Player of the Day - Roberto Ayala
Monday, 24. July 2006, 07:41:17
Roberto Fabián Ayala is an Argentinian soccer player, who currently plays for the Spanish team Valencia. He plays in central defence. At club level, Ayala has played for Ferrocarril Oeste (1991-94), River Plate (1994-95), Napoli (1995-98), and Milan (1998-2000).
Ayala played for Argentina at the 1996 Summer Olympics, winning the silver medal. He played for Argentina in the 1998 World Cup and was a non-playing squad member in the 2002 competition due a last minute injury. He was then selected as an over-age player as Argentina won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Ayala was also named to the Argentine squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, but unfortunately, he missed a penalty in the quarter-final shootout against Germany.
Playing for Valencia, he reached the final of the 2001 UEFA Champions League, but lost the match to Bayern Munich on penalties. The next year, Valencia won the 2001-02 Spanish La Liga but once again lost in the final of the Champions League, getting beaten by Real Madrid. In the 2003-04 season, Valencia once again won the Spanish La Liga and added the UEFA Cup to their trophy cabinet. In the 2004-05 season a number of injuries kept Ayala from playing in much of the Liga campaign and he also missed out on the UEFA Super Cup 2004 victory over Porto. In his absence Valencia's results suffered.
Ayala is regarded as one of the best central defenders in the world. He is a leader and until recently was the captain of his national side.
PROFILE:
Full name: Roberto Fabián Ayala
DOB: April 14, 1973
Birthplace: Parana, Argentina
Nationality: Argentinian
EU passport: No
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Club: Valencia CF
Position: Defender [C]
Number: 4
Contract Expires: ?
Previous Clubs: Ferrocarril Oeste > River Plate > Napoli > Milan > Valencia
International debut: November 1994, v Chile
Caps: 100
Goals: 6
World Cups: France 1998, Japan-Korea 2002, Germany 2006
Palmares:
Ayala played for Argentina at the 1996 Summer Olympics, winning the silver medal. He played for Argentina in the 1998 World Cup and was a non-playing squad member in the 2002 competition due a last minute injury. He was then selected as an over-age player as Argentina won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Ayala was also named to the Argentine squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, but unfortunately, he missed a penalty in the quarter-final shootout against Germany.
Playing for Valencia, he reached the final of the 2001 UEFA Champions League, but lost the match to Bayern Munich on penalties. The next year, Valencia won the 2001-02 Spanish La Liga but once again lost in the final of the Champions League, getting beaten by Real Madrid. In the 2003-04 season, Valencia once again won the Spanish La Liga and added the UEFA Cup to their trophy cabinet. In the 2004-05 season a number of injuries kept Ayala from playing in much of the Liga campaign and he also missed out on the UEFA Super Cup 2004 victory over Porto. In his absence Valencia's results suffered.
Ayala is regarded as one of the best central defenders in the world. He is a leader and until recently was the captain of his national side.
PROFILE:Full name: Roberto Fabián Ayala
DOB: April 14, 1973
Birthplace: Parana, Argentina
Nationality: Argentinian
EU passport: No
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Club: Valencia CF
Position: Defender [C]
Number: 4
Contract Expires: ?
Previous Clubs: Ferrocarril Oeste > River Plate > Napoli > Milan > Valencia
International debut: November 1994, v Chile
Caps: 100
Goals: 6
World Cups: France 1998, Japan-Korea 2002, Germany 2006
Palmares:
- Olympic Games (04)
- UEFA Cup (04)
- European Super Cup (04)
- Argentinian Torneo de Apertura (94)
- Italian Serie A (99)
- Spanish Liga Primera (02, 04)
WIDGETIZE