Leandro Romagnoli
Encyclopedia
Leandro Atilio Romagnoli (born 17 March 1981 in Buenos Aires
) is an Argentine
footballer who plays for San Lorenzo de Almagro in the Argentine first division.
Mainly an attacking midfielder, his thin build, short stature and playing style are reminiscent of compatriot Osvaldo Ardiles
. What Romagnoli – nickname
d Pipi – lacks in physical strength, he makes up for with dribbling ability.
In January 2005, Romagnoli signed with Mexico
's CD Veracruz but, in the same month of the following year, he was on the move again, now to Sporting Clube de Portugal, first on loan. The player initially found it difficult to adjust to the faster pace and more physical approach in Europe
. However, Romagnoli came into his own in the 2006–07 season, in a superb end-of-season run for both club and player; the move was made permanent in that summer.
After having appeared in only 16 matches in 2008–09, being out of favour with manager Paulo Bento
, Romagnoli left the club in early August 2009 to join San Lorenzo. He quickly established himself as a key player for his first professional team, but ended up only making 15 appearances in an injury-hit season.
that won the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship
. He made his debut with the full side
against the United States
, on 8 February 2003, playing 12 minutes in a 1–0 friendly win.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
) is an Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
footballer who plays for San Lorenzo de Almagro in the Argentine first division.
Mainly an attacking midfielder, his thin build, short stature and playing style are reminiscent of compatriot Osvaldo Ardiles
Osvaldo Ardiles
Osvaldo César Ardiles , often referred to in Britain as Ossie Ardiles, is a football coach, pundit and former midfielder who won the 1978 World Cup as part of the Argentine national team...
. What Romagnoli – nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d Pipi – lacks in physical strength, he makes up for with dribbling ability.
Club career
Romagnoli made his professional debuts in December 1998, aged 17, with Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro. By his second season, he was an automatic first-choice, and went on appear in roughly 200 overall matches for the club.In January 2005, Romagnoli signed with Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
's CD Veracruz but, in the same month of the following year, he was on the move again, now to Sporting Clube de Portugal, first on loan. The player initially found it difficult to adjust to the faster pace and more physical approach in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. However, Romagnoli came into his own in the 2006–07 season, in a superb end-of-season run for both club and player; the move was made permanent in that summer.
After having appeared in only 16 matches in 2008–09, being out of favour with manager Paulo Bento
Paulo Bento
Paulo Jorge Gomes Bento is a retired Portuguese footballer, and the current manager of Portugal.A defensive midfielder with tackling ability and workrate as his main assets, he played for two of the major three teams in his country, also playing four years in Spain...
, Romagnoli left the club in early August 2009 to join San Lorenzo. He quickly established himself as a key player for his first professional team, but ended up only making 15 appearances in an injury-hit season.
International career
Romagnoli was part of the Argentina under-20 teamArgentina national under-20 football team
The Argentina national under-20 football team is the representative of Argentina in FIFA sponsored tournaments that pertain to that age level....
that won the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship
2001 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Argentina between June 17 and July 8, 2001. The 2001 championship was the 13th contested. The tournament took part in six cities, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, Rosario, Salta, and Mar del Plata...
. He made his debut with the full side
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
against the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, on 8 February 2003, playing 12 minutes in a 1–0 friendly win.
Club
- Argentine League: ClausuraApertura and ClausuraThe Apertura and Clausura tournaments are a relatively recent innovation for many Latin American football leagues in which the traditional European football season from August to May is divided in two sections per season, each with its own champion. Apertura and Clausura are the Spanish words for...
2001 - Mercosur CupCopa MercosurThe Copa Mercosur was a football competition played from 1998 to 2001 by the traditional top clubs from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile. The competition was created by CONMEBOL to generate TV money to the participating teams, but it went beyond and ended up as a natural replacement...
: 2001 - South American CupCopa SudamericanaThe Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana de Clubes , known simply as the Copa Sudamericana , is an annual international club football competition organized by the CONMEBOL since 2002. It is the second most prestigious club competition in South American football. CONCACAF clubs were invited between 2004...
: 2002 - Portuguese CupTaça de PortugalThe Taça de Portugal is the main Portuguese national football knock-out competition. The tournament has been officially known as the Taça de Portugal Millennium since 2008, due to its sponsorship by Portuguese private bank Millennium BCP. It has occurred on a yearly basis since 1938 and is...
: 2006–07, 2007–08 - Portuguese Supercup: 2007, 2008