Juan Antonio Pizzi
Juan Antonio Pizzi Torroja (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxwan anˈtonjo ˈpisi], Italian: [ˈpittsi]; born 7 June 1968) is a retired professional footballer who played as a striker, currently manager of UAE Pro League club Al-Wasl.
| Pizzi as Saudi Arabia manager at the 2018 World Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Juan Antonio Pizzi Torroja[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 7 June 1968[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Santa Fe, Argentina | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Striker | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Al-Wasl (manager) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rosario Central | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1990 | Rosario Central | 57 | (27) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–1991 | Toluca | 30 | (12) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1993 | Tenerife | 68 | (30) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1994 | Valencia | 19 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1996 | Tenerife | 73 | (46) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1998 | Barcelona | 48 | (11) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | River Plate | 17 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | Rosario Central | 28 | (19) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Porto | 11 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Rosario Central | 28 | (11) | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2002 | → Villarreal (loan) | 13 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 364 | (160) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1998 | Spain | 22 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Colón Santa Fe | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | Universidad San Martín | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | Santiago Morning | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Universidad Católica | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Rosario Central | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | San Lorenzo | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Valencia | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2016 | León | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Chile | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2019 | Saudi Arabia | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | San Lorenzo | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Racing Club | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022– | Al-Wasl | |||||||||||||||||||||
Honours
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||
He spent the bulk of his club career in Spain, mainly at Tenerife, helping to the side's consolidation in La Liga and amassing top division totals of 221 matches and 92 goals over eight seasons – he also played for Valencia and Barcelona.
Born in Argentina, Pizzi represented the Spain national team for four years,[2][3] appearing with it in one World Cup and one European Championship. He embarked on a managerial career after retiring, winning the Copa América Centenario for Chile in 2016.
Club career
Born in Santa Fe,[4] Pizzi started his professional career with Rosario Central, before transferring to Mexico's Deportivo Toluca FC.[5] After only one year he moved to CD Tenerife, experiencing great individual success (a total of 30 goals in his first two seasons) while also helping the Canary Islands club to qualify for the UEFA Cup in his second year.
This performances prompted interest from fellow La Liga side Valencia CF, and Pizzi's subsequent purchase. However, highly unsettled, he returned at the end of the campaign to his previous team and in the second season in his second spell he fired them into another UEFA Cup qualification, topping the goal charts at 31 in 41 games[6] and adding a further five in the Copa del Rey.[7]
After that, Pizzi transferred to FC Barcelona. Never an undisputed starter, barred by Ronaldo, Sonny Anderson and the versatile Luis Enrique during his two-season stint, he managed to net 18 times in competitive matches, being very popular among the Camp Nou faithful.[8]
With Barcelona, Pizzi won the Supercopa de España in 1996, the UEFA Super Cup and Spanish Cup in 1997, conquering the latter again the following year while also winning his only league title. Arguably, his most memorable moment was the decisive goal in the 5–4 home win over Atlético Madrid in the domestic cup's quarter-finals second leg, after the Blaugrana trailed 3–0 at half-time.[9]
Subsequently, Pizzi returned to Argentina to play for Club Atlético River Plate, then had an unassuming spell in Portugal for FC Porto.[10][11] After starting 2001–02 back with Rosario he signed with Villarreal CF for its closure, as the club had lost to a severe leg injury countryman Martín Palermo.[12]
International career
Pizzi earned 22 caps for Spain and scored eight goals, his debut coming on 30 November 1994 in a 2–0 friendly win with Finland. The following 20 September, he helped to beat his country of birth Argentina 2–1, in an exhibition game played in Madrid.[13]
Pizzi was part of the squads for UEFA Euro 1996 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In the latter, after being replaced by Fernando Morientes in a 0–0 draw against Paraguay as Spain exited in the group stage, he retired from the international scene.[14]
Coaching career
After his retirement, aged almost 34, Pizzi played polo in the Barcelona region, then started his coaching career. Together with José del Solar he managed Argentine Primera División's Club Atlético Colón at the beginning of the Clausura 2005, but both were sacked after three losses in the first three matches.[15]
On 13 April 2006, Pizzi became the coach of Club Deportivo Universidad de San Martín de Porres in the Peruvian Primera División.[16][17] He returned to his country of birth five years later, working with Rosario Central and San Lorenzo de Almagro and winning the 2013 Inicial with the latter.[18]
On 26 December 2013, Pizzi returned to Valencia after 20 years, being appointed manager.[19][20] His first game in charge was on 4 January of the following year, a 2–0 derby home win over Levante UD.[21]
Pizzi was sacked on 2 July 2014, after new owner Peter Lim took over. It was the first time in 16 years that Valencia had failed to qualify for Europe, after an eighth-place finish.[22]
On 29 January 2016, after one year at the helm of Club León in the Liga MX, Pizzi replaced Jorge Sampaoli at the Chile national side.[23] He took the nation to victory in the Copa América Centenario in the United States, notably disposing of Mexico 7–0 in the last-eight stage[24] and defeating Argentina on penalties in the decisive match.[25]
Pizzi took the team to the final of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, Chile's first ever final in a FIFA competition and the fifth South American country to do so, losing 0–1 to Germany.[26][27] However, after failing to qualify for the next year's World Cup – they reached the last matchday in third place, falling to sixth following the 3–0 away loss against Brazil – he resigned.[28]
On 28 November 2017, Pizzi was appointed to manage Saudi Arabia, becoming the third man to hold the position in as many months.[29] The team's run at the 2018 World Cup ended after the first three games (one win and two losses);[30] On 21 January 2019, after round-of-16 elimination at the AFC Asian Cup and not having been approached by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation regarding the renewal of his contract, he resigned.[31]
Pizzi returned to San Lorenzo in June 2019, six years after his first managerial spell.[32] On 31 October, he was dismissed due to poor results.[33]
On 21 January 2021, Pizzi was appointed at Racing Club de Avellaneda.[34] His team lost the Supercopa Argentina 5–0 to River in March and the Copa de la Superliga final to Colón. He was removed by club president Víctor Blanco on 9 August after a 1–0 defeat to city rivals Club Atlético Independiente.[35]
On 29 June 2022, Pizzi signed a one-year contract at Al-Wasl F.C. of the UAE Pro League.[36]
Career statistics
- Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Pizzi goal.[13]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 January 1995 | Riazor, A Coruña, Spain | Uruguay | 1–0 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 2 | 6 September 1995 | Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain | Cyprus | 3–0 | 6–0 | UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying |
| 3 | 5–0 | |||||
| 4 | 20 September 1995 | Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain | Argentina | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 5 | 13 November 1996 | Heliodoro Rodríguez, Tenerife, Spain | Slovakia | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 6 | 12 February 1997 | Rico Pérez, Alicante, Spain | Malta | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 7 | 3 June 1998 | El Sardinero, Santander, Spain | Northern Ireland | 1–0 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 8 | 2–0 |
Managerial statistics
- As of match played 3 March 2023[37]
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||||
| Colón Santa Fe | 5 February 2005 | 26 February 2005 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 0.00 | |
| Universidad San Martín | 18 April 2006 | 27 November 2006 | 33 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 36 | 38 | −2 | 39.39 | |
| Santiago Morning | 1 July 2009 | 24 June 2010 | 44 | 16 | 9 | 19 | 60 | 75 | −15 | 36.36 | |
| Universidad Católica | 8 July 2010 | 30 June 2011 | 56 | 37 | 10 | 9 | 120 | 67 | +53 | 66.07 | |
| Rosario Central | 1 July 2011 | 5 July 2012 | 44 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 54 | 36 | +18 | 50.00 | |
| San Lorenzo | 9 October 2012 | 26 December 2013 | 54 | 23 | 21 | 10 | 75 | 47 | +28 | 42.59 | |
| Valencia | 26 December 2013 | 2 July 2014 | 32 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 43 | 32 | +11 | 37.50 | |
| León | 4 December 2014 | 29 January 2016 | 51 | 25 | 6 | 20 | 97 | 88 | +9 | 49.02 | |
| Chile | 29 January 2016 | 10 October 2017 | 32 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 48 | 36 | +12 | 40.63 | |
| Saudi Arabia | 28 November 2017 | 21 January 2019 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 21 | 30 | −9 | 30.00 | |
| San Lorenzo | 1 July 2019 | 31 October 2019 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 20 | −5 | 38.46 | |
| Racing Club | 21 January 2021 | 9 August 2021 | 32 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 33 | 30 | +3 | 40.63 | |
| Al-Wasl | 1 July 2022 | present | 22 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 43 | 25 | +18 | 63.64 | |
| Career total | 436 | 199 | 107 | 130 | 648 | 532 | +116 | 45.64 | |||
Honours
Player
Barcelona
- La Liga: 1997–98[38]
- Copa del Rey: 1996–97,[39] 1997–98[40]
- Supercopa de España: 1996[41]
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1996–97[42]
- UEFA Super Cup: 1997[43]
Porto
Individual
Manager
Universidad Católica
San Lorenzo
Chile
Individual
- La Liga Manager of the Month: February 2014[46]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Juan Antonio Pizzi at WorldFootball.net
- ^ Paradinas, Juan José (8 November 1994). "Clemente abre las puertas a los nacionalizados" [Clemente opens doors to naturalised]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 March 2014.
- ^ De la Riva, Mario (5 September 2016). "Los 11 jugadores nacidos fuera de España con más partidos" [The 11 players born outside of Spain with the most matches]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2016.
- ^ "Pizzi vuelve a un Mundial veinte años después" [Pizzi returns to a World Cup twenty years later]. Diario de Sevilla (in Spanish). 13 June 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ "Juan Antonio Pizzi, un goleador fugaz del Toluca" [Juan Antonio Pizzi, Toluca's fleeting scorer] (in Spanish). Telemundo Deportes. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ a b Bravo, Luis Javier; Sillipp, Bernhard; Torre, Raúl; Di Maggio, Roberto. "Spain – List of Topscorers ("Pichichi") 1929–2015". RSSSF. from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ "El grancanario Aridane Santana, a un partido de los cien con el Tenerife" [Gran Canaria's Aridane Santana, one match from reaching one hundred with Tenerife]. El Día (in Spanish). 4 June 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ Clos, Jordi (31 January 2014). "El pasado culé de Juan Antonio Pizzi" [Juan Antonio Pizzi's culé past] (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
- ^ "16-year anniversary of FC Barcelona's historic 5–4 comeback against Atlético Madrid". FC Barcelona. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- ^ Vaza, Marco (3 August 2010). "Internacionais e desconhecidos, é este o retrato dos jogadores espanhóis na Liga portuguesa" [Internationals and unknown, meet the Spanish players in the Portuguese League]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- ^ "FC Porto rescinde com Osvaldo" [FC Porto rescind with Osvaldo] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ "Pizzi (y no Zamorano) es el reemplazante de Palermo" [Pizzi (and not Zamorano) is Palermo's replacement]. El Mercurio (in Spanish). 27 December 2001. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ a b Pla Díaz, Emilio. "Juan Antonio Pizzi Torroja – Goals in International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 September 2005.
- ^ "España – Paraguay, 0–0 en Francia-98" [Spain – Paraguay, 0–0 in France-98]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 1 December 2001. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
- ^ "Colón de Santa Fe despidió a la dupla Pizzi-Del Solar" [Colón de Santa Fe fired duo Pizzi-Del Solar] (in Spanish). Infobae. 28 February 2005. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- ^ "Pizzi asumió en Deportivo San Martín" [Pizzi took over at Deportivo San Martín] (in Spanish). Terra. 13 April 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2006.
- ^ "Juan Antonio Pizzi en el Deportivo USMP" [Juan Antonio Pizzi at Deportivo USMP] (in Spanish). Deportivo Universidad San Martín Fansite. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
- ^ a b Merlo, Alfredo (16 December 2013). "Pizzi, de renunciado a campeón" [Pizzi, from surplus to champion] (in Spanish). Goal. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- ^ "Official VCF statement". Valencia CF. 26 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ Valle, Conrado (26 December 2013). "Valencia officially announce Juan Antonio Pizzi as new coach". Diario AS. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ Campos, Tomás (4 January 2014). "¡Che, qué bueno que viniste!" [Che, so good of you to come!]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ^ Burrows, Ben (2 July 2014). "Valencia sack Juan Antonio Pizzi after just half a season in charge at the Mestalla". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
- ^ "Chile lo hace oficial: Pizzi hasta el 2018" [Chile make it official: Pizzi until 2018]. Marca (in Spanish). 30 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ "Chile embarrasses Mexico, 7–0, in Copa America quarterfinal". Los Angeles Times. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- ^ a b Timms, Aaron (27 June 2016). "Chile win Copa América once again as Argentina title drought continues". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ Rose, Gary (28 June 2017). "Portugal 0–0 Chile (0–3 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ Johnston, Neil (2 July 2017). "Chile 0–1 Germany". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- ^ "Chile: Pizzi anunció que no seguirá al mando de 'La Roja'" [Chile: Pizzi announced he will not stay in charge of 'La Roja']. El Comercio (in Spanish). 10 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
- ^ . FIFA. 28 November 2017. Archived from the original on 30 November 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia stepped up pace to grab late win over Egypt – Juan Antonio Pizzi". ESPN. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
- ^ Creek, Stephen (21 January 2019). "Pizzi quits after Saudi Arabia elimination". Sportstar. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- ^ "Oficial: Juan Antonio Pizzi vuelve a San Lorenzo" [Official: Juan Antonio Pizzi returns to San Lorenzo]. Marca (in Spanish). 1 June 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- ^ "Pizzi deja de ser entrenador del San Lorenzo de Almagro" [Pizzi is no longer San Lorenzo de Almagro manager]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 31 October 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- ^ "Juan Antonio Pizzi, nuevo entrenador de Racing de Avellaneda" [Juan Antonio Pizzi, new manager of Racing de Avellaneda]. Marca (in Spanish). 21 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^ "Juan Antonio Pizzi dejó de ser el entrenador de Racing: quiénes son los 3 principales candidatos a sucederlo" [Juan Antonio Pizzi no longer manager of Racing: who are the 3 main candidates to succeed him] (in Spanish). Infobae. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ @AlWaslSC (29 June 2022). "الأرجنتيني خوان أنطونيو بيتزي مدرباً لـ #الوصل لمدة" [Argentine Juan Antonio Pizzi appointed as Al-Wasl coach for one season] (Tweet) (in Arabic). Retrieved 30 June 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Juan Antonio Pizzi coach profile at Soccerway
- ^ "Juan Antonio Pizzi" (in French). Eurosport. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ Domènech, Joan (29 June 1997). "Barça de titanes" [Titanic Barça]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ^ Astruells, Andrés (30 April 1998). "La Copa más histórica" [The most historical Cup] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ^ Serra, Josep María (29 August 1996). "Título con súper-susto" [Title with mega-scare]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ^ . UEFA. 14 May 1997. Archived from the original on 3 May 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ^ "1997: Barça in command". UEFA. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ^ "F.C. Porto-Atlético: último encontro foi há seis anos, também para a Taça" [F.C. Porto-Atlético: last match was six years ago, also for the Cup] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 28 November 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- ^ Harz, José Pablo (6 December 2010). "Los cánticos que adornaron la celebración del título en el camarín de la UC" [The chants that embellished the title celebration in UC's locker room]. El Mercurio (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ "Pizzi, mejor entrenador del mes de febrero para la Liga" [Pizzi, best manager of the month for February to the League] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
External links
- Juan Antonio Pizzi at BDFA (in Spanish)
- Juan Antonio Pizzi at BDFutbol
- Juan Antonio Pizzi at National-Football-Teams.com
- – FIFA competition record (archived)