.jpg) Caballero in 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Wilfredo Daniel Caballero Lazcano[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1981-09-28)28 September 1981 (age 44)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Santa Elena, Argentina | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2004 | Boca Juniors | 15 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2011 | Elche | 186 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | →Arsenal Sarandí (loan) | 13 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2014 | Málaga | 117 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2017 | Manchester City | 23 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2021 | Chelsea | 11 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2023 | Southampton | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 367 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Argentina U20 | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Argentina | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Leicester City (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2026 | Chelsea (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:30, 16 December 2021 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Wilfredo Daniel Caballero Lazcano (born 28 September 1981) is an Argentine professionalfootball coach and formergoalkeeper.
He spent most of his career in Spain, representingElche andMálaga and competing inLa Liga with the latter club. In the summer of 2014 he signed forManchester City, helping them win the2016 League Cup. In 2017, he joinedChelsea where he was a backup keeper for four seasons.
Caballero made his senior debut forArgentina in 2018. He represented the nation at the2018 World Cup, and was also a non-playing member of the squads that won a gold medal at the2004 Summer Olympics.
Born inSanta Elena, Entre Ríos, Caballero started his playing career withBoca Juniors in 2001, where he won three major titles in 2003. On 14 December of that year he witnessed – fromthe bench – his team beatA.C. Milan 3–1 onpenalties, in the2003 Intercontinental Cup.[4]
Caballero joinedElche ofSpain in 2004, and when his daughter was diagnosed with cancer he agreed to a brief loan spell back in his country withArsenal de Sarandí to care for her, published onIvoox.[5] With Elche, after a roughfirst season, he went on to become the undisputed starter, appearing in nearly 200Segunda División games.
On 10 February 2011, Caballero was transferred toMálaga inLa Liga for€900,000 and two and a half years, as an emergency transfer – after the transfer deadline of 31 January – due to a seriousknee injury toSergio Asenjo (their previous starter,Rubén, was also unavailable due to physical problems);[6] he made his league debut on 20 February, starting in a 1–1 draw atVillarreal,[7] and played all the matches until the end ofthe campaign, with theAndalusians finally escaping relegation.
On 1 October 2011, Caballero entered Málaga's history books as he kept hisgoal clean for 480 minutes, beating the club's previous record of 429 held byPedro Contreras since the2001–02 season.[8] On 16 October, he wassent off midway through the first half of an away fixture againstLevante after touching the ball with his hands just outside the box – the hosts eventually won it 3–0.[9]
On 18 January 2012, Caballero signed a contract extension, tying him to the club until 2016.[10] On 25 March, playing againstEspanyol, he fractured his lefthand early into the game, being sidelined for the rest ofthe season.[11]
Caballero returned to full fitness for2012–13, featuring in all but two games and helping theBoquerones to the sixth position. Goal.com named him as the best player in his position for the campaign.[12] At the end ofthe following season, he was nominated as the best goalkeeper in the league alongsideThibaut Courtois ofAtlético Madrid andKeylor Navas of Levante.[13]
On 8 July 2014, Caballero signed a three-year deal withManchester City, for a fee believed to be in the region of£6 million excluding add-ons. He reunited at his new club with former Málaga managerManuel Pellegrini,[14] and his competitive debut came on 10 August in the2014 FA Community Shield, playing the full 90 minutes in a 0–3 loss toArsenal atWembley Stadium;[15] a week later, in thePremier League opener, he was an unused substitute atNewcastle United.[16]
Caballero's second official appearance for City occurred on 24 September 2014, in the7–0 home routing ofSheffield Wednesday for theFootball League Cup.[17] He made his first league appearance away againstHull City three days later, relegating longtime incumbentJoe Hart to the bench in a 4–2 win.[18]
Caballero's third league match was on 26 September 2015, a 1–4 defeat atTottenham Hotspur.[19][20] Throughoutthe season, he was first-choice in theLeague Cup, receiving criticism in the national press beforethe final following a poor performance in the1–5 loss toChelsea in theFA Cup;[21] in the decisive match atWembley Stadium, he saved three attempts in the 3–1 penalty shootout triumph againstLiverpool,[22] and Pellegrini subsequently said he would rather lose the match to keep his word, whilst several pundits added that both player and manager deserved an apology with some remarking the performance was a lesson in loyalty.[23][24]
Following the appointment of managerPep Guardiola in the 2016 off-season, Caballero became the starter over Hart.[25] Soon after, with the signing ofClaudio Bravo, he returned to his backup role.[26]
On 19 October 2016, Caballero appeared as asubstitute in a 0–4 defeat byBarcelona at theCamp Nou inthe group stage of theUEFA Champions League. After replacing the red-carded Bravo in goal, he saved apenalty fromNeymar in the 87th minute of the match.[27] Two weeks later, he deputised for the suspended Bravo in the 3–1 home win over the same opponent for the same competition.[28]
On 1 February 2017, Caballero replaced Bravo. On his return to the starting XI, he kept a clean sheet in a 4–0 win overWest Ham United at theLondon Olympic Stadium.[29] Late into the month, in a 5–3 Champions Leagueround of 16 win overMonaco, he saved a penalty fromRadamel Falcao.[30]
On 25 May 2017, it was announced Caballero would leave the club on the expiry of his contract, which occurred on 30 June.[31]
On 1 July 2017, Caballero signed fortitle holders Chelsea on afree transfer.[32] He made his competitive debut on 20 September, in a5–1 home win againstNottingham Forest for the League Cup.[33]
On 17 January 2018, Caballero saved a penalty fromNélson Oliveira in the shootout of athird round FA Cup replay win overNorwich City, which had finished 1–1 afterextra time.[34] Due to an ankle injury to first-choiceThibaut Courtois, he made his Premier League debut away toBrighton & Hove Albion two days later, in a 4–0 success.[35]
On 24 February 2019, during the2019 EFL Cup final against cup holders Manchester City, with the match at 0–0 and a penalty shootout imminent, Chelsea goalkeeperKepa Arrizabalaga refused to be substituted off for Caballero to face his old club as the team went on to lose 3–4.[36][37]
With Arrizabalaga struggling to stay in form during the2019–20 Premier League season, Caballero was selected as the starting goalkeeper for Chelsea in a cup match againstHull City in late January 2020. Caballero was then the starting goalkeeper for the next four league matches and aChampions League match before Arrizabalaga returned.[38] Caballero played in the2020 FA Cup final, a 2–1 loss toArsenal[39] On 20 May 2020, Caballero had his contract withChelsea extended by one more year.[40][41]
On 29 May 2021, Caballero won the2021 UEFA Champions League final with Chelsea against his former club Manchester City, but was an unused substitute in the game.[42] On 4 June 2021, Chelsea announced he would depart from the club at the end of the month when his contract expired, and thanked him for his contribution to the team with an extended article for his time and feats there.[43]
On 6 December 2021, Caballero signed forPremier League sideSouthampton on a one-month contract after Southampton's two main goalkeepers both suffered injuries. Caballero had been training withEFL League One sideAFC Wimbledon since leaving Chelsea in June.[44][45] On 11 December 2021, Caballero made his competitive debut in Southampton's 3–0 defeat toArsenal.[46] On 7 January 2022, Caballero extended his contract to the end of the season.[47]
On 1 July 2022, Caballero signed a one-year contract extension with Southampton.[48] On 10 July 2023, he retired from professional football at the age of 41 years old.[49]
Caballero played forArgentina atunder-20 level, helping the nation win the2001 FIFA World Youth Championship by playing in the competition's last two games.[50] In 2004, he was picked for thegold medal-winning squad at the2004 Summer Olympics as backup toGermán Lux (also first-choice in the previous tournament).
Caballero was an unused member for the senior squad at the2005 FIFA Confederations Cup.[51] In November 2014, he was called by managerGerardo Martino forfriendlies againstCroatia andPortugal.[52] He only won his firstcap nearly four years later at the age of 36, starting in a 2–0 defeat ofItaly on 23 March 2018 in another exhibition game, played inManchester.[53]
Caballero was included in the final squad for the2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[54] He started the tournament due to the injury of habitual first-choiceSergio Romero,[55] and made his debut inthe competition on 16 June in a 1–1 group stage draw againstIceland.[56] In the next match againstCroatia, his mistake handed the opposition the first goal in a 0–3 defeat,[57] and he was subsequently dropped by managerJorge Sampaoli in favour ofFranco Armani for the team's final group match againstNigeria, which ended in a 2–1 win;[58][59] he also did not feature in the round of 16 game, a 4–3 loss toFrance.[60]
Caballero was mainly known for his shot-stopping, and ability to savepenalty kicks. Although he was not initially known to be naturally adept with his feet, Caballero worked to improve his ball skills and distribution as his career progressed, which allowed him to be deployed as asweeper keeper under managerPep Guardiola atManchester City, and to be involved in the build-up of attacking plays, with Guardiola even praising him for his "personality" in August 2016.[61][62][63][64] He is also known for his leadership qualities in the dressing room.[65] Moreover, Caballero has been praised for his ability as a back-up goalkeeper, and for his penchant for being decisive when called upon.[66]
On 9 July 2023, Caballero was announced as the new assistant manager ofLeicester City, becoming part of new managerEnzo Maresca's backroom staff.[67] He moved to a similar role at his former club,Chelsea, in June 2024.[68]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Boca Juniors | 2001–02 | Argentine Primera División | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2002–03 | Argentine Primera División | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[c] | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2003–04 | Argentine Primera División | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2004–05 | Argentine Primera División | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[d] | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| Total | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | — | 19 | 0 | ||||
| Elche | 2005–06 | Segunda División | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | |||
| 2006–07 | Segunda División | 39 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 41 | 0 | ||||
| 2007–08 | Segunda División | 38 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 42 | 0 | ||||
| 2008–09 | Segunda División | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 40 | 0 | ||||
| 2009–10 | Segunda División | 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 40 | 0 | ||||
| 2010–11 | Segunda División | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 22 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 186 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 195 | 0 | |||||
| Arsenal Sarandí (loan) | 2006–07 | Argentine Primera División | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 13 | 0 | |||
| Málaga | 2010–11 | La Liga | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| 2011–12 | La Liga | 28 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 32 | 0 | ||||
| 2012–13 | La Liga | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 11[e] | 0 | — | 47 | 0 | |||
| 2013–14 | La Liga | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 39 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 117 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | — | 133 | 0 | ||||
| Manchester City | 2014–15[70] | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[f] | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2015–16[71] | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17[72] | Premier League | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6[e] | 0 | — | 27 | 0 | ||
| Total | 23 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 0 | ||
| Chelsea | 2017–18[73] | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| 2018–19[74] | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[g] | 0 | 1[f] | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2019–20[75] | Premier League | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[e] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2020–21[76] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 11 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
| Southampton | 2021–22[77] | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23[78] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 367 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 451 | 0 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | |||
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 0 | |
Boca Juniors
Manchester City
Chelsea
Argentina U20
Argentina Olympic
Argentina
Leicester City
Chelsea FC
Argentina squads | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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