Walter Gaitán

Walter Gaitán
Personal information
Full name Walter Nicolás Gaitán Sayavedra
Date of birth (1977-03-13) March 13, 1977
Place of birth La Rioja, Argentina
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Attacking Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1998 Rosario Central 22 (6)
1998–2000 Villarreal CF 48 (7)
2001–2002 Boca Juniors 32 (12)
2002–2007 Tigres UANL 179 (80)
2008–2010 Necaxa 18 (3)
2010 Veracruz 4 (0)
2011 Los Angeles Blues 7 (4)
2011–2012 Atlético Rafaela 12 (1)
2013 Monterrey Flash (indoor) 1 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 November 2013 (UTC).


This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Gaitán and the second or maternal family name is Sayavedra.

Walter Nicolás Gaitán Sayavedra (March 13, 1977) is a retired Argentine professional footballer.

An attacking midfielder, Gaitán was known for his vision on the pitch, passing, powerful left shot and a classy ball control. Nicknamed Divino (Spanish for Divine), Gaitán played his best seasons with Liga MX club Tigres UANL.

Career

Argentina and Spain

Gaitán began his career in Argentina with Rosario Central in 1997. He left the team in 1998 and moved 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 UANL qualified for the Copa Libertadores, he wore the shirt of Rosario Central at the celebration.

Mexico

Gaitán moved to Mexico for the 2002 Apertura tournament, signing with Tigres UANL of the Primera División (First Division). After scoring four goals in 15 games in his first season, Gaitán scored eight in the 2003 Clausura. Considered as one of the top midfielders in the Mexican league since his arrival, he became 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 decades. 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 100 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 2 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 announced the incorporation of Gaitán to the squad, along with Omar “El Gato” Ortiz Uribe and Juan José de la Cruz Ortiz. In 2010, Gaitán played briefly for Veracruz.

United States

In February 2011, Gaitán was officially introduced to the squad for the Los Angeles Blues of the USL Pro.[1]

Personal life

Gaitán has many nicknames. Nationally, most important television networks 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 Sports FIFA games, he is nicknamed "Mago" (Magician), to replace "El Divino". He is also called "Elegante" (The Fancy One).

Titles

Season Club Title
2001Argentina Boca Juniors Copa Libertadores
2004Mexico Tigres Mexican league top scorer
2005Mexico Tigres Interliga 2005
2006Mexico Tigres Interliga 2006

References

  1. ↑ http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4158205
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