Role Footballer Date joined 2005 Name Mauricio Pellegrino | 1987–1990 Velez Sarsfield Weight 83 kg 1982–1987 CA Sarmiento Height 1.93 m Siblings Maximiliano Pellegrino | |
 | ||
Full name Mauricio Andres Pellegrino Luna Date of birth (1971-10-05) 5 October 1971 (age 44) Similar People Gabriel Milito, Maximiliano Pellegrino, Jorge Almiron, Alejandro Sabella, Diego Cocca | ||
Mauricio Andrés Pellegrino Luna (born 5 October 1971) is a retired Argentinian footballer who played as a central defender, and is the current manager of English club Southampton.
Contents
- Presentaci n de mauricio pellegrino como dt de independiente
- Early years
- Valencia
- Liverpool Retirement
- International
- Coaching career
- Managerial statistics
- Player
- Manager
- References
After nearly one decade with Vélez Sarsfield, he spent the vast majority of his remaining career in Spain, amassing La Liga totals of 176 games and five goals over the course of eight seasons for three clubs, notably Valencia with which he won three titles (he won nine while in Argentina). He also had a six-month stint with Liverpool.
Pellegrino appeared with Argentina at the 1997 Copa América. After retiring, he embarked on a managerial career.
Presentaci n de mauricio pellegrino como dt de independiente
Early years
Born in Leones, Córdoba, Pellegrino played for Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield during a large portion of the 90s, as the Buenos Aires-based club experienced its golden age, winning four Primeira División championships and the 1994 Intercontinental and Libertadores Cups.
He had his first experience abroad in 1998–99, joining Louis van Gaal's FC Barcelona on loan. He made his La Liga debut on 12 September 1998 in a 1–0 home win against CF Extremadura, and would be used regularly during the campaign, which ended with league conquest.
Valencia
Pellegrino had his best years with another Spanish side, Valencia CF, partnering countryman Roberto Ayala in the heart of the back-four while helping them to two league titles during his tenure, with the addition of the 2003–04 edition of the UEFA Cup.
Arguably his worst moment occurred during the 2000–01 final of the UEFA Champions League as he missed the last penalty shootout attempt against FC Bayern Munich (1–1 after 120 minutes)– he also played in the previous season's decisive match, which also ended in defeat, against Real Madrid (0–3). Overall though, in his six years at the Mestalla Stadium, he was a very important defensive unit, and amassed 213 official appearances for the Che.
Liverpool / Retirement
In early January 2005, after having been frozen out by Claudio Ranieri, Pellegrino joined former Valencia boss Rafael Benítez at Liverpool on a free transfer, signing a six-month contract– this move made him the first Argentine player in the history of the club. He played 12 times for the Reds in the Premier League – 13 overall – but his performances were not enough to secure a longer contract, and he was released by the club at the end of the season.
Afterwards, Pellegrino returned to Spain, having an unassuming stint with Deportivo Alavés (less than half of the matches played, first division relegation).
International
Pellegrino earned three caps for Argentina, all during 1997. He was picked for the squad at that year's Copa América and made his debut in the continental tournament against Ecuador in the group stage.
Coaching career
After retiring in June 2006, Pellegrino stayed connected with Valencia, coaching its Cadete-B (youth team). Two years later he decided to return to Liverpool, who still had Benítez in charge, as first-team coach, a position in which he remained until the middle of 2010 as the pair moved to Inter Milan.
In December 2010, as Benítez resigned from his post, Pellegrino was also dismissed. On 7 May 2012 he was appointed at former club Valencia, signing for two years as a replacement for Unai Emery who left at the end of the season.
On 1 December 2012, following a 2–5 home loss against Real Sociedad which left the side in 12th place, Pellegrino was relieved of his duties. He subsequently returned to his country, signing with Estudiantes de La Plata.
On 14 April 2015, Pellegrino was sacked by president Juan Sebastián Verón. In June, he was appointed at fellow league team Club Atlético Independiente.
Pellegrino returned to Alavés on 26 June 2016, being named José Bordalás's successor as the team had just been promoted to the top flight. In his first season he qualified the team for the final of the Copa del Rey for the first time ever, after a 1–0 aggregate defeat of Celta de Vigo; in the decisive match, played in Madrid, they lost 1–3 to Barcelona.
On 23 June 2017, Pellegrino was appointed first-team manager of Southampton on a three-year contract.