Damián Escudero
Encyclopedia
Damián Ariel Escudero is an Argentine
footballer who plays for Gremio
on loan from Boca Juniors
, as a left midfielder
.
He is often nicknamed Pichi, the same used by his father Osvaldo Escudero, who was also a football player.
's youth system, Escudero made his first-team debut in a 1–0 defeat to Newell's Old Boys
, on March 4, 2006. He found himself at the centre of a controversy at the end of the year, when the club refused to release him, along Mauro Zárate
, for the 2007 South American Youth Championship
.
When the 2007 Libertadores Cup started, Escudero showed why the club was so keen in retaining his services, quickly becoming a dynamic part in the side's offensive movements; in the season's competition, he helped Vélez reach the round of 16, netting four times.
Escudero had an irregular 2007–08 season, during which his team failed to qualify for the Copa Sudamericana
. However, he did score three goals in the Clausura
, including an impressive strike against Boca Juniors
.
For 2008–09, Escudero was bought by La Liga
side Villarreal CF
in a U$S
12,000,000 move. However, he was quickly loaned to Real Valladolid
because his club's non-EU
quota was already full, appearing rarely throughout the campaign.
Escudero returned to Villarreal for the 2009–10 season
, but continued to be barred by the likes of Robert Pirès
and Santi Cazorla
. Most of his appearances were due to injury problems to the latter, and he scored against Xerez CD
on March 14, 2010 (2–0 home win), after only playing five minutes in the game.
In the 2010 summer, Escudero was sold to Boca Juniors
, with Villarreal retaining 50% of the player's rights.
Nowadays, Escudero is playing at Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
from southern Brazil since february 2011. He is in the main squad playing left-wing and has scored 4 goals in the national league yet.
squad to compete in the World Cup
in Canada
, but was hardly ever played due to injury.
The following year, he first played for the Olympic side
against Guatemala
, in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics
; at this match, he appeared as a left back.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
footballer who plays for Gremio
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, commonly known as just Grêmio , is a Brazilian professional association football team based in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul founded by English and German immigrants on September 15, 1903. Major titles captured by Grêmio include one Intercontinental Cup, two Copa...
on loan from Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
, as a left midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
He is often nicknamed Pichi, the same used by his father Osvaldo Escudero, who was also a football player.
Club career
A product of Club Atlético Vélez SársfieldClub Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield is a sports club based in the Liniers neighborhood of western Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vélez is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División, the top level of the Argentine league system...
's youth system, Escudero made his first-team debut in a 1–0 defeat to Newell's Old Boys
Newell's Old Boys
Club Atlético Newell's Old Boys is an Argentine sports club based in Rosario. The club was founded on November 3, 1903, and is named after Isaac Newell, one of the pioneers of Argentine football...
, on March 4, 2006. He found himself at the centre of a controversy at the end of the year, when the club refused to release him, along Mauro Zárate
Mauro Zárate
Mauro Matías Zárate is an Argentine footballer who plays for Serie A club Internazionale on loan from Lazio.Zárate started his career with Vélez Sársfield in his native country, playing three years for the team and winning the Primera División title in the 2005 Clausura tournament...
, for the 2007 South American Youth Championship
2007 South American Youth Championship
The 2007 South American Youth Championship is a football competition contested by all ten U-20 national football teams of CONMEBOL. The tournament was held in Paraguay between January 7 and January 28, 2007, it was the 23rd time the competition has been held and the 4th to take place in Paraguay...
.
When the 2007 Libertadores Cup started, Escudero showed why the club was so keen in retaining his services, quickly becoming a dynamic part in the side's offensive movements; in the season's competition, he helped Vélez reach the round of 16, netting four times.
Escudero had an irregular 2007–08 season, during which his team failed to qualify for the Copa Sudamericana
Copa Sudamericana
The Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana de Clubes , known simply as the Copa Sudamericana , is an annual international club football competition organized by the CONMEBOL since 2002. It is the second most prestigious club competition in South American football. CONCACAF clubs were invited between 2004...
. However, he did score three goals in the Clausura
Apertura and Clausura
The Apertura and Clausura tournaments are a relatively recent innovation for many Latin American football leagues in which the traditional European football season from August to May is divided in two sections per season, each with its own champion. Apertura and Clausura are the Spanish words for...
, including an impressive strike against Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
.
For 2008–09, Escudero was bought by La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
side Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
in a U$S
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
12,000,000 move. However, he was quickly loaned to Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
because his club's non-EU
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
quota was already full, appearing rarely throughout the campaign.
Escudero returned to Villarreal for the 2009–10 season
2009–10 La Liga
- Personnel and sponsoring :- Before the start of the season :- During the season :-League table:||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|||rowspan=1 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|...
, but continued to be barred by the likes of Robert Pirès
Robert Pirès
Robert Emmanuel Pirès is a former French international footballer. He is perhaps best known for his time with Arsenal, with whom he won three FA Cups and two FA Premier League titles including the club's famous unbeaten season of 2003–04...
and Santi Cazorla
Santi Cazorla
Santiago "Santi" Cazorla González is a Spanish footballer who plays for Málaga CF in La Liga.A versatile winger, he can play on either flank, being ambidextrous...
. Most of his appearances were due to injury problems to the latter, and he scored against Xerez CD
Xerez CD
Xerez Club Deportivo, S.A.D., usually just Xerez, is a Spanish football team based in Jerez de la Frontera, Province of Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia...
on March 14, 2010 (2–0 home win), after only playing five minutes in the game.
In the 2010 summer, Escudero was sold to Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
, with Villarreal retaining 50% of the player's rights.
Nowadays, Escudero is playing at Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense
Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, commonly known as just Grêmio , is a Brazilian professional association football team based in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul founded by English and German immigrants on September 15, 1903. Major titles captured by Grêmio include one Intercontinental Cup, two Copa...
from southern Brazil since february 2011. He is in the main squad playing left-wing and has scored 4 goals in the national league yet.
International career
In 2007 Escudero was picked to join the Argentina under-20Argentina national under-20 football team
The Argentina national under-20 football team is the representative of Argentina in FIFA sponsored tournaments that pertain to that age level....
squad to compete in the World Cup
2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the sixteenth edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup , hosted by Canada from June 30 to July 22, 2007. Argentina defeated Czech Republic in the title game by the score of 2–1, thus managing a back-to-back world title, its fifth in the past seven editions, and sixth...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, but was hardly ever played due to injury.
The following year, he first played for the Olympic side
Argentina Olympic football team
Argentina Olympic football team represents Argentina in international football competitions in Olympic Games. The selection is limited to players under the age of 23, except three overage players...
against Guatemala
Guatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
, in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics
Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and several other cities in the People's Republic of China from 6 August to 23 August. Associations affiliated with FIFA were invited to send their full women's national teams and men's U-23 teams to participate...
; at this match, he appeared as a left back.
National team
Argentina U-20Argentina national under-20 football team
The Argentina national under-20 football team is the representative of Argentina in FIFA sponsored tournaments that pertain to that age level....
- FIFA U-20 World CupFIFA U-20 World CupThe FIFA U-20 World Cup, until 2005 known as the FIFA World Youth Championship, is the world championship of football for male players under the age of 20 and is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association...
: 1
-
- 20072007 FIFA U-20 World CupThe 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was the sixteenth edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup , hosted by Canada from June 30 to July 22, 2007. Argentina defeated Czech Republic in the title game by the score of 2–1, thus managing a back-to-back world title, its fifth in the past seven editions, and sixth...
- 2007