Esteban Cambiasso

Lore & Background

During his career, Cambiasso won 21 official titles, the majority of which were won during his ten seasons at Inter Milan, including five Scudetti and the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League. A full international from 2000 to 2011, Cambiasso won 52 caps for Argentina and represented the country at the 2006 World Cup, the 2005 Confederations Cup, and at the Copa América in 2007 and 2011.

Reader's Guide

Cambiasso began his professional career with Argentinos Juniors in 1995, moving to Real Madrid in 1996. He later played for Independiente and River Plate before returning to Real Madrid in 2002. He helped Real Madrid win the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup in 2002, and the Liga and Supercopa de España in 2003. In July 2004, he signed with Inter Milan. He helped Inter win the Coppa Italia in his first season. He scored in the 2006 Coppa Italia Final, scored twice against Fiorentina on 9 September 2006, scored a brace against CSKA Moscow on 7 November 2007, and scored the winning goal against Milan on 23 December. He extended his contract until 2014 on 23 March 2009. He scored against Chelsea in the 2009–10 Champions League, against Twente on 24 November, and twice against Catania on 9 January 2011. He received his first red card for Inter on 30 March 2013. On 22 September 2013, Cambiasso scored Inter's sixth goal in a 7–0 win over Sassuolo. On 26 September 2013, he scored Inter's first goal in a 2–1 win over Fiorentina. He left Inter at the end of the 2013–14 season. On 28 August 2014, he signed a one-year deal with Leicester City. He made his debut on 13 September against Stoke City. His first goal for Leicester was an equaliser in a 5–3 win over Manchester United. He scored against Queens Park Rangers on 4 April 2015 and in a 5–1 win over QPR on 24 May. He won Leicester's Player of the Year award on 18 May 2015. He left Leicester on 21 July 2015. On 7 August 2015, he signed a two-year deal with Olympiacos. He scored his first goal for them on 2 December in a 4–0 win over Panegialios. He scored twice in 14 Super League Greece games, including an equaliser against Panathinaikos on 13 March 2016. He renewed his contract on 11 July 2016. On 9 March 2017, he headed the opening goal in a 1–1 draw against Beşiktaş. He announced his retirement on 8 September 2017. He first represented Argentina in youth squads, scoring in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship final and captaining the team in 1999. He made his senior debut in 2000. He scored against Serbia and Montenegro in the 2006 World Cup. He had his penalty saved in the quarter-final against Germany. He represented Argentina at the 2007 Copa América. He was controversially left out of the 2010 World Cup squad. He was recalled on 20 August 2010 for a friendly against Spain.

Did You Know?

• Cambiasso scored the second goal in a 6–0 win over Serbia and Montenegro at the 2006 World Cup, capping a 24-pass move.
• Cambiasso's first red card for Inter came on 30 March 2013 for a tackle on Sebastian Giovinco.