Julio Ricardo Cruz
Julio Ricardo Cruz ( born October 10, 1974 in Santiago del Estero, Argentina) is an Argentine football player at the position of a striker. In his career he played for several years in Argentina before he came over Feyenoord Rotterdam to Italy, where he played for FC Bologna, Inter Milan and Lazio at last.
Career
In the club
Cruz began his career in 1993 as a professional football player in the premier league of Argentina at Club Atlético Banfield, after a brief interlude in 1996/97 at River Plate he moved to Europe.
His first European club was 1997-2000 Feyenoord in the Dutch Eredivisie, where he won in 87 league games 44 goals. In the season 1998/99 he won with Feyenoord respectively the Dutch Master Exploder shaft and the Johan Cruyff Schaal.
Since 2000 he plays in Italy; the first three years for the FC Bologna and Inter Milan since 2003. In the first knockout round second leg of the Champions League season 2006/ 07 against FC Valencia came after the final whistle scuffles on the pitch. The riots began after Valencia captain Carlos Marchena had bad kicked in a war of words Nicolás Burdisso in the port. Almost all the players were then involved at the center circle in fisticuffs, including Cruz. Then the Argentines for two games by UEFA was locked.
In the 2007 /08 season he won with Inter Milan, for the third time in a row, the Italian championship. He scored 13 goals in 28 games and was instrumental in the title of Nerazzuri.
On June 10, 2009 Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti announced that the expiring contract of Cruz is not extended. Then he signed a one year contract, with an option for a further year at Lazio.
In the National Team
Cruz announced on February 2, 1997 in a 2-1 win against Bolivia his debut in the Argentine national team. He was part of Argentina's squad at the World Cup 2006 in Germany. Following the resignation on penalties to Germany he got into a palpable bustle and received it a punch by Torsten Frings.
Achievements
As a national player
- Silver medal at the Olympic football tournament: 1996
With its clubs
- Argentine champion: 1996 ( Torneo Apertura ), 1997 ( Torneo Clausura )
- Dutch master: 1999
- Johan Cruyff Schaal: 1999
- Italian Super Cup winner: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009
- Italian Cup Winners: 2004/ 05, 2005/ 06
- Italian Champion: 2005/ 06 * 2006/ 07, 2007/ 08, 2008/ 09
- Scorer in the Coppa Italia: 2008
* Awarded as a result of the Italian football scandal 2005/2006