Ignacio María González
Encyclopedia
Ignacio 'Nacho' María González Gatti (iɣˈna.sjo maˈɾi.a ɣonˈsa.les; born 14 May 1982 in Montevideo
) is an Uruguay
an footballer who plays for Standard Liège
in Belgium
, as a midfielder
.
, where he appeared in a total of 170 games, scoring more than 50 official goals for the Montevideo
-based club. During his time at Danubio, he won the Uruguayan League twice, in 2004 and 2007.
After his performances for Danubio, González eventually moved to France
with AS Monaco FC
in January 2008, being scarcely used during his six-month loan spell. On 27 April, he netted in a 2–3 Ligue 1
home loss against Olympique de Marseille
.
González was then snapped by Valencia CF
of La Liga
. However, on 1 September 2008, he joined Newcastle United
on loan until the end of the season. This move was now infamously the final straw for then manager Kevin Keegan
, who claimed he was forced to sign the player by the club's executive director, Dennis Wise
, after only seeing him play on YouTube
, and believing the player was not good enough for the team.
González picked up a serious achilles tendon
injury early into the season (with only two appearances under his belt), ruling him out of playing action for four months. Team coach Chris Hughton
was quoted on the team's official website, in February 2009, as saying that González was recovering well, and was certain the player would feature again before his return to Valencia. However he did not, and returned to the Che in July 2009. A Premier League tribunal confirmed in October 2009 that the loan singing of González had been against manager Keegan's wishes, and was in breach of his contract, resulting in a compensation payout to Keegan. The deal was reportedly done by Wise and Mike Ashley
, as a 'favour' for two South America
n agents.
After not having appeared once during 2009–10
, González was loaned by Valencia to Greece
's Levadiakos FC, in a deal running until the end of the season. Subsequently, he returned to Spain in the same predicament, signing with newly-promoted
Levante UD
; after suffering a serious knee
ligament
injury in September, in a 0–0 home draw against Real Madrid
, he failed to appeared again for the club, and returned to Valencia in the following transfer window
.
In late July 2011, González rescinded his link with Valencia and joined Belgian
club Standard Liège
.
in a 1–2 defeat to England
on 1 March 2006, coming on as a late substitute at Anfield
.
Subsequently, he was part of the 2007 Copa América squad which finished fourth. In the semifinal against Brazil
, González was brought on at halftime, as the nation fought back to 2–2 to take the game into extra time. He then scored in the penalty shootout, but Uruguay were eliminated.
González scored his first international goal in a 3–1 friendly win over Japan
on 20 August 2008, at the Sapporo Dome
. He was picked for the national team squad which appeared at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, playing 63 minutes of the group stage opener against France
(0–0 draw), as the Charrúas reached the semifinals.
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
) 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 for Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, as a 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...
.
Club career
González's professional career began at Danubio FCDanubio F.C.
-History:Danubio was founded by the Bulgarian born brothers, Miguel and Juan Lazaroff, on March 1, 1932 together with other youths from the "Republica de Nicaragua" school in Montevideo...
, where he appeared in a total of 170 games, scoring more than 50 official goals for the Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
-based club. During his time at Danubio, he won the Uruguayan League twice, in 2004 and 2007.
After his performances for Danubio, González eventually moved to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
with AS Monaco FC
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
in January 2008, being scarcely used during his six-month loan spell. On 27 April, he netted in a 2–3 Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
home loss against Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
.
González was then snapped by Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
of 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...
. However, on 1 September 2008, he joined Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
on loan until the end of the season. This move was now infamously the final straw for then manager Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
, who claimed he was forced to sign the player by the club's executive director, Dennis Wise
Dennis Wise
Dennis Frank Wise is an English former football manager and player, and former Executive Director at Newcastle United....
, after only seeing him play on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, and believing the player was not good enough for the team.
González picked up a serious achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
injury early into the season (with only two appearances under his belt), ruling him out of playing action for four months. Team coach Chris Hughton
Chris Hughton
Christopher William Gerard "Chris" Hughton is a professional football manager and former player who is currently the manager of Birmingham City F.C....
was quoted on the team's official website, in February 2009, as saying that González was recovering well, and was certain the player would feature again before his return to Valencia. However he did not, and returned to the Che in July 2009. A Premier League tribunal confirmed in October 2009 that the loan singing of González had been against manager Keegan's wishes, and was in breach of his contract, resulting in a compensation payout to Keegan. The deal was reportedly done by Wise and Mike Ashley
Mike Ashley (businessman)
Michael James Wallace "Mike" Ashley is an English millionaire retail entrepreneur in the sporting goods market...
, as a 'favour' for two South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n agents.
After not having appeared once during 2009–10
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;"|...
, González was loaned by Valencia to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
's Levadiakos FC, in a deal running until the end of the season. Subsequently, he returned to Spain in the same predicament, signing with newly-promoted
2009–10 Segunda División
The 2009–10 Segunda División was made up of the following teams:-League table:||rowspan=15 style="background-color:#F9F9F9;"|-2009–10 Results:To read this table, the home team is listed in the left-hand column....
Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
; after suffering a serious knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
injury in September, in a 0–0 home draw against Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, he failed to appeared again for the club, and returned to Valencia in the following transfer window
Transfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
.
In late July 2011, González rescinded his link with Valencia and joined Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
club Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
.
International career
González made his debut for the Uruguayan national teamUruguay 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...
in a 1–2 defeat to England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
on 1 March 2006, coming on as a late substitute at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
.
Subsequently, he was part of the 2007 Copa América squad which finished fourth. In the semifinal against Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
, González was brought on at halftime, as the nation fought back to 2–2 to take the game into extra time. He then scored in the penalty shootout, but Uruguay were eliminated.
González scored his first international goal in a 3–1 friendly win over Japan
Japan national football team
The Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
on 20 August 2008, at the Sapporo Dome
Sapporo Dome
The is a stadium located in Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, Japan, and is primarily used for baseball and football. It is the home field of the baseball team Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters and the football club Consadole Sapporo.-History:...
. He was picked for the national team squad which appeared at 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...
, playing 63 minutes of the group stage opener 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...
(0–0 draw), as the Charrúas reached the semifinals.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | August 20, 2008 | Sapporo Dome Sapporo Dome The is a stadium located in Toyohira-ku, Sapporo, Japan, and is primarily used for baseball and football. It is the home field of the baseball team Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters and the football club Consadole Sapporo.-History:... , Sapporo, Japan |
0–1 | 1–3 | Friendly |
Danubio
- Uruguayan LeaguePrimera División UruguayaThe Liga Profesional de Primera División , also known as the Primera División Uruguaya or Primera División de Uruguay , is a professional football league in Uruguay at the top of the country's football league system. It is organized by the Uruguayan Football Association and is contested by 16 teams...
: 2004Primera División Uruguaya 2004-League standings:-Apertura:-Clausura:-Playoff:*Nacional 4-1 ; 0-1 DanubioDanubio won the championship.-Relegation group:-References:*... - Uruguayan LeaguePrimera División UruguayaThe Liga Profesional de Primera División , also known as the Primera División Uruguaya or Primera División de Uruguay , is a professional football league in Uruguay at the top of the country's football league system. It is organized by the Uruguayan Football Association and is contested by 16 teams...
: 2006–07Primera División Uruguaya 2006–07-Apertura:-Clausura:-Overall:-References:*...