Universidad Católica | 2025 | Chilean Primera División | 17 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| Career total | 484 | 22 | 40 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 576 | 23 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chile | 2007 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2009 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 13 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 13 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 | |
| Total | 161 | 7 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 June 2008 | Estadio Hernando Siles,La Paz, Bolivia |  Bolivia | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 2–0 | |||||
| 3 | 29 May 2009 | Fukuda Denshi Arena,Chiba, Japan |  Belgium | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2009 Kirin Cup |
| 4 | 11 October 2011 | Estadio Monumental,Santiago, Chile |  Peru | 3–0 | 4–2 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 15 October 2013 | Estadio Nacional de Chile, Santiago, Chile |  Ecuador | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 6 | 10 October 2014 | Estadio Elías Figueroa,Valparaíso, Chile | Peru | 2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 7 | 19 June 2015 | Estadio Nacional de Chile, Santiago, Chile | Bolivia | 4–0 | 5–0 | 2015 Copa América |
Chile
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