 D'Alessandro in 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andrés Nicolás D'Alessandro | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1981-04-15)15 April 1981 (age 44) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1999 | River Plate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2003 | River Plate | 70 | (20) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2007 | Wolfsburg | 61 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | →Portsmouth (loan) | 13 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | →Zaragoza (loan) | 36 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Zaragoza | 4 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | San Lorenzo | 15 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2020 | Internacional | 284 | (45) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | →River Plate (loan) | 17 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Nacional | 14 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Internacional | 1 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 478 | (84) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Argentina U20 | 7 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Argentina U23 | 6 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2010 | Argentina | 25 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Andrés Nicolás D'Alessandro (born 15 April 1981) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as anattacking midfielder. He has played top-flight football in Argentina, Germany, England, Spain, Brazil and Uruguay.
He won an Olympic gold medal withArgentina in2004 and also played at that year'sCopa América.
In 2020, he was awarded Brazilian citizenship.[1][2]
D'Alessandro was born in theLa Paternal section ofBuenos Aires, Argentina. He joined the labor force as a pizza delivery boy before becoming a professional footballer.[3] Known asEl Cabezón ("The Big Headed") for how large his big head looks on his small frame rather than any ego connotations,[4] he emerged through theRiver Plateyouth system[5] that has produced much of Argentina's top talent over the years. He followed the likes ofSantiago Solari andPablo Aimar through the ranks, together withJavier Saviola, with whom he shared the limelight in the 2001Youth World Championship. With the River Plate senior team, he won the2001–02 and2002–03Primera División titles.
D'Alessandro attracted attention from European clubs following his success and performances at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship. He eventually transferred to Wolfsburg in July 2003 for a club record €9 million.[6] On 21 September 2005, D'Alessandro scored theBundesliga's 40,000th goal since its creation in 1963, netting the fourth goal in a 4–2 victory overHannover 96.
On 31 January 2006, to the surprise of most fans, D'Alessandro joined EnglishPremier League clubPortsmouth on loan for the remainder of the season.[7] His main objective with his new club was to blend in with new teammates and help his club to avoid relegation. OnEaster Monday, 17 April, he scored his first goal in English football – a contender for goal of the season – in Portsmouth's 2–1 defeat away toCharlton Athletic.[8]
Portsmouth survived and managerHarry Redknapp sought to sign D'Alessandro on a permanent basis. But he was attracting the attention of many European clubs with strong interest from the likes ofAtlético Madrid andBenfica. On 17 June he ended the speculation regarding his career by completing a season-long loan switch toLa Liga outfitReal Zaragoza, citing his desire to play in Spain as a major factor in his decision. On 6 June 2007, he signed a contract at Zaragoza, keeping him at the club until 2011.
In 2008, he joined his former River Plate managerRamón Díaz at Argentine clubSan Lorenzo. However, after Díaz left the club, D'Alesandro opted to move to Brazil to play forInternacional. Playing for the formerCopa Libertadores champions, he described as a "step forward" in his career.[9]
On 13 December 2008 it was reported onESPN Deportes that theLos Angeles Galaxy had made a $10 million offer to Internacional for D'Alesandro but was declined. Their vice presidentFernando Carvalho was quoted; "The offer came from the Los Angeles Galaxy of the United States. I didn't even want to listen to the details. The offer was for more money than we paid for D'Alessandro, who arrived here for five million euro, but we want to keep the Argentinian."[10] D'Alessandro has become one of Internacional's most idolized players of all time along the likes ofFalcão,Valdomiro, andFernandão. In 2008, he was part of Inter'sSulamericana Championship. In 2009 Internacional finished in second place in both theBrasileirão andCopa do Brasil. In 2010, D'Alessandro led Internacional to their secondLibertadores Championship, and was elected thebest player in South America for that year;[11] in the2010 FIFA Club World Cup, he also helped Internacional to a third-place finish, and was awarded theBronze Ball as the tournament's third best player. In 2011 D'Alessadro had personally an even better year, but Internacional only managed to win theState Gaucho Championship. 2012 was a bad year for both Internacional and D'Alessandro. Furthermore, rumours of him leaving to play in China caused a major distraction; after long drawn out drama he stayed but soon was injured. In 2013 his game improved again, and while Inter only won theState Championship, he was praised as the only positive factor of the team that year. 2014 started well; D'Alessandro continued to play well and led Inter to their 4th straightGaucho Championship.
On 3 February 2016, he returned to River Plate after12+1⁄2 years on a loan deal.[12] He won his second Recopa Sudamericana and the Copa Argentina during his stay at the club. After that, he returned to Internacional de Porto Alegre on Dec 2016, and his successful career continues in this latter.
D'Alessandro won the2001 Under-20 World Championship with theArgentine youth side, held in Buenos Aires; due to his performances alongside his club teammateJavier Saviola, he was awarded theSilver Ball as the tournament's second best player. D'Alessandro had originally started the tournament as a substitute, but injuries allowed him a place in the team in later matches. Argentina beatGhana 3–0 in the final.
D'Alessandro has representedArgentina's senior side on 28 occasions, scoring 4 times between 2001 and 2011. He also representedArgentina's under-23 side at the2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where Argentina won a gold medal.[13]
D'Alessandro also took part in the2004 Copa América with Argentina. He scored his only goal of the tournament in the group stage, in Argentina's 6–1 victory overEcuador[14] In thefinal, against rivalsBrazil, he missed Argentina's first penalty in the resulting shootout, following a 2–2 draw after extra time; Argentina were defeated 4–2 in the shootout.[15][16]
On 20 August 2010,Sergio Batista recalled D'Alessandro to the national team for a friendly againstSpain, which was played on 7 September 2010 at the Monumental Stadium River Plate.
A talented attacking midfielder, D'Alessandro is best known for hisdribbling ability, creativity, and technical skill, and is capable beating players with bodyfeints and tricks, such as the dragback (boba),nutmeg, orthe Blomqvist shuffle;[17][18] he is also an accuratefree-kick taker.[18] D'Alessandro is also known for his short passing ability, which makes him a capableassist provider.[18]
In 2001, he was named one of the 100 best young footballers in the world byDon Balón,[19] and he was also labelled one ofMaradona's potentialheirs by the media and by Maradona himself; despite his precocious talent however, he was not able to fully fulfill the potential he demonstrated in his youth.[18]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| River Plate | 1999–2000 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2000–01 | 4 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2001–02 | 36 | 9 | — | 5 | 0 | — | 41 | 9 | |||
| 2002–03 | 29 | 11 | — | 11 | 4 | — | 40 | 15 | |||
| Total | 70 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 89 | 24 | |
| VfL Wolfsburg | 2003–04 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 34 | 4 | |
| 2004–05 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 3 | |||
| 2005–06 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 18 | 3 | ||
| Total | 61 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 71 | 10 | |
| Portsmouth (loan) | 2005–06 | 13 | 1 | — | — | — | 13 | 1 | |||
| Real Zaragoza (loan) | 2006–07 | 36 | 2 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 41 | 4 | ||
| Real Zaragoza | 2007–08 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 19 | 2 | |
| San Lorenzo | 2007–08 | 15 | 2 | — | 9 | 0 | — | 24 | 2 | ||
| Internacional | 2008 | 11 | 2 | — | 7 | 2 | — | 18 | 4 | ||
| 2009 | 22 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 41 | 11 | |
| 2010 | 20 | 1 | — | 13 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 44 | 5 | ||
| 2011 | 30 | 9 | — | 8 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 48 | 15 | ||
| 2012 | 21 | 1 | — | 5 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 33 | 3 | ||
| 2013 | 35 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 58 | 20 | |
| 2014 | 33 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 46 | 8 | |
| 2015 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 36 | 5 | |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2017 | 31 | 5 | 7 | 2 | — | 14 | 1 | 52 | 8 | ||
| 2018 | 24 | 3 | 6 | 2 | — | 7 | 2 | 37 | 7 | ||
| 2019 | 23 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 46 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 27 | 2 | |
| Total | 285 | 45 | 32 | 9 | 57 | 8 | 110 | 28 | 490 | 90 | |
| River Plate (loan) | 2016–17 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 3 | — | 30 | 5 | |
| Nacional | 2021 | 14 | 1 | — | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 1 | |
| Career total | 525 | 83 | 53 | 12 | 108 | 16 | 111 | 28 | 797 | 139 | |
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 2003 | 9 | 2 |
| 2004 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 25 | 3 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 August 2003 | Stadio Artemio Franchi,Florence, Italy |  Uruguay | 3–2 | 3–2 | Friendly | [22] |
| 2 | 15 November 2003 | Estadio Monumental,Buenos Aires, Argentina |  Bolivia | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | [23] |
| 3 | 7 July 2004 | Estadio Elías Aguirre,Chiclayo, Peru |  Ecuador | 5–1 | 6–1 | 2004 Copa América | [24] |
River Plate
Internacional
Argentina U20
Argentina Olympic
Argentina
Individual
Awards | |||||||||||||||
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Argentina squads | |||||||||||||
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