Hernan Crespo

Hernán Jorge Crespo, born 5 July 1975, is an Argentine football coach and former striker who now manages Atlas in Liga MX. He is widely regarded as one of the finest forwards of his era and ranks among Argentina’s all-time greats. Over a 19-year playing career, he netted more than 300 goals. For the national team, he scored 35 times, placing him fifth on Argentina’s all-time scoring list behind Lautaro Martínez, Sergio Agüero, Gabriel Batistuta, and Lionel Messi.

He appeared in three World Cups (1998, 2002, 2006). At club level, he became the world’s most expensive player in 2000 when Lazio bought him from Parma for €56 million (£35.5 million). He led Serie A in scoring during the 2000–01 season with 26 goals while at Lazio. His honors include three Serie A titles, a Copa Libertadores, a Premier League championship, and an Olympic silver medal.

In 2004, Pelé named him to the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living players. Crespo never received a red card in his entire career. Crespo began his professional career at River Plate in the 1993–94 season, scoring 13 goals in 25 league appearances as the club won the Apertura. In 1996, he helped River win the Copa Libertadores, scoring twice in the home leg of the final.

That same year, after winning a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics and finishing as top scorer with six goals, he moved to Parma on 14 August 1996. His first six months in Italy were difficult—he failed to score and was booed, but coach Carlo Ancelotti kept faith. The turning point came in March 1997, when he scored a brace against Cagliari and received a standing ovation. He finished his first Serie A season with 12 goals in 27 matches as Parma placed second.

Parma won the 1998–99 Coppa Italia, and Crespo scored the opening goal in a 3–0 UEFA Cup final win over Marseille. In four seasons at Parma, he scored 80 goals. In 2000, Lazio broke the world transfer record to sign him, paying £16 million in cash plus Matías Almeyda and Sérgio Conceição. Crespo responded by becoming Serie A’s top scorer with 26 goals.

Lazio failed to defend its league title in 2001, and the following season injuries hampered Crespo, while the departures of playmakers Juan Sebastián Verón and Pavel Nedvěd left him with less support. Despite this, he still scored a respectable number of goals. Lazio’s financial troubles forced the sale of several players, and after Alessandro Nesta left for AC Milan, Crespo’s future became uncertain. On 31 August 2002, Crespo joined Inter Milan for €26 million plus Bernardo Corradi, replacing the departed Ronaldo.

He was expected to shine alongside Christian Vieri, but injuries cost him nearly three months of the season between January and April. He scored 7 goals in 18 Serie A appearances as Inter finished second, and added 9 goals in 12 Champions League matches as the team reached the semifinals. At the end of the season, he was allowed to leave for Chelsea, reuniting with former Lazio teammate Juan Sebastián Verón. Crespo transferred to Chelsea on 26 August 2003 for a reported £16.8 million, a move that sparked controversy over alleged false accounting.

Former Inter teammate Christian Vieri claimed the club was weakening itself by selling such a player. Crespo made his league debut as a substitute on 30 August in a 2–2 draw with Blackburn Rovers. He scored his first goals for Chelsea—a double—on 20 September in a 5–0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers. In total, he made 73 appearances (26 as a substitute) across all competitions, scoring 25 goals.

When José Mourinho became Chelsea manager for the 2004–05 season, Crespo was deemed surplus after the arrival of Didier Drogba and was loaned to AC Milan at the request of Carlo Ancelotti. He scored ten league goals and netted twice in the 2005 Champions League final, which Milan lost to Liverpool. By scoring for Milan in the Champions League, he became the first player to score for five different clubs in the competition—every side he had played for since moving from South America in 1996.

After Chelsea failed to sign a top striker in the summer of 2005, Mourinho recalled Crespo from Milan, convincing him he had a future in England. Crespo made his first return appearance in a 2–1 Community Shield win over Arsenal. He scored his first league goal of the season in the 93rd minute of Chelsea’s opener against Wigan Athletic, curling a left-footed shot from 25 yards into the top corner. The 2005–06 Premier League title was Crespo’s first league championship.