Playing position Role Footballer Years Team Height 1.74 m | 1993–1994 Argentinos Juniors Position Defender Name Mauricio Taricco | |
Full name Mauricio Ricardo Taricco Date of birth (1973-03-10) 10 March 1973 (age 42) Place of birth Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||
Mauricio taricco ipswich legend
Mauricio Ricardo Taricco (born 10 March 1973) is an Argentine former professional footballer who is currently assistant coach at Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua.
Contents
- Mauricio taricco ipswich legend
- Argentinos Juniors
- Ipswich Town
- Tottenham Hotspur
- West Ham United
- AS Villasimius
- Brighton Hove Albion
- Sunderland
- Shanghai Greenland Shenhua
- References
As a player, he was a defender who initially played from 1993 to 2004. He began his career in his native Argentina for Argentinos Juniors before transferring to England where he spent the next 10 years representing Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United. He suffered a hamstring injury on his debut for West Ham and agreed to tear up his contract after the game, after initially retiring following the injury he came out of retirement a year later playing for lower league Italian side A.S. Villasimius before later joining Brighton & Hove Albion as player/assistant manager to Gus Poyet in 2010. He retired for the second time at the end of the 2012–13 season and would go on to follow Poyet to Sunderland, AEK Athens and Real Betis during the following seasons.
Argentinos Juniors
Taricco began his football career at Argentinos Juniors in Buenos Aires in 1993, he came through the club's famous youth team to make his first team debut in 1993. After only one season in the first team he signed with FIFA agent Marcelo Houseman who made the transfer to Ipswich Town in England.
Ipswich Town
Taricco arrived at Ipswich Town from Argentinos Juniors for around £150,000 in September 1994, making his debut soon after in a 3–0 home defeat by Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup. His league debut did not arrive until the following season, in a 0–0 draw at West Bromwich Albion in Division One on 26 August 1995. Taricco quickly made an impression as a solid defender blessed with immaculate passing ability and considerable attacking flair, and he went on to make 47 appearances that season. Taricco began 1996–97 with his first goal for Ipswich in a 5–2 win over Reading. His burgeoning talent earned him the supporters vote for player of the year, and he confirmed his popularity with a goal against rivals Norwich City on the evening that he collected the award. Ipswich's 2–0 victory that night went a long way towards securing their place in the play-offs. There they were edged out by Sheffield United and Taricco's disappointment was clear to see. Taricco made another 53 appearances as Ipswich missed out in the play-offs again in 1997–98. An eventful season saw them enjoy a thrilling League Cup run, in which Taricco scored against both Manchester United – a superb long-range, curling effort – and Chelsea. Continued good form at the start of 1998–99, which included a spectacular goal following a run from inside his own half against Crystal Palace, caught the attention of Tottenham Hotspur, whose bid of £1.775m Ipswich found impossible to refuse. His final game for the club turned out to be a 2–0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 3 November 1998, when he was stretchered off in the last few minutes.
Tottenham Hotspur
He transferred to Tottenham Hotspur in 1998 for £1.75 million, becoming George Graham's first signing at the club. Taricco was a regular in the first team for much of the time he spent at the club. His debut came against Wimbledon which ended goalless, with his full debut against Middlesbrough also ending in a 0–0 draw. He went on to make 158 appearances for Spurs, scoring two goals. He was cup-tied for their victory in the 1999 Football League Cup Final.
West Ham United
He left Spurs in 2004 after falling out of favour with new manager Jacques Santini. West Ham United manager Alan Pardew signed him on a free transfer on 19 November and stated that he was very pleased that Taricco was at the club. However, his West Ham career was short-lived as he tore his hamstring 27 minutes into his debut against Millwall only two days after signing. It would have had him sidelined for eight weeks. On 25 November, he offered to have his contract with the club cancelled, which the club accepted, marking Taricco's retirement from professional football. At the time Pardew commented that it was one of the most honest things he had ever known a footballer to do.
A.S. Villasimius
Tarrico then moved to Italy and played in the minor leagues, where he captained A.S. Villasimius. He played for the club for four years before retiring from football in 2009.
Brighton & Hove Albion
On 10 November 2009, it was announced that Taricco would be assistant manager to Gus Poyet at English team Brighton & Hove Albion. After not playing at a professional level for six years he started at left back for an FA Cup clash against Woking. Taricco was sent off for a second bookable offence after 105 minutes. Brighton went on to win the game on penalties. Taricco once again retired from professional football on 3 October 2011. He came back out of retirement when he played against Birmingham City on 29 October. Taricco was sent off again, this time receiving a straight red card, during the 3–0 away defeat to Championship League leaders Southampton on 19 November. When manager Poyet left the club in June 2013, Taricco also left his position.
Sunderland
On 8 October 2013, Taricco joined Sunderland, again as assistant manager to Poyet. When Poyet was sacked on 16 March 2015 after a poor run of results, Taricco also left the club.
Shanghai Greenland Shenhua
On 29 November 2016, Taricco joined Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, still again as assistant coach to Poyet.