Roberto Ayala

Roberto Fabián Ayala (born 14 April 1973 in Paraná ) is a retired Argentine football player who during his playing career for Ferro Carril Oeste, CA River Plate, Napoli, AC Milan, FC Valencia, Villarreal, Real Zaragoza and Racing Club Avellaneda played. With AC Milan he won the Scudetto in 1999, with the Valencia Ayala won in 2002 and 2004, the Spanish championship.

Career

In the club

Ayala played early in his career for Ferro Carril Oeste (1991-1994) and then the CA River Plate (1994-1995 ). After the season 1994/95 he moved to Europe to Napoli (1995-1998 ) and then to AC Milan ( 1998-2000). As the first Argentine since more than 30 years at AC Milan, he often sat on the bench. In the first season at Milan he was used 13 times, a total of Ayala completed in the Milanese 24 games. With AC Milan he won in the 1998/99 season, the Italian Cup, the Scudetto. In summer 2000, he signed for a fee of 6.5 million euros a three-year contract with FC Valencia and was by his outstanding performances guarantee that Valencia conceded just 34 goals in 38 games. In the final of the UEFA Champions League in the 2000/ 01 season the Valencia defeated with Ayala Bayern Munich on penalties. In the previous year, it had already penetrated without Ayala to the finals, but there failed to Real Madrid. The following year, Ayala won with Valencia, the Spanish Cup and the Spanish Cup. In February 2007, he made his move to the new season known and signed with FC Villarreal a contract until 2010. In July 2007, Real Zaragoza took advantage of a clause in Ayala's contract, according to which he can go for 6 million Euros immediately. On February 2, 2010 Ayala returned to the home to Racing Club Avellaneda, after he had terminated his contract with Zaragoza. End of December 2010, he announced end of his career.

In the National Team

For the Argentine national football team Ayala debuted in November 1994. Through the years became Ayala in the national team of Argentina to be a major player.

He played in the 1998 World Cup, where he received his penalty certainly turned in the second round against England and after five games with Argentina was eliminated in the quarterfinals. In the 2002 World Cup to Ayala injured while warming up before the first game against Nigeria. In 2004, he won a penalty shootout with Argentina at the Olympic Games gold medal.

In the 2006 World Cup in Germany he failed with Argentina in the quarter- final against hosts Germany with 3:5 on penalties. Esteban Cambiasso addition Roberto Ayala missed a penalty against Jens Lehmann. Ayala shoots his penalty regularly after previous long starting in the seen of him from right corner, which Lehmann knew. Due to his good performances during the tournament, he was accepted by FIFA in the All-Star team in the world championship.

In July 2007, Ayala announced his retirement from the national team.

Achievements / Title

As a national player

  • Second place in the Confederations Cup: 1995
  • Gold medal at the Pan Play: 1995
  • Silver medal at the Olympic football tournament: 1996
  • Second place in the Copa América: 2004, 2007

With its clubs

  • Argentine champion: 1994 ( Torneo Apertura )
  • Italian Champion: 1999
  • Spanish Champion: 2002, 2004
  • UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 2004
  • UEFA Super Cup winner: 2004

Awards

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