Esteban Cambiasso

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Cambiasso and the second or maternal family name is Deleau.
Esteban Cambiasso

Cambiasso with Argentina in 2011
Personal information
Full name Esteban Matías Cambiasso Deleau
Date of birth (1980-08-18) 18 August 1980
Place of birth Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Playing position Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Olympiacos
Number 19
Youth career
1995–1996 Argentinos Juniors
1996–1998 Real Madrid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2001 Independiente 98 (14)
2001–2002 River Plate 37 (12)
2002–2004 Real Madrid 41 (0)
2004–2014 Inter Milan 315 (41)
2014–2015 Leicester City 33 (5)
2015– Olympiacos 19 (2)
National team
1995 Argentina U17 6 (1)
1997–1999 Argentina U20 11 (3)
2000–2011 Argentina 52 (5)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 October 2016.


Esteban Matías Cambiasso Deleau (born 18 August 1980), nicknamed "Cuchu", is an Argentine footballer who plays for Greek club Olympiacos as a midfielder.

During his professional career, Cambiasso has won 23 official titles (as of the end of 2011), being the Argentine footballer with most honours in history, one more than Alfredo Di Stéfano.[2] The majority of his titles were won during his ten seasons at Inter, including five Scudetti and the 2010 Champions League.

A full international since 2000, Cambiasso won 52 caps for Argentina, and represented the country at the 2006 World Cup, at the 2005 Confederations Cup, and at the Copa América in 2007 and 2011.

Club career

Early career

Cambiasso started his professional career with Argentinos Juniors in 1995, moving to Real Madrid in 1996 along with his brother Nicolás Cambiasso. In 1998, he moved back to Argentina, where he played for three years with Independiente and one with River Plate. During this time, he earned his nickname "Egg in a bun." With some good experience under his belt, he returned to Real Madrid in 2002. He helped Los Blancos win the UEFA Super Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup in 2002, and the Liga and the Supercopa de España in 2003, also reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League that season. Cambiasso also reached the Copa del Rey final the following season.

Inter Milan

In July 2004, Cambiasso signed with Inter Milan after his contract with Real Madrid expired in June.[3] He helped Inter win the Coppa Italia during his first season with the club,[4] playing regularly as a defensive midfielder, partnered in the middle of Inter's midfield with fellow Argentine Juan Sebastián Verón. In Italy, he became known as one of the outstanding players of the 2004–05 season, along with Milan's Kaká.

Cambiasso training for Inter Milan in 2011

During the return match for the final of the 2006 Coppa Italia, Cambiasso scored an impressive goal, the first of the match, for the 3–1 victory over Roma.[5] On 9 September 2006, he scored twice in the opening game of the season, with Inter defeating Fiorentina 3–2. On 7 November 2007, he along with Zlatan Ibrahimović scored a brace apiece to defeat CSKA Moscow 4–2 in the Champions League.[6] On 23 December, Cambiasso netted the winning goal for Inter as they came from behind to defeat city rivals Milan 2–1 in the Derby della Madonnina.[7]

On 23 March 2009, it was announced that Inter and Cambiasso had come to terms about a contract renewal, extending his contract at the club until 2014.[8] He was very important in the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League win as well, scoring the second goal of a 2–1 victory over Chelsea at the San Siro,[9] a result which ultimately helped Inter go on to win the final, 2–0, against Bayern Munich on 22 May 2010.[10] In a Champions League match against FC Twente on 24 November, Cambiasso scored the game's only goal, securing a place in the knockout round for the holders.[11] On 9 January 2011, Cambiasso scored twice as Inter came from a goal down to defeat Catania 2–1.[12]

Cambiasso training with Inter in 2013

Cambiasso received the first red card of his Inter career on 30 March 2013 for a reckless tackle on Sebastian Giovinco; he was suspended for one match.[13] On 22 September 2013, Cambiasso scored Inter's sixth goal in their 7–0 hammering of newly promoted club Sassuolo.[14] Four days later, Cambiasso helped Inter come from a goal down at home to Fiorentina, scoring Inter's first goal in their 2–1 victory. At the end of the 2013–14 season, Cambiasso left Inter as his contract expired and he was not offered an extension. Technical director Piero Ausilio said "He waited for our decision until now, and for that he must be thanked, but I'm convinced that in his future he'll have a role at Inter".[15]

Leicester City

Cambiasso playing for Leicester City in 2015

On 28 August 2014, Cambiasso signed a one-year deal with newly promoted Leicester City, joining on a free transfer, having been released by Inter Milan at the end of their 2013–14 season.[16][17] In his first interview since joining the club, Cambiasso cited the club's desperate pursuit of him and the lure of Premier League football as the reasons he signed.[18] He was called up for his first game three days after signing, a 1–1 draw at the King Power Stadium against Arsenal, as an unused substitute.[19] Cambiasso made his debut for Leicester on 13 September against Stoke City, coming on as a half-time substitute and impressing in the club's 1–0 win, their first of the league season.[20] His first goal was an equaliser as Leicester beat Manchester United 5–3 at home after trailing 1–3 with 30 minutes to play.[21] Cambiasso scored his second goal of the season, an opener in 4th minute following an assist from Leonardo Ulloa, in a 3–2 loss against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.[22] That was Leicester's first goal in 504 minutes without scoring, or 56 days.[23][24] On 4 April 2015, Cambiasso gave Leicester a 12th-minute lead against West Ham United in a game that the Foxes would go on to win 2–1, their first league victory in eight matches, stretching back to 10 January 2015.[25] This started a run of seven wins and one draw from Leicester's final nine Premier League fixtures, with the team finishing 14th in the table.[26]

On 18 May 2015, at Leicester City's annual awards, Cambiasso's impressive performances over the course of the season saw him pick up the Player of the Year award, as voted by the club's supporters.[27] On 24 May, Cambiasso scored in a 5–1 defeat of Queens Park Rangers in Leicester's final match of the Premier League season.[26]

On 21 July 2015, it was announced that Cambiasso had been offered a new deal by the club, but turned the contract down, and he would be leaving the club.[28]

Olympiacos

In August 2015, Cambiasso signed a two-year deal with Greek giants Olympiacos.[29] On 2 December 2015, he scored his first goal with his new club in a 4–0 away win against Panegialios for Greek Cup. On 11 July 2016 he renewed his contract with the Greek champions.[30]

International career

Esteban Cambiasso during a friendly match between Argentina and Portugal in Geneva, Switzerland on 9 February 2011

Cambiasso first represented Argentina in the youth squads, along with national teammates Juan Román Riquelme, Pablo Aimar, Walter Samuel, and others. He was in the squads for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, where he scored the first goal in the final even though he was the youngest player on the squad, and captained the team during the 1999 edition.

Cambiasso made his senior national debut in 2000 for Argentina. He participated in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup with his national side, a tournament in which Argentina reached the final. On 15 May 2006, he was named in the Argentine national team for the 2006 World Cup.[31] On 16 June, he capped a 24-pass Argentine interplay with a finish to score the second goal in a 6–0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro.[32] In the quarter-finals match against Germany on 30 June 2006, the match went into penalties, where Cambiasso had his penalty kick saved, resulting in Argentina losing 4–2 and Germany progressing to the semi-final.[33] The following year, he represented his country at the 2007 Copa América, where Argentina reached the final, losing out to South American rivals Brazil.

Since Diego Maradona took over as Argentina coach, Cambiasso was only called-up once to the national team for a friendly game on 14 November 2009 against Spain,[34] despite continuing to play a vital role for Inter in their treble-winning season, and re-affirming his status as one of Europe's best central midfielders. On 12 May 2010, Cambiasso and Inter teammate Javier Zanetti were controversially left out of the 30-man provisional 2010 World Cup squad for Argentina.[35]

On 20 August 2010, new Argentina coach Sergio Batista recalled Esteban Cambiasso to the national team for the friendly against newly crowned world champions Spain. Argentina handed Spain their first defeat since becoming world champions two months prior, earning a resounding 4–1 win in a friendly at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.[36] Cambiasso also played for Argentina in the 2011 Copa América on home soil, where they were eliminated by eventual champions Uruguay, on penalties, in the quarter-finals.

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 21 June 2005 Frankenstadion, Nuremberg, Germany  Germany 2 – 2 2–2 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup[37]
2. 16 June 2006 WM Stadion Gelsenkirchen, Gelsenkirchen, Germany  Serbia and Montenegro 2 – 0 6–0 2006 FIFA World Cup[38]
3. 5 June 2007 Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain  Algeria 3 – 2 4–3 Friendly[39]
4. 10 September 2008 Estadio Monumental "U", Lima, Peru  Peru 1 – 0 1–1 2010 World Cup qualifying[40]
5. 26 March 2011 New Meadowlands Stadium, East Rutherford, United States  United States 1 – 0 1–1 Friendly[41]

Playing style

Cambiasso is a complete, versatile, consistent, and modern footballer, who possesses acute tactical intelligence, and who is capable of playing in several midfield and defensive positions; although predominantly a central, box-to-box, or defensive midfielder, he has also been deployed as a playmaking sweeper on occasion.[42] A strong, left footed player, he is gifted with stamina, good technique, passing range and vision, attributes which allow him to distribute the ball and create chances for team mates.[43][44] In his prime, he was also a quick and hard-working player who was effective defensively thanks to his strong tackling ability; after winning back possession, he was also capable of then initiating attacking plays or scoring goals himself, courtesy of his creative and offensive attributes.[43][44][45]

Eurosport said about Cambiasso, when José Mourinho was still managing Inter, "There is nothing glamorous about the bald Argentine, but he is the heartbeat of the Inter side that have become the dominant force in Italian football. Just the kind of determined, hard-running midfielder José Mourinho loves. Originally a destroyer, the 29-year-old has become increasingly adventurous from an offensive standpoint, and weighs in with six to eight goals per season.[46]

Goal.com said, "All in all, this player is one of the greatest players to have ever pulled an Inter shirt on and to grace the pitch in the Serie A. He is an intelligent midfielder, who has the capacity to change the shape of a game off his own boot. He is one of the most influential midfielders in Italian football, and for that reason and many more, he will certainly be remembered as one of the most talented players of all time."[47]

Personal life

Esteban Cambiasso in a picture taken by a fan

Cambiasso has a daughter and a son. On 22 November 2008, his wife Claudia gave birth to their daughter Victoria before Cambiasso's match against Juventus.[48] After Inter won the Derby d'Italia, Cambiasso dedicated the win to his daughter.[49] His son Dante was born on 24 September 2013.[50] Two days later, Cambiasso scored a goal against Fiorentina and dedicated it to his family.[51]

Among the early family members who settled in Buenos Aires, his ancestor Antonio Cambiaso was the founder of Buenos Aires' Villa del Parque district in 1908.[52] [53]

Career statistics

Club statistics

As of 30 October 2016.[54][55]

Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Argentina League Cup South America Total
1998–99IndependientePrimera División273273
1999–00366366
2000–01355355
2001–02River PlatePrimera División37123712
Spain League Copa del Rey Europe Total
2002–03Real MadridLa Liga24050100390
2003–041704150261
Italy League Coppa Italia Europe Total
2004–05Inter MilanSerie A30230110442
2005–0634531100476
2006–072134121275
2007–083362082438
2008–093543180465
2009–1030340121464
2010–113074071418
2011–123742081475
2012–1333300131464
2013–1432410—334
England League Cup Europe Total
2014–15Leicester CityPremier League31520—335
Greece League Cup Europe Total
2015–16OlympiacosSuperleague Greece1423240214
2016–17500071121
Country Argentina 1352613526
Spain 41091150651
Italy 3154126379742051
England 31520—335
Greece 19232111335
Total 54174406105868688

International statistics

As of 7 July 2011.[56]
Argentina national team
YearAppsGoals
200010
200100
200200
200350
200440
2005101
200671
2007131
200851
200910
201020
201141
Total525

Honours

Club

Cambiasso (front) celebrates Inter's 16th Serie A title in 2008
Real Madrid
Inter Milan
Olympiacos

International

Argentina

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Barclays Premier League Player Profile Esteban Cambiasso". web page. Premier League. 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "Cambiasso, un ganador". Cancha Llena (in Spanish). 18 December 2010. Retrieved 18 December 2010.
  3. ↑ "Cambiasso signs Inter deal". Sky Sports. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "INTER – LE VITTORIE IN COPPA ITALIA". Internazionale (in Italian). Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Inter 3–1 Roma". Internazionale. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "Inter comeback eliminates CSKA". UEFA. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "Internazionale vs. Milan 2–1". Soccerway. 23 December 2007. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "Official: Esteban Cambiasso Signs New Deal With Inter". Goal. 23 March 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Chelsea suffered a first leg defeat to former boss Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan in their Champions League last 16 tie.". BBC Sport. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Jose Mourinho wrote his name into the history books as Diego Milito inspired Inter Milan to Champions League glory against Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu.". BBC Sport. 22 May 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "Cambiasso strike takes Inter into knockout stage". UEFA. 24 November 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  12. ↑ "Catania 1–2 Inter: Esteban Cambiasso Brace Completes Comeback For Leonardo's Second Successive Victory". Goal. 9 January 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "Cambiasso suspended for one match". ESPN FC. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "Sassuolo 0–7 Inter: Nerazzurri storm to rampant win". Goal. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  15. ↑ Carminati, Nadi (18 May 2014). "Transfer news: Inter confirm Esteban Cambiasso will leave San Siro at end of season". Sky Sports News. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "Esteban Cambiasso Signs For Leicester City". Leicester City F.C. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  17. ↑ "Transfer news: Leicester sign Esteban Cambiasso on one-year contract". Sky Sports. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  18. ↑ "Esteban Cambiasso says lure of the Premier League behind decision to join Leicester City". Telegraph. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  19. ↑ Whalley, Mike (31 August 2014). "Leicester 1–1 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  20. ↑ "Leonardo Ulloa scored his third goal of the season to earn Nigel Pearson's Leicester side their first win since they returned to the Premier League.". BBC Sport. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  21. ↑ "Leicester 5–3 Man Utd". BBC Sport. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  22. ↑ "QPR 3-2 Leicester: Charlie Austin winner ensures his side moves off of the bottom as Harry Redknapp's side edge five-goal thriller". Daily Mail. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  23. ↑ "QPR 3-2 Leicester: Match Report". Football.co.uk. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  24. ↑ "QPR's Charlie Austin supplies a lift as Leicester City hit the skids". The Guardian. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  25. ↑ "Leicester City 2 - 1 West Ham United". BBC Sport. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  26. 1 2 "Leicester 5-1 QPR". BBC. 24 May 2015.
  27. 1 2 "Esteban Cambiasso Named Leicester City Player Of The Year". Leicester City. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  28. ↑ "Esteban Cambiasso announces he is leaving Leicester City". Sky Sports. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  29. ↑ "Cambiasso signs Olympiacos deal". Olympiacos.org. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  30. ↑ "Contract extension of Esteban Cambiasso". Olympiacos.org. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  31. ↑ "World Cup 2006: Argentina". BBC Sport. 28 December 2006. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  32. ↑ "World Cup's Greatest Goals: Esteban Cambiasso (2006, ARGENTINA vs. Serbia and Montenegro)". ESPNFC. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  33. ↑ "Germany beat Argentina 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out after a tense quarter-final in Berlin ended 1–1 after extra-time.". BBC Sport. 30 June 2006. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  34. ↑ "Spain reign supreme despite Argentina's rough and tumble". The Guardian. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  35. ↑ "Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso out of Argentina World Cup squad". The Guardian. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  36. ↑ "Coloccini fails to make cut for Argentina party". BBC Sport. BBC. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
  37. ↑ "Argentina – Germany 2:2 (1:1)". FIFA. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  38. ↑ "Argentina 6–0 Serbia & Montenegro". BBC Sport. 16 June 2006. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  39. ↑ "UPDATE 1-Soccer-Messi inspires Argentina to 4–3 win over Algeria". Reuters. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  40. ↑ "Fano selló el 1–1 de Perú frente a Argentina en el último minuto". Peru 21 (in Spanish). 10 September 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  41. ↑ "U.S. Men's National Team Earns 1–1 Draw with Argentina at New Meadowlands Stadium". US Soccer. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  42. ↑ "Cambiasso fa il Chivu nella difesa a tre. Coutinho..." (in Italian). F.C.InterNews.it. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  43. 1 2 "Cambiasso, da Serra Riccò al centrocampo nerazzurro" (in Italian). Il Giornale. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  44. 1 2 "Champions, l'Inter non tradisce" (in Italian). Mediaset. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  45. ↑ "Inter: Il nostro idolo Esteban Cambiasso". interclubcambiassotaranto.it (in Italian). Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  46. ↑ "Top 50 players: 40–31 – Yahoo! Eurosport UK". Uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  47. ↑ Editorial (31 December 2008). "The Goal.com 50: Esteban Cambiasso (29)". Goal.com. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  48. ↑ Inter.it staff, inter(a t)inter.it (22 November 2008). "F.C. Internazionale Milano". Inter.it. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  49. ↑ Inter.it staff, inter(a t)inter.it (22 November 2008). "F.C. Internazionale Milano". Inter.it. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  50. ↑ Inter.it staff, inter(a t)inter.it (24 September 2013). "F.C. Internazionale Milano". Inter.it. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  51. ↑ Inter.it staff, inter(a t)inter.it (26 September 2013). "F.C. Internazionale Milano". Inter.it. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  52. ↑ "Suggellato il gemellaggio tra Serra Riccò e Villa del Parque" (PDF). ligurinelmondo.it (in Italian). March 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  53. ↑ "Cambiasso, da Serra Riccò al centrocampo nerazzurro". ilgiornale.it (in Italian). 11 March 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  54. ↑ "Argentina – E. Cambiasso". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  55. ↑ "Esteban Cambiasso". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  56. ↑ Esteban Cambiasso at National-Football-Teams.com
  57. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "E. Cambiasso Summary: Trophies". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  58. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Esteban Cambiasso". UEFA. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  59. ↑ "XIX Sudamericano Juvenil 1999 (Argentina)". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  60. ↑ "ESM XI – 2005/06 Season XI". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  61. ↑ Inter.it staff, inter(a t)inter.it (17 November 2006). "F.C. Internazionale Milano". Inter.it. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  62. ↑ http://www.fifpro.org/en/news/55-players-shortlisted-for-fifa-fifpro-world-xi-2010
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