Walter Gaitán
Encyclopedia
Walter Nicolás Gaitán Sayavedra (born March 13, 1977) is an Argentine
footballer who currently plays for Atlético de Rafaela.
in 1997. He left the team in 1998, however, moving to Villarreal CF
of the Spanish Liga
. After two years in Spain, he returned to Argentina in 2000, joining the prestigious Boca Juniors
. It is interesting to note that odd coincidences have made this player to always play with teams that have the yellow and blue colors(until signing with Necaxa). When Tigres qualified for the Copa Libertadores, he wore the shirt of Rosario Central at the celebration.
for the 2002 Apertura, signing with Tigres
UANL of the Primera División
. After scoring four goals in 15 games in his first season, Gaitán scored eight in the 2003 Clausura. He has been one of the best midfield in the Mexican league since his arrival and becoming the top goal-scorer of the 2005 Apertura. He was also named Best Player of the Clausura 2006 tournament.
He has been regarded by some as the best player in Tigres of the last few years. He was selected to wear the number 7, retired to honor team legend Gerónimo Barbadillo
, in Copa Libertadores where regulations command that the number be used. The only other Tigres player to have that honor is Claudio "El Diablo" Nuñez
. Gaitán is also the all time top scorer in Copa Libertadores for Tigres along with Néstor Silvera with 4 goals each.
Gaitán is also tied with "Diablo" Nuñez as the top goal scorer for Tigres in the history of the Clásico Regiomontano
. Both players have eight goals in such matches, nevertheless the several assistances he has also gave so Tigres coworkers can score in Clasicos Regiomontanos and other games. He practically served 4 goals on one of two Clasicos that Tigres has won by identical scores, 6-2.
In October 2007, Gaitán, citing personal reasons, asked for a three month license to be absent from the team until the end of the season. In December 2007, Club Necaxa, of the Mexican Primera División
, announced the incorporation of Walter Nicolás Gaitán Sayavedra to the squad, along with Omar “El Gato” Ortiz Uribe and Juan José de la Cruz Ortiz.
In 2010, Gaitán played for Veracruz of the Mexican Primera División
.
of the USL Pro
.
FIFA games
, he is nicknamed "Mago" ("magician"), to replace "El Divino".
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 currently plays for Atlético de Rafaela.
Argentina and Spain
Gaitán began his career in Argentina with Rosario CentralRosario Central
Club Atlético Rosario Central is a sports club based in Rosario, Argentina. Its football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second tier of the Argentine football league system, after being relegated in the 2009-10 season....
in 1997. He left the team in 1998, however, moving to 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...
of the Spanish Liga
Liga
-Ice hockey:* Liga , third-highest ice hockey league in Switzerland.* Vysshaya Liga -Other:* The Hungarian Democratic Confederation of Free Trade Unions* The city of Liga, Ethiopia...
. After two years in Spain, he returned to Argentina in 2000, joining the prestigious 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....
. It is interesting to note that odd coincidences have made this player to always play with teams that have the yellow and blue colors(until signing with Necaxa). When Tigres qualified for the Copa Libertadores, he wore the shirt of Rosario Central at the celebration.
Mexico
Gaitán moved to MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
for the 2002 Apertura, signing with Tigres
UANL Tigres
Tigres de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, often known only as Tigres or UANL, a Mexican football club that plays in the Primera División. It is one of the two professional football teams of the state of Nuevo León. The team plays home games at the Estadio Universitario, located in San...
UANL of the Primera División
Primera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
. After scoring four goals in 15 games in his first season, Gaitán scored eight in the 2003 Clausura. He has been one of the best midfield in the Mexican league since his arrival and becoming the top goal-scorer of the 2005 Apertura. He was also named Best Player of the Clausura 2006 tournament.
He has been regarded by some as the best player in Tigres of the last few years. He was selected to wear the number 7, retired to honor team legend Gerónimo Barbadillo
Gerónimo Barbadillo
Gerónimo Barbadillo González is a former Peruvian football player who played for UANL Tigres in Mexico, and for Avellino and Udinese in Italian Serie A. He also played with the Peruvian national team in the 1982 FIFA World Cup...
, in Copa Libertadores where regulations command that the number be used. The only other Tigres player to have that honor is Claudio "El Diablo" Nuñez
Claudio Nuñez
Claudio Patricio Núñez Camaño is a Chilean football former footballer who played as a striker. He is nicknamed "El Diablo", which means, "the Devil".He made his name playing for Tigres UANL, where he had his most success....
. Gaitán is also the all time top scorer in Copa Libertadores for Tigres along with Néstor Silvera with 4 goals each.
Gaitán is also tied with "Diablo" Nuñez as the top goal scorer for Tigres in the history of the Clásico Regiomontano
Clásico Regiomontano
Clásico Regiomontano is a football derby in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, between crosstown rival teams Monterrey and UANL.Since the first Clásico in 1974, the two teams have competed 91 times for bragging rights and city honour...
. Both players have eight goals in such matches, nevertheless the several assistances he has also gave so Tigres coworkers can score in Clasicos Regiomontanos and other games. He practically served 4 goals on one of two Clasicos that Tigres has won by identical scores, 6-2.
In October 2007, Gaitán, citing personal reasons, asked for a three month license to be absent from the team until the end of the season. In December 2007, Club Necaxa, of the Mexican Primera División
Primera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
, announced the incorporation of Walter Nicolás Gaitán Sayavedra to the squad, along with Omar “El Gato” Ortiz Uribe and Juan José de la Cruz Ortiz.
In 2010, Gaitán played for Veracruz of the Mexican Primera División
Primera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
.
United States
In February 2011, Gaitán was officially introduced to the squad for the Los Angeles BluesLos Angeles Blues
Los Angeles Blues is an American soccer team based in the Los Angeles suburb of Fullerton, California, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the USL Pro
USL Pro
The USL Professional Division, commonly known as USL Pro , is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011....
.
Personal Life
Gaitán has many nicknames. National most important television network call him "El Divino" ("The Divine"), because of his gifted touch of the ball and feel of the game. For those that, because of religious reasons, even Gaitan himself, are uncomfortable calling a soccer player "Divine", particularly those in national TV and Radio networks and certain newspapers in Mexico, he is nicknamed "El Chueco" ("The crooked"), due to him being left-handed, and left-footed. In the Mexican Spanish version of the EA SportsEA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
FIFA games
FIFA Series
FIFA, also known as FIFA Football or FIFA Soccer, is a series of association football video games, released annually by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports label...
, he is nicknamed "Mago" ("magician"), to replace "El Divino".
Titles
| Season | Club | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 |  Boca Juniors |
Copa Libertadores |
| 2004 |  Tigres |
Mexican league top scorer |
| 2005 | Tigres |
Interliga 2005 Interliga 2005 For 2005, Mexico was granted a third berth in the Libertadores. The Mexican federation decided to grant one of its Libertadores berths based strictly on play during the league season, but retained InterLiga for the other two spots . The group phase of InterLiga remained the same as in 2004, but... |
| 2006 | Tigres |
Interliga 2006 Interliga 2006 America was originally set to participate in the 2006 InterLiga tournament, but their 2005 clausura championship qualified the team for the 2006 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Therefore, the club was replaced by Cruz Azul. The teams Tigres and Chivas de Guadalajara qualified to Copa Libertadores... |
External links
- Statistics at Guardian Stats Centre Argentine Primera statistics
- Football Database profile