Gabriel Milito
Gabriel Milito in February 2011
Gabriel Alejandro Milito (born 7 September 1980 in Bernal ) is a former Argentine footballer Calabrian descent and is the brother of Diego Milito.
Clubs
Emerged from the youth of CA Independiente, Milito moved in 1997 into the first team, and was active for this to 2003. In 2002 he won with Independiente the Apertura Tournament at the Argentine Football Championship and was also voted Footballer of the Year.
In 2003 he moved to Spain with first division side Real Zaragoza, with whom he both the Spanish Club and then won the Spanish Super Cup in 2004. From the 2005/06 season played Gabriel in Zaragoza together with his brother Diego. On 11 July 2007, Gabriel Milito moved for about 20 million euros to FC Barcelona, with whom he signed a four year contract and receives four million euros.
A in the semi-final of the Champions League 2007 /08 against Manchester United suffered cruciate ligament damage, forced him into the 2008/ 09 season - as Barcelona won the Triple - to pause.
His first league game after this lengthy injury Milito completed on 10 January 2010 ( 17th Round ) in the 5-0 away win against CD Tenerife, as he came on in the 85th minute for Carles Puyol. In the 2009/10 season Milito played ten more league bets and five appearances in the UEFA Champions League.
A day after winning the championship in 2010 he extended his contract with Barcelona until 2012.
5 August 2011 it was announced that Milito will return to his hometown club CA Independiente. In Barcelona he won 10 titles in four years, but has recently been behind Carles Puyol, Gerard Piqué and Javier Mascherano only the number 4 in the center of defense.
On 12 June 2012, he announced his retirement from professional football.
National
After Milito was used for the U-20 national team, he made his debut on 20 December 2000 in Los Angeles a 2-0 victory over the selection of Mexico. He scored his first international goal on 17 October 2007 as part of the qualification for the 2010 World Cup. 2-0 victory over Venezuela in Maracaibo, he scored the 1-0. The two-footed central defender took part in both the Confederations Cup in 2005, and at the 2006 World Cup.
Achievements
Clubs
- Spanish Champion 2010, 2011
- Spanish Cup winners in 2004
- Spanish Super Cup winners 2004
- Champions League winners in 2009, 2011
- Argentine Champion 2002 (Apertura)
National
- Finalist in the South American Championship 2007
- FIFA World Cup 2006
- U-20 South American champions in 1999
Awards
- Argentine Footballer of the Year 2002
Others
He is the younger brother of Diego Milito, who plays for Inter Milan. In the 2009/10 season, both played in the Champions League semi-final against each other; a first in the history of football.