Nicolás Frutos
Encyclopedia
Nicolás Alejandro Frutos (born May 10, 1981 in Santa Fe
) is a former Argentine
football
striker
who last played for R.S.C. Anderlecht
. He obtained a transfer from Independiente
on October 21, 2005 but was only allowed to play for Anderlecht since January 2006. He was a powerful striker who often plays as a target man with his height.
and was later bought by San Lorenzo
. Later Spanish
club Las Palmas
got him but after an unsuccessful season of only one goal Argentina's Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata brought him back. He found again his level catching Independiente's attention, whom he joined for the Apertura 2004
, scoring 19 goals in 28 matches.
Nico was as of October 23, 2005 the top scorer of the Apertura 2005
with 9 goals in 11 matches, but he lost that position because he wasn't able to play for Independiente for the rest of the season.
, he scored 9 goals in the second half of the season, and conquered the 2005/06
Belgian League
.
The 2006-07
season yielded more goals for Frutos, as he scored 17 goals in 27 appearances in both the Jupiler League and the UEFA Champions League
. His goal-scoring was sorely missed in the early part of the 2007-08 season, until his return in the 2-2 draw against Roeselare
, where he was a substitute and scored the goal that leveled the match. Frutos also scored two goals against Hapoel Tel Aviv FC
in UEFA Cup
group stage.
At the start of the 2009-10 season, he scored a goal against Turkish
side Sivasspor
during the third round qualifying match for the Champions League
, after coming on as a substitute.
(tendinopathy) which prevents him from playing at a competitive level. One day after his retirement it was announced that he will eventually work as Scout by his last club R.S.C. Anderlecht
.
Belgian Cup: 2008
Belgian Supercup: 2006, 2007
Santa Fe, Argentina
Santa Fe is the capital city of province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It sits in northeastern Argentina, near the junction of the Paraná and Salado rivers. It lies opposite the city of Paraná, to which it is linked by the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel. The city is also connected by canal with the...
) is a former 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...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who last played for R.S.C. Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
. He obtained a transfer from Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....
on October 21, 2005 but was only allowed to play for Anderlecht since January 2006. He was a powerful striker who often plays as a target man with his height.
Early career
Frutos started playing for Unión de Santa FeUnión de Santa Fe
Club Atlético Unión is a sports club from Santa Fe, the capital city of the province with the same name in Argentina. The club, founded in 1907, has a strong rivalry with Colón de Santa Fe....
and was later bought by San Lorenzo
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro is an Argentine sports club based in Boedo neighbourhood, Buenos Aires, mostly known because of its football team....
. Later Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
club Las Palmas
UD Las Palmas
Unión Deportiva Las Palmas, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the autonomous community of Canary Islands...
got him but after an unsuccessful season of only one goal Argentina's Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata brought him back. He found again his level catching Independiente's attention, whom he joined for the Apertura 2004
2004-2005 in Argentine football
The 2004-05 Argentine First Division season saw Américo Gallego's Newell's Old Boys win the Apertura title after a fierce battle against Vélez Sársfield for the supremacy...
, scoring 19 goals in 28 matches.
Nico was as of October 23, 2005 the top scorer of the Apertura 2005
2005-2006 in Argentine football
The 2005-06 Argentine First Division Apertura was a nail biter. After a head-to-head finish in the last weeks Boca Juniors took the trophy home. Gimnasia de La Plata will have to wait for their first-ever championship....
with 9 goals in 11 matches, but he lost that position because he wasn't able to play for Independiente for the rest of the season.
Anderlecht
In his first season with R.S.C. AnderlechtR.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
, he scored 9 goals in the second half of the season, and conquered the 2005/06
Jupiler League 2005-06
The 2005/06 season of the Belgian Jupiler League began on August 5, 2005 and ended on May 5, 2006. Anderlecht won the title on the last day of competition.-Promoted teams:These teams were promoted from the second division at the start of the season:...
Belgian League
Jupiler League
The Belgian Pro League is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Belgian Second Division...
.
The 2006-07
Jupiler League 2006-07
The 2006-07 season of the Belgian First Division began on July 28, 2006 and concluded on May 19, 2007. The championship was decided in the penultimate round on May 12, 2007, when Anderlecht moved five points clear of runners-up Genk to retain the title and win their 29th League Championship...
season yielded more goals for Frutos, as he scored 17 goals in 27 appearances in both the Jupiler League and the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. His goal-scoring was sorely missed in the early part of the 2007-08 season, until his return in the 2-2 draw against Roeselare
K.S.V. Roeselare
K.S.V. Roeselare is a Belgian football club, from the city of Roeselare in West Flanders. Its matricule is the n°134. It has last played in the Belgian Pro League from 2005-06 to 2009-10...
, where he was a substitute and scored the goal that leveled the match. Frutos also scored two goals against Hapoel Tel Aviv FC
Hapoel Tel Aviv FC
Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club is an Israeli football club based in Tel Aviv. The club currently competes in the Israeli Premier League and plays its home matches at the Bloomfield Stadium. To date, the club has won thirteen championships and thirteen State Cups, making them the country's second...
in UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
group stage.
At the start of the 2009-10 season, he scored a goal against Turkish
Turkcell Super League
The Süper Lig is a Turkish professional league for association football clubs. It is the top-flight of the Turkish football league system. It is one of the top leagues in the UEFA confederation and the winner of the competition automatically qualifies for the UEFA Champions League...
side Sivasspor
Sivasspor
Sivasspor is a Turkish sports club based in Sivas, Turkey formed in the year 1967. They play in the Turkish Süper Lig. Their manager is currently Riza Calimbay. They finished 15th in the 2010–11 Süper Lig. Their current captain is Hayrettin Yerlikaya....
during the third round qualifying match for the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, after coming on as a substitute.
Retirement
He announced his retirement from professional football on 29 March 2010 at 28 due to a major injury on the Achilles tendonAchilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
(tendinopathy) which prevents him from playing at a competitive level. One day after his retirement it was announced that he will eventually work as Scout by his last club R.S.C. Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
.
Honours
Belgian League: 2006, 2007, 2010Belgian Cup: 2008
Belgian Supercup: 2006, 2007
External links
- Nicolas Frutos at R.S.C. Anderlecht official site