Javier Pedro Saviola

Javier Saviola made his first-team debut with River Plate at the tender age of just 16 after working his way up through the club's youth ranks.

He immediately showed what he was capable of by scoring his first professional goal and from that moment on he became a regular in the starting line-up and an idol of the fans that packed the Monumental stadium. Together with Pablo Aimar and Juan Pablo Angel, he formed a threesome that is still warmly remembered.

In the 1999 under-20s World Cup, won by Argentina, Saviola confirmed his status as a world-class forward and, in addition to his winner?s medal, he took the awards for top scorer and best player.

He joined Barca in the summer of 2001 after a long series of negotiations. He quickly adapted to life in Europe and his tally of 21 goals helped him achieve the award for best South American player in the league. Without a doubt, his most important goal was in the quarterfinals of the Champions League against Panathinaikos, which sent Barca through to the semi-finals.

In the following season, 2002-03, with Van Gaal on the manager?s bench, he fell out of favour and scored just two goals. However, when Antic took over for the second half of the season, Saviola won his place back in the starting line-up and scored 11 goals in 17 league matches plus 7 more in the Champions League.

In the 2003-04 season, with Frank Rijkaard as team manager, he scored 19 goals in the league and made a decisive contribution to classifying Barca for the Champions League. At the end of the season, he returned to the Argentine national side to play the Copa America in Peru.

With the arrival of forwards such as Larsson and Eto'o, Saviola lost his place in Frank Rijkaard?s Barca and went out on loan to Monaco (2004-05), runners-up to Porto in the previous Champions League. That season he scored 8 goals in the league, 5 in the Cup and 4 in the Champions League. With Argentina, he played in the Copa Confederations in Germany but was sent off in semi-finals against Mexico and missed the final against Brazil.

Still under contract with FC Barcelona, Saviola returned to the capital of Catalonia with his future still uncertain. In the summer of 2005, he was loaned out again, this time to Sevilla FC. Despite an injury-blighted year, he scored 15 goals and won his first European title, the UEFA Cup. He then went on to play a part in Argentina?s World Cup campaign in Germany 2006.

Javier Saviola is now back with Barca for the 2006-07 season in what is his last year of contract with the Club.

He is a full international with Argentina.

CHARACTERISTICS

His nickname, ?The Rabbit?, has a lot to do with his style of play. Despite his lack of height and his slender build, Saviola can take on opposing defenders by exploiting to the full his intelligence, his technique and his ball skills.

He is equally a home as a target man up front or breaking into the box from from further back. He shoots well with both feet and is adept at turning his marker.

His electrifying style and the speed with which he can lose his marker mean that he combines easily with other players when it comes to providing the long through ball.

HONOURS 

PALMARÉS

River Plate
1999-00 Clausura Championship
1998-99 Apertura Championship 

Argentinian National Team 
2000-01 World Cup Under 20

Seville
2005-06 UEFA's Cup