Sebastián Battaglia
Encyclopedia
Sebastián Alejandro Battaglia (born November 8, 1980) is an Argentine
football
midfielder who currently plays with Argentine
club Boca Juniors
.
, Sebastián began his career with the Boca Juniors' reserve team. He made his professional debut on May 31, 1998, and quickly became an important player for Boca Juniors'. He played for 5 years at the club, when in the middle of the 2003–2004 season
, Villarreal CF
of Spain
bought 50% of his contract for 2.8 million euro
s and acquired his services. Villarreal was considered an excellent destination for Battaglia as there were already plenty of former Boca players players such as Martín Palermo
, Juan Román Riquelme
, Diego Cagna
, Rodolfo Arruabarrena
and Fabricio Coloccini
at the club.
Battaglia played only a season and a half at Villareal, and never displayed the form that had made him such a hot property in Argentina. His family also had trouble adjusting to their new life in Spain. After an injury stopped him playing for almost 6 months, he decided to return with his family to Argentina. In July 2005, after some prolonged negotiations between Boca Juniors and Villarreal, he got his wish.
Back at Boca Juniors he recaptured his old form and started to improve his game, becoming club captain and being called-up to the Argentina
national squad to participate in the World Cup Qualifiers match against Peru
on October 8, 2005. He was also a starter in the friendly match against Qatar
in November of the same year.
During the 'Torneo de Verano' of 2008, Battaglia scored in the Superclásico
against arch rivals River Plate
, in a game where which Boca Juniors won 2–0. On May 4, 2008, in the 'Torneo Clausura' Battaglia would again score against River Plate
, by heading in a goal from a corner which won Boca the game at 1–0.
On December 23, 2008 Battaglia was part of the team that won the 2008 Apertura championship, making him and Guillermo Barros Schelotto
the two most decorated Boca Juniors players in history with 16 professional titles each.
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Villarreal
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...
midfielder who currently plays with Argentine
Primera División Argentina
The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs...
club Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
.
Career
Even though he was born in Santa Fe ProvinceSanta Fe Province
The Invincible Province of Santa Fe, in Spanish Provincia Invencible de Santa Fe , is a province of Argentina, located in the center-east of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Chaco , Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Santiago del Estero...
, Sebastián began his career with the Boca Juniors' reserve team. He made his professional debut on May 31, 1998, and quickly became an important player for Boca Juniors'. He played for 5 years at the club, when in the middle of the 2003–2004 season
2003-2004 in Argentine football
The 2003-04 Argentine First Division season saw Boca Juniors ecstatic after a title run that also included the Intercontinental Cup. River Plate stole the Clausura leaving hated rival Boca Juniors looking up from second place....
, Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
of Spain
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
bought 50% of his contract for 2.8 million euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s and acquired his services. Villarreal was considered an excellent destination for Battaglia as there were already plenty of former Boca players players such as Martín Palermo
Martín Palermo
Martín Palermo is a retired Argentine footballer who formerly played for Boca Juniors of Argentina, and the Argentina national team...
, Juan Román Riquelme
Juan Román Riquelme
Juan Román Riquelme is an Argentine footballer who plays for Boca Juniors. A longtime Argentine international, Riquelme is best known for his spells with Boca Juniors and Villarreal...
, Diego Cagna
Diego Cagna
Diego Sebastián Cagna is an Argentine football coach. He was a footballer, playing in the midfield, he retired in 2005, and a few years later he became a coach.- Career :...
, Rodolfo Arruabarrena
Rodolfo Arruabarrena
Rodolfo Martín Arruabarrena is a former Argentine football left back. His last club was Universidad Católica in the Primera División de Chile...
and Fabricio Coloccini
Fabricio Coloccini
Fabricio Coloccini is an Argentine football defender who currently captains Premier League club Newcastle United, and plays for the Argentine national team. At the age of 29, Coloccini has already represented numerous football clubs, however it was his successful spell at Deportivo La Coruña where...
at the club.
Battaglia played only a season and a half at Villareal, and never displayed the form that had made him such a hot property in Argentina. His family also had trouble adjusting to their new life in Spain. After an injury stopped him playing for almost 6 months, he decided to return with his family to Argentina. In July 2005, after some prolonged negotiations between Boca Juniors and Villarreal, he got his wish.
Back at Boca Juniors he recaptured his old form and started to improve his game, becoming club captain and being called-up to the Argentina
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...
national squad to participate in the World Cup Qualifiers match against Peru
Peru national football team
The Peru national football team, known as 'el equipo inca', represents Peru in international football competition and is managed by the Peruvian Football Federation . The team competes against the other nine members of FIFA's CONMEBOL conference, which encompasses the countries of South America...
on October 8, 2005. He was also a starter in the friendly match against Qatar
Qatar national football team
The Qatar national football team is the national team of Qatar and is controlled by the Qatar Football Association. They have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup but are hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The team has also appeared in seven AFC Asian Cup tournaments and hosted the 2011 AFC Asian...
in November of the same year.
During the 'Torneo de Verano' of 2008, Battaglia scored in the Superclásico
Superclásico
Superclásico is the name used to describe the football match in Argentina between Buenos Aires rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate. It derives from the Spanish usage of "clásico" to mean derby, with the prefix "super" used as the two clubs are the most popular and successful clubs in Argentine...
against arch rivals River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
, in a game where which Boca Juniors won 2–0. On May 4, 2008, in the 'Torneo Clausura' Battaglia would again score against River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
, by heading in a goal from a corner which won Boca the game at 1–0.
On December 23, 2008 Battaglia was part of the team that won the 2008 Apertura championship, making him and Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Guillermo Barros Schelotto is a former Argentine football forward.Barros Schelotto, nicknamed "Guille" or "Melli" , played 16 years of his professional career in the Argentine Primera División...
the two most decorated Boca Juniors players in history with 16 professional titles each.
National team statistics
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Club
Boca JuniorsBoca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
- Primera División: 6
-
- 1999 Clausura, 2000 Apertura, 2003 Apertura, 2005 Apertura, 2006 Clausura, 2008 Apertura
- Copa Libertadores: 4
- 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007
- Copa IntercontinentalIntercontinental Cup (football)The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores...
: 2
- Copa Intercontinental
- 20002000 Intercontinental CupThe 2000 Intercontinental Cup, officially the 2000 Toyota European / South American Cup for sponsorship reasons, was a football match played on 27 November 2000 between Real Madrid, winners of the 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League, and Boca Juniors, winners of the 2000 Copa Libertadores. The match...
, 20032003 Intercontinental Cup-See also:*Intercontinental Cup*UEFA Champions League*Copa Libertadores*FIFA Club World Cup-External links:*...
- Copa SudamericanaCopa 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...
: 1
- Copa Sudamericana
- 2005
- Recopa SudamericanaRecopa SudamericanaThe Recopa Sudamericana is an annual football match-up between the reigning champions of the previous year's Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana, South America's premier club competitions....
: 3
- Recopa Sudamericana
- 2005, 2006, 2008
- 1999 Clausura, 2000 Apertura, 2003 Apertura, 2005 Apertura, 2006 Clausura, 2008 Apertura
Villarreal
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
- UEFA Intertoto CupUEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
: 1
External links
- Argentine Primera statistics
- Sebastián Battaglia at Football Lineups
- Profile at Boca Juniors' official website
- Battaglia, Sebastián Alejandro at Historia de Boca.com