GERARD PIQUE

Gerard Piqué Bernabeu

Gerard Piqué returned to FC Barcelona, the club where he started as a boy, in the summer of 2008, after three seasons with Manchester United and one with Real Zaragoza.

Gerard Piqué was born on 2 February 1987 and since that day he has been a club member of FC Barcelona. Since he was very young he has been involved with the club and when he was 10 years old he joined the youngest boys’ team at the club (Alevín B).

From then on he passed through the various under-age levels, picking up titles along the way and winning plaudits in all age categories (Alevín A, Infantil B and A, Cadete B and A and Juvenil B and A).

When playing at Cadete B level Tito Vilanova was his manager, and he will meet up with Vilanova once again on his return to the first team. In all this time of development and learning, Gerard Piqué showed a great ability to adapt to different positions on the field and gained a reputation for goal scoring, despite his defensive position.

At the end of the 2003/04 season, Gerard Piqué took a break from his life as an azulgrana and left for Manchester United. He made his debut for the English side on 26 October, only three weeks after arriving, in a Carling Cup match against Crewe Alexandra. He was also with Alex Ferguson’s team for the 2005/06 season before being loaned out to Real Zaragoza for the 2006/07 season.

In his only season with the Aragon side, Piqué played quite a lot as a defensive midfielder in front of the back four. The catalan played 22 league games, eighteen of which he started, and scored to goals.

During this time he played alongside Gabriel Milito, who he will also meet up with again on his return to Barça.

Season 2007/08 saw Piqué return to Manchester United and he was able to celebrate the double of Premiership and Champions League. He had a memorable season in the Champions League, especially in the initial league phase, scoring two goals.

In his first season with the club, Piqué showed why he had been signed. He became a first choice centre back and also scored three goals, one in each competition, totalling 45 appearances. He came to be known as Piquénbauer, in reference to his ability to work the ball forward from the back and joining with attacking moves. His goal in the 6-2 win at the Bernabéu was a prime example of this.

In his second year he consolidated his reputation as one of the best central defenders in the world. He formed a regular partnership with Puyol and won his second league title with the Club.

With regard to his international experience, Piqué is a regular for the U-21 side, as he was with the younger under-age teams. He played in the 2007 U-20s World Cup in Canada, the 2006 U-19s European Championships in Poland (which Spain won) and the 2004 U-17s European Championships in France (which Spain finished as runners-up). On Friday 11, 2009 he made his international debut against England, and made his first official appearance in the Confederations Cup in South Africa, 2009.

A permanent feature of Spain’s World Cup winning defence, playing every minute of every match. He was also a key element in Spain’s creative football.

PROFILE

The Catalan is a big defender (1.92m tall and weighing 85 kg). His physical size and good technical ability make him strong in the air.

He also knows how to put these qualities to use in attack, especially from dead ball situations. Apart from centre-half, Piqué can also play in front of the back four, as he showed during his time with Real Zaragoza.

PERSONAL DETAILS:

Name: Gerard Piqué
Position: defender
Place of birth: Barcelona
Date: 02-02-1987
Height: 192 cm
Weight: 85 kg
Debut: FC Barcelona-Wisla (4-0, Champions League), 13/08/2008