Full name Claudio Javier Lopez Weight 77 kg Years Team Height 1.78 m | Role Footballer Name Claudio Lopez Position Forward | |
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Date of birth (1974-07-17) 17 July 1974 (age 41) Nominations MLS Newcomer of the Year Award Similar People Roberto Ayala, Hernan Crespo, Ariel Ortega, Jose Chamot, Diego Simeone | ||
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The story of claudio lopez
Claudio Javier López ([ˈklauðjo ˈlopes], born 17 July 1974) is a retired Argentine footballer who played as a forward.
Contents
- The story of claudio lopez
- Early career
- Europe
- Mexico return to Racing
- Major League Soccer
- International career
- Style of play
- Honours
- Media
- References
Early career
López began his professional career with Estudiantes de La Plata in his native Argentina in 1990 as a 16-year-old. However, he moved to Racing the next year, where he would remain until he transferred in 1996 to Spanish club Valencia.
Europe
López remained with Valencia for five years, helping the team to be runner-up in the UEFA Champions League in the 1999–2000 season, when he was transferred to Lazio of Serie A for a sum of 35 million Euro. He was partnered with compatriot Hernán Crespo in the front-line. Unfortunately, López suffered from injury problems while at Lazio and was unable to fulfil the hopes that accompanied him, but Lazio fans still hold him in high regard because he scored beautiful goals. While in Lazio, in the UEFA Champions League season 2000–2001, he scored an Olympic goal (goal direct from a corner-kick) against Anderlecht in the Roman Olympic Stadium.
Mexico, return to Racing
López joined Club América for the 2004 Apertura, where he played in 17 games, scoring four goals. The following season, Clausura 2005 brought better results, with López scoring a total of 14 goals overall and helping the team to its tenth League championship in its history. It was his first and only league championship with any team. Claudio was instrumental to the team's success, also helping them win the CONCACAF Champions' Cup by scoring two goals in the Final over Tecos UAG. He played the Fifa Club World Cup in 2006.
In 2007 López returned to Racing, 11 years after his departure from the club, and the country. In most of those games, usually coming in as a late sub, López scored several important goals.
Major League Soccer
On 7 March 2008, it was announced López had signed with the Kansas City Wizards on a free transfer. López fell under the league's designated player qualification, which means only the first $415,000 of his salary counted against Kansas City Wizards’ team salary cap. He later had his contract restructured to take him below designated player status. He scored on his debut for Kansas City against D.C. United on 29 March 2008.
On 23 February 2010 the Argentine striker left after two seasons Kansas City Wizards. "We would have liked to have Claudio back in 2010, but unfortunately it became clear early in the contract negotiations that we could not give him what he desired," Wizards Manager Peter Vermes said.
López was later signed by league rivals Colorado Rapids on 2 April 2010.
After the 2010 MLS season Colorado declined López's contract option and Lopez elected to participate in the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft. López became a free agent in Major League Soccer when he was not selected in the Re-Entry draft.
International career
López had a distinguished career with Argentina. After winning a silver medal with the Under-23 team during the 1996 Summer Olympics, López made appearances in both the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He scored a goal against the Netherlands in the 1998 FIFA World Cup quarter-final, when he kicked the ball between Edwin van der Sar's legs to tie the match temporarily, although Argentina were ultimately defeated 2–1.
Style of play
A talented, hardworking, and well-rounded forward, with notable tactical intelligence and versatility, López was capable of playing anywhere along the front-line, as a striker, in a supporting role, and on the wing. He was highly regarded for his pace, technique, and dribbling skills, as well as his powerful striking ability with his left foot. He was also an effective set-piece and penalty taker. Throughout his career, he was known by the nickname "El Piojo", meaning "the louse".
Honours
Media
López was sponsored by sportswear company Nike and appeared in Nike commercials. In a global Nike advertising campaign in the run-up to the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, he starred in a "Secret Tournament" commercial (branded "Scopion KO") directed by Terry Gilliam, appearing alongside football players such as Thierry Henry, Ronaldo, Edgar Davids, Fabio Cannavaro, Francesco Totti, Ronaldinho, Luís Figo and Hidetoshi Nakata, with former player Eric Cantona the tournament "referee".