Matías Lequi

Matías Emanuel Lequi (born 13 May 1981) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Matías Lequi
Personal information
Full name Matías Emanuel Lequi[1]
Date of birth (1981-05-13) 13 May 1981[1]
Place of birth Rosario, Argentina[1]
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
Rosario Central
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2001 Rosario Central 21 (1)
2001–2003 River Plate 40 (1)
2003–2004 Atlético Madrid 34 (2)
2004–2005 Lazio 6 (0)
2005–2008 Celta 81 (5)
2009–2010 Iraklis 14 (0)
2011 Las Palmas 17 (0)
2011–2012 Rosario Central 35 (2)
2012–2013 All Boys 14 (0)
2014 Sportivo Luqueño 21 (8)
2014–2015 Aldosivi 46 (3)
2016 Sarmiento 9 (0)
Total 338 (22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Born in Rosario, Santa Fe, Lequi started his career with hometown side Rosario Central, then signed for Club Atlético River Plate where he won two consecutive Clausura titles. In 2003 he moved abroad, joining Atlético Madrid,[2] making his La Liga debut on 31 August in a 0–1 away loss against Sevilla FC[3] and only missing four matches during the season as the Colchoneros eventually finished seventh and qualified for the UEFA Intertoto Cup.

Subsequently, Lequi signed with Italy's S.S. Lazio,[4] going pretty much unnoticed during his one season-spell. For 2005–06 he returned to Spain, being loaned to RC Celta de Vigo; as the Galicians finished in sixth position and reached the UEFA Cup straight from Segunda División, he was heavily featured, scoring against Real Madrid (2–1 home defeat)[5] and former team Atlético (opening a 3–0 away win).[6]

After extensive negotiations, the deal with Celta was made permanent in late May 2006, for four years.[7] Lequi suffered relegation in the first season after his purchase and, with the club already in the second level, was sent off a total of four times in the league as they languished in 16th position; he was released in August 2008.[8]

Lequi spent the following months training on his own. In the 2009 summer transfer window, he moved to Greek side Iraklis Thessaloniki FC. On 19 January 2011, the free agent returned to Spain and signed a five-month with UD Las Palmas of the second tier.[9]

Honours

River Plate

References
  1. "Matías Emanuel LEQUI". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  2. "El Atlético de Madrid ficha al defensa argentino Matías Lequi" [Atlético de Madrid sign Argentine defender Matías Lequi] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. 22 July 2003. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  3. Marrero, David (1 September 2003). "Baptista frena en seco al Atlético" [Baptista stops Atlético in their tracks]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  4. Piervenanzi, Marco (September 2004). "Lazio: Definito l'ingaggio di Lequi" [Lazio: Lequi's purchase concluded] (in Italian). Supereva. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  5. González, Ángel (30 January 2006). "Ejercicio de supervivencia en Balaídos" [Exercise in survival at Balaídos]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  6. "El Celta descuelga al Atlético de Europa" [Celta make Atlético lose grip on Europe]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 2 April 2006. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  7. "El difícil acuerdo con Lequi" [The difficult agreement with Lequi]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 26 May 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  8. "Matias Lequi" (in Spanish). Yo Jugué en el Celta. 19 December 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  9. "La Unión Deportiva Las Palmas ficha a los argentinos Lequi y Borzani" [Unión Deportiva Las Palmas sign Argentines Lequi and Borzani] (in Spanish). RTVC. 19 January 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
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