Gino Padula
Gino Mauro Padula (born 11 July 1976) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a left back.
| Padula signings autographs in April 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gino Mauro Padula | ||
| Date of birth | 11 July 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | Lanús, Argentina | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Left back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1996–1997 | River Plate | 3 | (0) |
| 1997–1998 | Huracán | 31 | (1) |
| 1998–1999 | Xerez | 7 | (0) |
| 1999 | Bristol Rovers | 0 | (0) |
| 1999–2000 | Walsall | 25 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | Wigan Athletic | 4 | (0) |
| 2002–2005 | Queens Park Rangers | 90 | (4) |
| 2005–2006 | Nottingham Forest | 3 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Montpellier | 7 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | Columbus Crew | 56 | (1) |
| Total | 195 | (6) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2011– | SP Soccer Academy | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career edit
Born in Lanús, Padula played in Argentina, Spain, England, France and the United States. He started his career in the esteemed River Plate system, but achieved highest accolades while at Queens Park Rangers and Columbus Crew.[1][2][3][4]
Early career in England edit
Padula first moved to England when he joined Bristol Rovers in 1999, however he only joined on trial and didn't make an appearance for them.[5] He then moved on to Walsall for whom he made 27 appearances in 1999–2000, and was voted their player of the season. However at the end of the season Walsall were relegated.[6][7] Padula signed for Wigan Athletic in 2000, and at Wigan he scored his first goal in English football in a Football League Trophy tie against his former club Walsall.[8]
Queens Park Rangers edit
After leaving Wigan in 2001 and spending a year in Argentina his most successful spell came at QPR, where he became somewhat of a cult hero. Padula was signed in 2002 by then QPR manager Ian Holloway who he had worked with during his spell at Bristol Rovers.[9] He initially found it hard to break into the first team. Padula made his debut for the club as a substitute against Barnsley on 17 August 2002.[10] His first start for QPR came on 2 November 2002 against Port Vale, however in the first half goalkeeper Simon Royce was sent off and substitute goalkeeper Fraser Digby was brought on for Padula.[11] He eventually got his chance due to injuries from January 2003, and he finally started to display his tough slide tackling and steely determination. Padula became an overnight fan-favourite and one of the first names on the team sheet. As his confidence grew, he became more and more attacking and his prowess from dead balls became legendary with the QPR faithful. He scored his first goal for the club against Port Vale, the same team he was disappointingly substituted off against months earlier.[12]
Padula helped QPR to the 2003 Division Two playoff final which he started and performed solidly against Cardiff City at the Millennium Stadium. He was withdrawn in the 79th minute, being replaced by Tommy Williams. QPR lost the game one nil after extra time.[13] The following season, Padula started 36 league games for QPR and scored 3 goals. QPR finished second only to Plymouth and won promotion back to the second tier of English football, the newly renamed Championship. Upon winning promotion on the final day of the season, beating Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 at Hillsborough,[14] Padula danced in front of the 8000 travelling QPR fans, holding an Argentina flag.
He remains one of the most popular modern-era QPR characters.
Columbus Crew edit
Padula and fellow Argentine, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, helped lead the Columbus Crew to the 2008 MLS Supporters Shield and 2008 MLS Cup. They repeated as Supporters' Shield winners in 2009.
Coaching edit
Following his retirement in 2011, he established Sporting Padula Soccer Academy in Westerville, Ohio.[15] Padula has been certified to coach by FIFA and holds an "A" license.[16]
Honors edit
Columbus Crew
- Major League Soccer MLS Cup: 2008
- Major League Soccer Supporters Shield: 2008, 2009
- Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Playoffs: 2008
- Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Season: 2008, 2009
Individual
References edit
- ^ (in Spanish) Argentine Primera statistics
- ^ "Padula: Gino Mauro Padula". Historical Soccer Database. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ Gino Padula at Soccerbase
- ^ MLS player profile
- ^ "The Gino Padula Interview". qprnet.com. 26 October 2006. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
- ^ "Dismay as Saddlers drop". BBC. 29 June 2000. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Gino Padula in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
- ^ "Walsall 2-1 Wigan". BBC. 30 January 2001. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
- ^ "QPR sign Padula". Sky Sports. 1 July 2002. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Gino Padula in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ "Port Vale 0-0 QPR". BBC. 1 November 2002. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ "QPR 4-0 Port Vale". BBC. 18 February 2003. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ "Cardiff seal promotion". BBC. 25 May 2003. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ "Sheff Wed 1-3 QPR". BBC. 8 May 2004. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ "Crew: Schelotto & Padula Soccer Academy". GateHouse Media, LLC. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ^ "Henry retains PFA crown". BBC Sport. 25 April 2002. Retrieved 15 January 2023.