Fernando Muslera
Encyclopedia
Néstor Fernando Muslera Micol (feɾˈnando musˈleɾa; born 16 June 1986 in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
) is an Uruguay
an footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Galatasaray
and is first-choice keeper for the Uruguayan national team
.
in 2004, having come through the club's youth system. After impressive performances for Wanderers, Uruguayan giants Nacional
opted to take him on loan in 2007. After returning to Montevideo, and a display of successful performances, he began to attract attention from Europe
, until he was signed by Lazio in 2007.
Lazio signed Muslera in August
2007 for a fee of €3 million. He made his debut for Lazio in a 3–1 home win against Cagliari
on 16 September 2007, and made four more consecutive starts, the last which was a disastrous performance in Lazio's 1–5 home loss to Milan
on 7 October, a match in which he was at fault on four of the five goals Lazio conceded. That result saw him benched in favour of 44-year-old Marco Ballotta
. Muslera remained as the second choice for the remainder of the season, making only four more league appearances and none in the UEFA Champions League
. He did however play all of Lazio's remaining Coppa Italia
matches, putting in good performances.
Muslera started as second-choice keeper for the 2008–09
season behind new signing Juan Pablo Carrizo
but regained the starting spot in January 2009 following a run of poor form by Carrizo, coupled with conflicts with team management. Muslera's first starting appearance in the league this season saw him make several saves in a 3–1 loss to Sampdoria
, including blocking an Antonio Cassano
penalty. Further impressive performances in away wins over Napoli
and Genoa
, as well as in his first ever Derby della Capitale
, saw Muslera regain a considerable amount of faith he had lost the previous season.
Known to the Lazio fans as castorino, or the "little beaver", Muslera was also an integral part of the club's successful Coppa Italia
campaign, making decisive saves against Milan
and Juventus
as Lazio reached the final for the first time in five seasons. In the final on May 13, 2009, Muslera saved two penalties
as Lazio emerged victorious 6–5 in the shootout after the match ended 1–1 in extra time.
The Uruguayan's impressive season saw him cement his position as the Roman club's first choice in the 2009–10 season, despite the arrival of Argentine keeper Albano Bizzarri on a free transfer. Muslera played in goal as Lazio opened the season with a 2–1 win over Inter
in the 2009 Supercoppa Italiana
, played in Beijing
.
Following his successful performance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
he was voted the 7th best goalkeeper in the world by IFFHS.
officially announced the signing of Fernando Muslera from Lazio on a 5-year contract while he was on duty in the Copa América
with Uruguay
. The transfer involved Lorik Cana
moving in the opposite direction, to Lazio, while Galatasaray also paid €6.75 million to Muslera's former club, Montevideo Wanderers who owned 50% of his playing rights. The total value of his transfer is therefore believed to be in the region of €12 million, making Muslera the most expensive goalkeeper transfer in Turkey
and the fifth most expensive goalkeeper of all time. He will earn €2 million a year..Muslera was red-carded on the 14' minute in the game between Karabükspor - Galatasaray (22 September 2011). As the ball was assisted to Jamaican Luton Shelton, Shelton was going one-on-one with Muslera, only Gökhan Zan was there but Muslera decided to escape outside the 18-yard box. Resulting the two colliding by Muslera's foot around Shelton. Muslera was sent a straight off Red-card but also Injured, he came off with the Stretcher-bearers and #11 outfield Spanish player Albert Riera had to play in goals for the free-kick, despite having substitutes, Coach Fatih Terim decided to put Substitute goalkeeper #86 Ufuk Ceylan on. Ufuk pulled off by some great saves. The game finished 1-1 and Muslera will be out for the Galatasaray - Eskisehirspor from his red-card, but in doubt of his Injury. He saved his first penalty on Mersin İ.Y match. ! match later Muslera played his first Derby match against Besiktas and he saved lots of shots of them. He selected Man of the match of Derby.
. The match was Uruguay's penultimate qualifier for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
in South Africa
.
debut against France
on June 11, 2010, Uruguay's opening game of the tournament and the second game on the opening day of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He kept a clean sheet during all 3 of Uruguay's group matches (0–0 against France, 3–0 against South Africa, and 1–0 against Mexico). Muslera was decisive in the quarterfinal match against Ghana, when he saved two penalties at the penalty shootout. Muslera was a key component of the Uruguay team that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup and subsequently finished fourth in the tournament.
to represent Uruguay as the first choice goalkeeper at the 2011 Copa América
, which was held in Argentina
. He was selected Man of the Match in the quarter-final match against Argentina
in which Uruguay
went through on penalties, with Muslera saving a penalty from Carlos Tevez
to win them the match. Uruguay won the Copa América, Muslera played all the games.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
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...
) is an Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Galatasaray
Galatasaray
Galatasaray Spor Kulübü is a Turkish sports club based in Istanbul, most notable for its football section, also known as Galatasaray S.K.. It also fields teams in Athletics, Basketball, Wheelchair basketball, Volleyball, Water polo, Swimming, Rowing, Sailing, Judo, Bridge, Equestrian, Handball,...
and is first-choice keeper for the Uruguayan national team
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
.
Uruguay
Muslera started his professional football career with Montevideo WanderersMontevideo Wanderers F.C.
Montevideo Wanderers Fútbol Club, usually known simply as Wanderers is a Uruguayan football club based in Montevideo. The club are currently members of the Primera División and play at the Estadio Viera...
in 2004, having come through the club's youth system. After impressive performances for Wanderers, Uruguayan giants Nacional
Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....
opted to take him on loan in 2007. After returning to Montevideo, and a display of successful performances, he began to attract attention from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, until he was signed by Lazio in 2007.
Lazio
August
August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of seven months with a length of 31 days.This month was originally named Sextilis in Latin, because it was the sixth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar under Romulus in 753 BC, when March was the first...
2007 for a fee of €3 million. He made his debut for Lazio in a 3–1 home win against Cagliari
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio is an Italian football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia. The club was formed in 1920 and currently plays in Italian Serie A, having spent a large part of recent years mainly in Serie A and Serie B....
on 16 September 2007, and made four more consecutive starts, the last which was a disastrous performance in Lazio's 1–5 home loss to Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
on 7 October, a match in which he was at fault on four of the five goals Lazio conceded. That result saw him benched in favour of 44-year-old Marco Ballotta
Marco Ballotta
Marco Ballotta is a retired Italian footballer who played as a goalkeeper.His senior club career spanned a quarter of a century, but Ballotta was never capped for the Italian national team...
. Muslera remained as the second choice for the remainder of the season, making only four more league appearances and none in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. He did however play all of Lazio's remaining Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
matches, putting in good performances.
Muslera started as second-choice keeper for the 2008–09
Serie A 2008-09
The 2008–09 Serie A was the seventy-seventh season since its establishment. It began on 30 August 2008 and ended on 31 May 2009, with the announcement of the list of fixtures made on 25 July 2008...
season behind new signing Juan Pablo Carrizo
Juan Pablo Carrizo
Juan Pablo Carrizo is an Argentine football goalkeeper who plays for Lazio in the Italian Serie A.-River Plate:Carrizo made his debut with River Plate on January 29, 2006, against Tiro Federal, keeping a clean sheet in River's 5–0 win...
but regained the starting spot in January 2009 following a run of poor form by Carrizo, coupled with conflicts with team management. Muslera's first starting appearance in the league this season saw him make several saves in a 3–1 loss to Sampdoria
U.C. Sampdoria
Unione Calcio Sampdoria is an Italian association football club based in Genoa. The club was formed in 1946 from the merger of two existing sports clubs whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria...
, including blocking an Antonio Cassano
Antonio Cassano
Antonio Cassano is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Milan as a striker. Nicknamed Il Gioiello di Bari Vecchia , he is known for his short temper as much as his ability on the pitch, which led to the coining of the neologism Cassanata by his former coach, Fabio Capello, in November...
penalty. Further impressive performances in away wins over Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....
and Genoa
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...
, as well as in his first ever Derby della Capitale
Derby della Capitale
The Derby della Capitale , also known as Derby Capitolino and Derby del Cupolone, as well as The Rome Derby in English, is the football local derby in Rome, Italy, between the two major teams of the city, Roma and Lazio...
, saw Muslera regain a considerable amount of faith he had lost the previous season.
Known to the Lazio fans as castorino, or the "little beaver", Muslera was also an integral part of the club's successful Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia 2008-09
The 2008–09 Coppa Italia was the sixty-first season of the tournament. The competition started on 9 August 2008 and ended on 13 May 2009. The radically different format used in the 2007–08 Coppa was abandoned, with the new format more closely resembling earlier editions of the tournament.The final...
campaign, making decisive saves against Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
and Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
as Lazio reached the final for the first time in five seasons. In the final on May 13, 2009, Muslera saved two penalties
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
as Lazio emerged victorious 6–5 in the shootout after the match ended 1–1 in extra time.
The Uruguayan's impressive season saw him cement his position as the Roman club's first choice in the 2009–10 season, despite the arrival of Argentine keeper Albano Bizzarri on a free transfer. Muslera played in goal as Lazio opened the season with a 2–1 win over Inter
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
in the 2009 Supercoppa Italiana
2009 Supercoppa Italiana
The 2009 Supercoppa Italiana was a match played by the 2008–09 Serie A winners Internazionale and 2008–09 Coppa Italia winners Lazio. It took place on 8 August 2009 at the Beijing National Stadium in Beijing, China. Lazio won the match 2–1 to earn their third Supercoppa...
, played in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Following his successful performance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
he was voted the 7th best goalkeeper in the world by IFFHS.
Galatasaray
On 19 July 2011, GalatasarayGalatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
officially announced the signing of Fernando Muslera from Lazio on a 5-year contract while he was on duty in the Copa América
2011 Copa América
The 2011 Campeonato Sudamericano Copa América, better known as the 2011 Copa América or the Copa América Argentina 2011, was the 43rd edition of the Copa América, the main international football tournament for national teams in South America...
with Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
. The transfer involved Lorik Cana
Lorik Cana
Lorik Cana is an Albanian footballer, who plays for Lazio as a defensive midfielder and the Albania national football team. He is the captain for Albania at international level...
moving in the opposite direction, to Lazio, while Galatasaray also paid €6.75 million to Muslera's former club, Montevideo Wanderers who owned 50% of his playing rights. The total value of his transfer is therefore believed to be in the region of €12 million, making Muslera the most expensive goalkeeper transfer in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and the fifth most expensive goalkeeper of all time. He will earn €2 million a year..Muslera was red-carded on the 14' minute in the game between Karabükspor - Galatasaray (22 September 2011). As the ball was assisted to Jamaican Luton Shelton, Shelton was going one-on-one with Muslera, only Gökhan Zan was there but Muslera decided to escape outside the 18-yard box. Resulting the two colliding by Muslera's foot around Shelton. Muslera was sent a straight off Red-card but also Injured, he came off with the Stretcher-bearers and #11 outfield Spanish player Albert Riera had to play in goals for the free-kick, despite having substitutes, Coach Fatih Terim decided to put Substitute goalkeeper #86 Ufuk Ceylan on. Ufuk pulled off by some great saves. The game finished 1-1 and Muslera will be out for the Galatasaray - Eskisehirspor from his red-card, but in doubt of his Injury. He saved his first penalty on Mersin İ.Y match. ! match later Muslera played his first Derby match against Besiktas and he saved lots of shots of them. He selected Man of the match of Derby.
International career
Muslera had been called up for the Uruguayan national team on numerous occasions, but did not earn his first cap until October 10, 2009, when he started in Uruguay's 2–1 away win over EcuadorEcuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
. The match was Uruguay's penultimate qualifier for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
2010 FIFA World Cup
He made his FIFA World CupFIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
debut against France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
on June 11, 2010, Uruguay's opening game of the tournament and the second game on the opening day of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He kept a clean sheet during all 3 of Uruguay's group matches (0–0 against France, 3–0 against South Africa, and 1–0 against Mexico). Muslera was decisive in the quarterfinal match against Ghana, when he saved two penalties at the penalty shootout. Muslera was a key component of the Uruguay team that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup and subsequently finished fourth in the tournament.
2011 Copa América
Muslera was called again by coach Óscar TabárezOscar Tabárez
Óscar Wáshington Tabárez Silva, nicknamed El Maestro is a retired Uruguayan footballer who played as a defender, and the current manager of the Uruguayan national team....
to represent Uruguay as the first choice goalkeeper at the 2011 Copa América
2011 Copa América
The 2011 Campeonato Sudamericano Copa América, better known as the 2011 Copa América or the Copa América Argentina 2011, was the 43rd edition of the Copa América, the main international football tournament for national teams in South America...
, which was held in Argentina
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...
. He was selected Man of the Match in the quarter-final match against Argentina
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...
in which Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
went through on penalties, with Muslera saving a penalty from Carlos Tevez
Carlos Tévez
Carlos Alberto Tévez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester City...
to win them the match. Uruguay won the Copa América, Muslera played all the games.
Club
Lazio:- Coppa ItaliaCoppa ItaliaThe Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
: 20092009 Coppa Italia Final-Post-match:After the match, some Lazio players wore a T-shirt to joke A.S. Roma rivals with written on it Io campione, tu zero titoli , quoting a sentence said by José Mourinho who had, earlier in the season, correctly predicted that Milan, Juve and Roma would have completed the season with no... - Supercoppa ItalianaSupercoppa ItalianaThe Supercoppa Italiana is a pre-season football competition held the week before the season begins in Italy every year. It is contested by the winners of the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in the previous season, as a curtain raiser to the new season. It is usually played at the home of the Serie A...
: 20092009 Supercoppa ItalianaThe 2009 Supercoppa Italiana was a match played by the 2008–09 Serie A winners Internazionale and 2008–09 Coppa Italia winners Lazio. It took place on 8 August 2009 at the Beijing National Stadium in Beijing, China. Lazio won the match 2–1 to earn their third Supercoppa...
National team
Uruguay:- 2010 World Cup2010 FIFA World CupThe 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
: Fourth Place - 2011 Copa América2011 Copa AméricaThe 2011 Campeonato Sudamericano Copa América, better known as the 2011 Copa América or the Copa América Argentina 2011, was the 43rd edition of the Copa América, the main international football tournament for national teams in South America...
: Winner
External links
- Lazio sign keeper Muslera – Sky Sports, 29 August 2007
- Muslera Meltdown – Goal.com, 8 October 2007
- Biography in Spanish
- Biography in Turkish