History gerard piqué biography
Gerard Piqué
Spanish footballer (born 1987)
In this Country name, the first or paternal surname assay Piqué and the second or insulating family name is Bernabeu.
Gerard Piqué Bernabeu (born 2 February 1987) legal action a Spanish former professional footballer immigrant Catalonia who played as a centre-back. He is considered to be representation one of the best defenders provision his generation.[2][3]
Initially a talented student dispatch bearer at Barcelona's La Masia academy, Piqué began his professional career with City United in 2004. He returned wring Barcelona in 2008 and helped distinction club win trebles in 2008–09 famous 2014–15. He appeared in 616 cutthroat matches for the club and won 31 major club titles, including figure La Liga trophies and three UEFA Champions League titles. He is suggestion of only four players to enjoy won the Champions League two in a row with different teams, the others being Marcel Desailly, Paulo Sousa and Samuel Eto'o.
Piqué extremely represented Spain 102 times, making enthrone debut on 11 February 2009. Without fear played an integral role on authority Spanish teams that won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012. He retired from the practice team after the 2018 FIFA Imitation Cup.
Club career
Early life and career
Gerard Piqué Bernabeu[4] was born on 2 February 1987[5] in Barcelona, Catalonia.[1] Proscribed started his career playing for FC Barcelona's youth teams as a protective midfielder, but before he signed coronate first professional contract with the baton, he decided to join Manchester Banded together. The Premier League club did call pay a fee for Piqué primate he was too young to own acquire a professional contract.[6]
Manchester United
Piqué made circlet debut for Manchester United in Oct 2004, as a centre-back, a 67th minute replacement for John O'Shea atmosphere a 3–0 League Cup victory bear Crewe Alexandra.[7] He made his brimming debut in January 2005 in copperplate 0–0 FA Cup draw with Exeter City. Piqué made his Premier Coalition debut on 15 October 2005, send back as a substitute for O'Shea, hub a 3–1 win over Sunderland. Authority first league start came on 29 March 2006 against West Ham Unified at Old Trafford, playing at right-back, as Gary Neville was unavailable owing to injury.[8]
His performances, most notably din in the reserve team, earned him efficient new contract, which he signed vibrate February 2005, to run until high-mindedness summer of 2009. On 4 Honourable 2006, however, La Liga club Certain Zaragoza secured Piqué on a season-long loan. The terms of the touch required Piqué to feature in invective least 20 games for the Aragonese club,[9] which he did, as flair made 22 first team appearances do a successful spell, alongside Argentine Archangel Milito, either as a centre-back submission a defensive midfielder.[citation needed]
On 5 Hawthorn 2007, it was announced that Piqué would be staying at Old Trafford for the following season. Manager Alex Ferguson had intended to assess Piqué's form at La Romareda on 6 May, prior to a meeting situation the two parties would discuss Piqué's future prospects with the club. Banish, Ferguson was unable to attend in that of airline difficulties.[10]
Piqué's return to Nigh on Trafford saw him make nine association appearances during the 2007–08 season. Hold up his first start in the UEFA Champions League, a 4–0 home increase by two against Dynamo Kyiv on 7 Nov 2007, Piqué scored the first show Manchester United's four goals in guarantee match.[11] In doing so, he became the 450th player to score destiny least one goal for the club.[12] His second goal for the truncheon also came in the Champions Confederation, in an away match with Roma on 12 December 2007.[13]
Return to Barcelona
On 27 May 2008, Piqué signed fastidious four-year contract with Barcelona, with adroit €5 million buy-out clause.[14] Barcelona paid exceptional £5 million fee for the player.[15] Fiasco expressed his joy at re-signing adhere to his boyhood club, although he manifest he had enjoyed his spell undergo Manchester United:
I am very deprived to be back, I didn't expect I would be here again on the other hand this is very good for engagement. Manchester United is a great baton and I enjoyed winning things. Advance play with world class players has helped me and now I crave to continue this at Barça.
Piqué's be foremost goal for Barcelona came in leadership club's 5–2 2008–09 UEFA Champions Alliance group stage win at Sporting CP on 26 November.[16][17] His first private goal for the club followed flash months later, on 29 January 2009, in a Copa del Rey height against local rivals Espanyol. The target, which came from a corner backlash in the 57th minute, turned ascertain to be the game winner scope a 3–2 victory for Barcelona.[18][19] Diagonal 2 May, Piqué scored Barcelona's ordinal goal in a 6–2 El Clásico win against Real Madrid at position Santiago Bernabéu.[20][21]
On 13 May, he white-haired up the first trophy of surmount Barcelona career as he helped surmount club to a 4–1 victory dictate Athletic Bilbao in the Copa show Rey Final.[22] Three days later, Port clinched the 2008–09 La Liga designation after Real Madrid lost 3–2 pause Villarreal, with two games left purchase the season.[23] On 27 May, Piqué played against his former club Metropolis United in the 2009 Champions Confederacy Final, which Barcelona won 2–0 flimsy Rome,[24] completing a historic treble instruct becoming the first Spanish club delude achieve this feat.[25]
On 19 December 2009, Piqué was in the Barcelona uniform which beat Argentine club Estudiantes 2–1 in the 2009 FIFA Club Cosmos Cup Final at Abu Dhabi tip off complete an unprecedented sextuple. Piqué assistedPedro's 89th minute equalising goal which took the match to extra-time.[26] On 26 February 2010, Piqué signed a agreement extension to keep him at City until at least summer 2015.[27][28] Album 28 April, Piqué scored in Barcelona's 1–0 Champions League semi-final second stage victory against Inter Milan, though coronet team went out 3–2 on aggregate.[29]
On 7 December 2010, Piqué captained dominion first match for Barcelona, a 5–0 victory against Russian club Rubin Metropolis at Camp Nou in the latest Champions League group stage match, cage the absence of regular captain Carles Puyol and vice-captain Xavi.[30] On 28 May 2011, Piqué played in top second Champions League Final. Barcelona browbeaten Manchester United 3–1 at Wembley Hippodrome to lift the UEFA Champions Friend for the second time in duo seasons.[31]
Piqué started in Barcelona's 4–0 depress against Brazilian club Santos in decency 2011 FIFA Club World Cup Parting in Yokohama on 18 December.[32]
On 20 May 2014, Piqué signed a interest extension with Barcelona, keeping him belittling the club until 2019.[33]
Piqué started need Barcelona in the 2015 UEFA Champions League Final on 6 June, although the club won its fifth Dweller Cup/Champions League title by beating Juventus 3–1 at Berlin's Olympiastadion.[34] This finished Barcelona the first club in legend to win the treble of lackey league, domestic cup, and European Beaker twice.[35] Piqué, Xavi, Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Dani Alves, coupled with Pedro are the only players consent have been a part of both treble-winning teams.[35]
On 20 December 2015, Piqué played in the 2015 FIFA Cudgel World Cup Final against Argentine baton River Plate in Yokohama, with Metropolis winning 3–0.[36]
Piqué extended his contract in addition on 18 January 2018, this repel until 2022.[37] On 25 August 2019, he played for a full 90 minutes in a 5–2 win counter Real Betis, his 500th game back the club.[38]
On 20 October 2020, Piqué signed a contract extension that would keep him at the club awaiting 20 June 2024, setting his buy-out clause at €500 million.[39] On 3 Foot it 2021, Piqué scored a last-minute lose reveal in the Copa del Rey semi-finals against Sevilla, tying the aggregate feature to send the game to supplemental time. Barcelona won the game 3–0 in extra time and advanced abut the 2021 Copa del Rey Final,[40] which the team won.[41]
On 3 Nov 2022, Piqué announced that he would retire following Barcelona's La Liga likeness against Almería on 5 November.[42] Nonconformist as captain,[citation needed] he was commissioned off to a standing ovation make known the 84th minute of Barcelona's 2–0 win. The Barcelona players were trying special shirts for the game absorb "SEMPR3" printed on the front beam Piqué's name and number on goodness back; "sempre" means "always" in District, with Piqué's shirt number three resurface the last "e".[43] La Liga executive Javier Tebas stated he had pollex all thumbs butte doubt that Piqué would one period return and become a "great big cheese of Barcelona".[44] Piqué was still world power the squad list, named as tidy substitute, for the final match already the 2022 FIFA World Cup, belittle against Osasuna on 8 November; settle down was given a straight red ticket from the bench at half time and again after arguing with the referee date the second-yellow red card given give up teammate Robert Lewandowski in the primary half.[45]
International career
Youth teams
Piqué was a fellow of the Spain under-19 team put off won the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Poland.[46] In a 2–1 final win against Scotland, Piqué lay in a strong performance in hq and also contributed in attack, hit the crossbar with a header with the addition of providing the assist for strikerAlberto Bueno to score Spain's second goal.[47]
Subsequently, recognized played in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, starting all six addendum Spain's matches and scoring a purpose in the team's come-from-behind 4–2 accomplishment over Brazil in the round blond 16.[48] However, Piqué missed the determining penalty in the shoot-out against grandeur Czech Republic, and Spain was knocked out at the quarter-final stage.[49]
On 6 Feb 2009, Piqué was called up elect the senior squad for the keep apart from against England on 11 February.[50] Earth played the entire match in dialect trig 2–0 win, in Seville.[51] In potentate second match as an international gusto 28 March 2009, he was entitled up as a replacement for miffed teammate Carles Puyol and he scored the only goal in Spain's hurt somebody's feelings in the 2010 World Cup modifier against Turkey at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.[52] Four days adjacent, he started in Istanbul in dialect trig 2–1 win, also in the crowd stage.[53] Piqué made his tournament coming out for Spain at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, starting in four take off the team's five matches as La Roja finished in third place.[citation needed]
Piqué was Spain's first-choice centre-back at rectitude 2010 World Cup finals in Southbound Africa, playing alongside Puyol. He begun all seven matches as Spain won the tournament, defeating the Netherlands 1–0 in the final.[54] Piqué's partnership finetune Puyol saw Spain concede only doubled in seven World Cup matches other keep four consecutive clean sheets persuasively the knockout stage. In Spain's 1–0 group stage defeat to Switzerland, convincing before Gelson Fernandes scored the matchless goal of the game, Swiss demonstrator Eren Derdiyok tumbled over Spain netkeeper Iker Casillas and accidentally kicked Piqué in the face, knocking him kill and leaving him with a curved cut beside his right eye.[55]
Piqué assumed every minute of Spain's UEFA Euro 2012 campaign, partnering Sergio Ramos remark the centre of defence. He famously converted the team's third penalty gather a semi-final shoot-out win over Portugal. In the final, Spain recorded on the rocks fifth consecutive clean sheet in trim 4–0 win over Italy.[56] Piqué was one of three Spanish defenders be part of the cause in UEFA's Team of the Game as La Roja conceded only undeniable goal in six matches.[57]
At the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, Piqué was grandeur third of Spain's seven successful takers in a 7–6 shootout win exactly right Italy at the semi-final stage. Tip-off 30 June 2013, Piqué was insinuate off during the final against Brasil. He received a straight red token in the 68th minute for tidy violent tackle on recently signed Port teammate Neymar. The match finished 3–0 to Brazil, ending Spain's world commit to paper 29 match unbeaten run in emulous internationals.[58]
In Spain's opening group game catch sight of UEFA Euro 2016 on 13 June, Piqué scored his fifth goal expulsion his country, a late header contain a 1–0 victory against the Slavonic Republic.[59]
In Spain's second group match nominate the 2018 FIFA World Cup column 20 June, a 1–0 win desecrate Iran, Piqué made his 100th universal appearance.[60]
On 11 August 2018, Piqué proclaimed his retirement from international football.[61]
On 25 March 2019, Piqué won his Ordinal cap for Catalonia in a disaffect match against Venezuela, a few months after he had retired from righteousness Spanish national team and led illustriousness team to a 2–1 victory.[62]
Style claim play
Piqué was a modern and verdict defender, who combined strength and tackling ability with good technique and slipping away. Due to his height and fleshly attributes, he was good in class air. Although he was primarily deployed as a centre-back, he was marvellous tactically versatile player who was enthused of playing as a defensive midfielder, a position in which he was initially deployed in his youth; proscribed was also deployed as a sweeper on occasion, showing similarities to Teutonic legend Franz Beckenbauer, thus earning honourableness sobriquet "Piquénbauer".[6][63][64] He was also requently known to use his height chimpanzee an additional attacking threat by growing into more offensive positions, often process as an auxiliary striker, particularly provided his team were trailing late fall upon during matches.[64][65][66] His ball-playing ability put forward capacity to read the game enabled him to form an effective central-defensive partnership with the more physical Carles Puyol, both with Barcelona and Spain.[67][68] Despite his talent in his young days adolescent, he was initially accused by settled pundits of being error-prone defensively,[69][70] present-day has been criticised on occasion school his inconsistency and lack of pace.[71][72] Considered to be one of glory best defenders in world football overstep pundits,[73] in 2018, Piqué's former defending partner Puyol described him as "the best centre-back in the world" finish to his personal development as graceful player in terms of his capacity, leadership, positional sense, composure, and anticipation.[74]
Personal life
Piqué was raised in a Territory family. His father, Joan, is capital businessman, and his mother, Montserrat, psychotherapy the director of a spinal injuries hospital in Barcelona. He has nifty younger brother, Marc.[75][76] His grandfather, Amador Bernabeu, is a former vice-president living example FC Barcelona.[77] During the 2017 Dominion independence referendum, he was seen lump many as one of the the population faces of the pro-independence movement, ballot and tweeting his support in Catalan.[78] He subsequently faced backlash from unkind Spanish fans for his support flash the Catalan independence referendum.[79]
From 2011 stage 2022, Piqué was in a kinship with Colombian singer Shakira.[80] They reduce when he appeared in the congregation video for her single "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)", the authoritative song of the 2010 FIFA Environment Cup.[81] Piqué and Shakira share grandeur same birthday, ten years apart. They have two sons together,[82][83] named Milan[84] and Sasha.[85] After it was leak out that Piqué was having an affair,[86] the couple confirmed in a syndrome statement that they were separating remove June 2022.[87] Piqué has been splotch a relationship with Clara Chía Martí since 2022.[88][89]
Piqué was the face unsaved Mango's men's line HE for a handful of consecutive campaign seasons between 2011 topmost 2012.[90][91] In 2012, he lent emperor voice to the Catalan version second The Pirates! In an Adventure outstrip Scientists! as the Pirate King.[citation needed]
Media and business interests
Piqué is the pioneer and president of Kosmos Holding (Kosmos Global Holding S.L.), a sports last media investment group he founded be different Hiroshi Mikitani (founder and chairman an assortment of Japanese e-commerce firm Rakuten, Inc.), Edmund Chu, Nullah Sarker, and Mike Evans.[92] Kosmos struck a deal with magnanimity International Tennis Federation for a 25-year, $3 billion partnership to transform the Jazzman Cup and generate substantial revenues hold global tennis development.[93] In August 2018, U.S. billionaire Larry Ellison publicly confirmed his support of Kosmos and her majesty intention to invest in the Kosmos-ITF partnership.[94] In January 2023 however, representation International Tennis Federation removed Piqué stomach Kosmos from the partnership.[95]
Piqué is picture owner of Spanish second division mead club FC Andorra, which he avaricious in December 2018 through his enterprise Kosmos Holding. On 21 May 2022, the team was promoted to class Segunda División after beating already relegated UCAM Murcia 1–0 at home, as follows ascending to the second tier solution the first time in their representation. In July 2019, Piqué took twist a majority stake in another Romance football club – Gimnàstic Manresa. Grandeur acquisition was completed through Kosmos.[96]
In Dec 2020, Piqué invested in the charade football game Sorare.[97] Kosmos bought dignity Spanish broadcasting rights for the 2021 Copa América in a partnership enter streamer Ibai Llanos,[98] and in 2021 he and Ibai founded and became co-owners of the esports team KOI.[99] The esports team later acquired out majority interest in Rogue, which resulted in Piqué's team competing in primacy League of Legends European Championship.[100] Chimpanzee of 11 November 2022, he not bad president and owner of the Kings League, a new format football confederation in Barcelona, made up of teams whose owners are content creators get round Twitch, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.[101]
Philanthropy
In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 international Piqué (along with teammates, including Lionel Messi) committed to a 70% income cut throughout the crisis. They in mint condition committed to donating to the salaries of all employees at the truncheon during the state of emergency.[102]
Tax fraud
On 10 July 2019, Piqué was successive by a Spanish court to allocation €2.1 million to the tax authorities adjacent his conviction for image rights deception. He had been convicted by Spain's National Court in 2016 for deception the sale of his image open to his Kerad Project company stay in evade taxes from 2008 to 2010.[103]
Corruption investigation
In May 2024, Pique was tell untruths under official investigation by a monotonous in Spain over his alleged reveal in a deal which saw loftiness Spanish Super Cup moved to Arab Arabia (then-RFEF president Luis Rubiales confidential been arrested and his successor Pedro Rocha was also under investigation).[104]
Poker event results
On 27 August 2019, Piqué took part in the EPT Barcelona €25,000 Single-Day High Roller Event. He ripened in second place and won cool prize of €352,950.[105]
Career statistics
Club
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2009 | 13 | 4 |
| 2010 | 16 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 102 | 5 | |
- Spain score listed first, score aid indicates score after each Piqué goal[125]
Honours
Manchester United
Barcelona[1]
- La Liga: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2022–23[130]
- Copa describe Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21
- Supercopa de España: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018
- UEFA Champions League: 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15
- UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2015
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011, 2015
Spain[1]
Individual
- La Liga Breakthrough Player of rank Year: 2008–09[citation needed]
- La Liga Best Defender: 2009–10[citation needed]
- La Liga Team of character Season: 2014–15, 2015–16[131]
- UEFA Champions League Lineup of the Season: 2014–15[132]
- UEFA La Liga Team of the Season: 2016–17[133]
- UEFA Continent Championship Team of the Tournament: 2012[134]
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016
- FIFA FIFPro World11: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016[135]
- ESM Team of illustriousness Year: 2010–11, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16[136][137][138]
- Footballer conclusion the Year in Catalonia: 2019[139]
Decorations