Wilfredo Caballero
Encyclopedia
Wilfredo 'Willy' Daniel Caballero (born 28 September 1981 in Santa Elena, Entre Ríos
) is an Argentine
footballer who plays for Málaga CF
in Spain
, as a goalkeeper.
in 2001, where he won three major titles in 2003. On December 14 of that year, he witnessed - in the bench - his team beat A.C. Milan
3–1 on penalties, in the 2003
Intercontinental Cup
.
He joined Elche CF
of Spain
in 2004, and had a brief lone spell back in his country with Arsenal de Sarandí
in 2006. With the former, after a rough first season, he went on to become the undisputed starter, amassing nearly 200 Segunda División
matches.
On 10 February 2011, Caballero was transferred to Málaga CF
in La Liga
for €
900,000 and two 1/2 years, as an emergency transfer - after the 31 January transfer deadline - due to a serious knee
injury to Sergio Asenjo
(the club's previous starter, Rubén
, was also unavailable due to physical problems); he made his league debut on the 20th, starting in a 1–1 draw at Villarreal CF
, and played all the matches until the end of the season
, with the Andalusia
ns finally escaping relegation.
On 1 October 2011, Caballero entered Málaga's history books as he kept his goal clean for 480 minutes, beating the club's previous record of 429 held by Pedro Contreras
since the 2001–02 season. On 16 October, he was sent off
midway through the first half of an away fixture against Levante UD
after touching the ball with his hands just outside the box - the hosts eventually won it 3–0.
at under-20 level
, helping the nation win the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship
, playing in the competition's last two games.
In 2004, he was also picked for the gold medal
triumph at the 2004 Summer Olympics
, as backup to Germán Lux (also first-choice in the previous tournament).
Santa Elena, Entre Ríos
Santa Elena is a city in the province of Entre Ríos, Argentina. It has 18,410 inhabitants as per the . It lies on the left-hand shore of the Paraná River, about 110 km north-northeast of the provincial capital Paraná.-References:...
) is an Argentine
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 Málaga CF
Málaga CF
Málaga Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Málaga, Andalusia. The team currently plays in Spain's La Liga.Málaga CF is generally seen as the successor to CD Málaga, one of the most historical Andalusian football clubs, by being a near-identical looking football club that even shares...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, as a goalkeeper.
Club career
Caballero started his playing career with Boca JuniorsBoca 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....
in 2001, where he won three major titles in 2003. On December 14 of that year, he witnessed - in the bench - his team beat A.C. 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...
3–1 on penalties, in the 2003
2003 Intercontinental Cup
-See also:*Intercontinental Cup*UEFA Champions League*Copa Libertadores*FIFA Club World Cup-External links:*...
Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental Cup (football)
The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
.
He joined Elche CF
Elche CF
Elche Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Elche, Alicante, in the Valencian Community. Founded in 1923, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, holding home matches at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, with a capacity of 38,750 seats.-Recent seasons:-Season to...
of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 2004, and had a brief lone spell back in his country with Arsenal de Sarandí
Arsenal de Sarandí
Arsenal Fútbol Club, usually referred as Arsenal de Sarandí, is a football club from the Sarandí neighbourhood in the city of Avellaneda, Argentina, which was founded in 1957 by the Grondona brothers. Arsenal currently plays in the top tier of Argentine football, the Primera División Argentina....
in 2006. With the former, after a rough first season, he went on to become the undisputed starter, amassing nearly 200 Segunda División
Segunda División
The Segunda División is the lower tier of the two professional football leagues in Spain. From the season 2008-09 onwards, the name of the league is Liga Adelante.-History:...
matches.
On 10 February 2011, Caballero was transferred to Málaga CF
Málaga CF
Málaga Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Málaga, Andalusia. The team currently plays in Spain's La Liga.Málaga CF is generally seen as the successor to CD Málaga, one of the most historical Andalusian football clubs, by being a near-identical looking football club that even shares...
in 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...
for €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
900,000 and two 1/2 years, as an emergency transfer - after the 31 January transfer deadline - due to 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...
injury to Sergio Asenjo
Sergio Asenjo
Sergio Asenjo Andrés is a Spanish footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid as a goalkeeper.-Club career:Born in Palencia, Castile and León, Asenjo began playing in Real Valladolid junior teams, and soon emerged as one of the most talented players in the club...
(the club's previous starter, Rubén
Ruben Iván Martínez
Rubén Iván Martínez Andrade, simply Rubén , is a Spanish footballer who plays for Málaga CF in La Liga, as a goalkeeper.-Football career:...
, was also unavailable due to physical problems); he made his league debut on the 20th, starting in a 1–1 draw at 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...
, and played all the matches until the end of the season
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
, with the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns finally escaping relegation.
On 1 October 2011, Caballero entered Málaga's history books as he kept his goal clean for 480 minutes, beating the club's previous record of 429 held by Pedro Contreras
Pedro Contreras
Pedro Contreras González, nicknamed El Koke , is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Club career:...
since the 2001–02 season. On 16 October, he was sent off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
midway through the first half of an away fixture against 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 touching the ball with his hands just outside the box - the hosts eventually won it 3–0.
International career
Caballero played for ArgentinaArgentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
at under-20 level
Argentina 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....
, helping the nation win the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship
2001 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Argentina between June 17 and July 8, 2001. The 2001 championship was the 13th contested. The tournament took part in six cities, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, Rosario, Salta, and Mar del Plata...
, playing in the competition's last two games.
In 2004, he was also picked for the gold medal
Football at the 2004 Summer Olympics
The football tournament at the 2004 Summer Olympics started on 11 August, , and ended on 28 August.The men's tournament is played by U-23 national teams, with up to three over age players allowed per squad...
triumph at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, as backup to Germán Lux (also first-choice in the previous tournament).
Club
Boca Juniors- Argentine League: Apertura 2003
- Libertadores Cup: 2003
- Intercontinental CupIntercontinental Cup (football)The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
: 20032003 Intercontinental Cup-See also:*Intercontinental Cup*UEFA Champions League*Copa Libertadores*FIFA Club World Cup-External links:*...
Country
- 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...
: 20012001 FIFA World Youth ChampionshipThe 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Argentina between June 17 and July 8, 2001. The 2001 championship was the 13th contested. The tournament took part in six cities, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, Rosario, Salta, and Mar del Plata... - Summer Olympic GamesSummer Olympic GamesThe Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
: 2004Football at the 2004 Summer OlympicsThe football tournament at the 2004 Summer Olympics started on 11 August, , and ended on 28 August.The men's tournament is played by U-23 national teams, with up to three over age players allowed per squad...