Walter Gaitán

Walter Gaitán

Personal information
Full name	Walter Nicolás Gaitán Sayavedra
Date of birth	(1977-03-13) March 13, 1977
Place of birth	La Rioja, Argentina
Height
Position(s)	Attacking Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1997–1998	Rosario Central	22	(6)
1998–2000	Villarreal CF	48	(7)
2001–2002	Boca Juniors	32	(12)
2002–2007	Tigres UANL	179	(80)
2008–2010	Necaxa	18	(3)
2010	Veracruz	4	(0)
2011	Los Angeles Blues	7	(4)
2011–2012	Atlético Rafaela	12	(1)
2013	Monterrey Flash (indoor)	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 November 2013 (UTC)

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Gaitán and the second or maternal family name is Sayavedra.

Walter Nicolás Gaitán Sayavedra (March 13, 1977) is a retired Argentine professional footballer.

An attacking midfielder, Gaitán was known for his dribbling, passing, powerful left shot and a precise ball control. His most notable performances were with Tigres UANL of the Liga MX.

Career

Argentina and Spain

Gaitán began his career in Argentina with Rosario Central in 1997. He left the team in 1998 and moved to Villarreal CF of the Spanish Liga. After two years in Spain, he returned to Argentina in 2000, joining the prestigious Boca Juniors. It is interesting to note that odd coincidences have made this player to always play with teams that have the yellow and blue colors (until signing with Necaxa). When Tigres UANL qualified for the Copa Libertadores, he wore the shirt of Rosario Central at the celebration.

Mexico

Gaitán moved to Mexico for the 2002 Apertura tournament, signing with Tigres UANL of the Primera División (First Division). After scoring four goals in 15 games in his first season, Gaitán scored eight in the 2003 Clausura. Considered as one of the top midfielders in the Mexican league since his arrival, he became the top goal-scorer of the 2005 Apertura. He was also named Best Player of the Clausura 2006 tournament.

He has been regarded by some as the best player in Tigres of the last decades. He was selected to wear the number 7, retired to honor team legend Gerónimo Barbadillo, in Copa Libertadores where regulations command that the number be used. The only other Tigres player to have that honor is Claudio "El Diablo" Nuñez. Gaitán is also the all time top scorer in Copa Libertadores for Tigres along with Néstor Silvera with 4 goals each.

Gaitán is also tied with "Diablo" Nuñez as the top goal scorer for Tigres in the history of the Clásico Regiomontano. Both players have 100 in such matches, nevertheless the several assistances he has also gave so Tigres coworkers can score in Clasicos Regiomontanos and other games. He practically served 2 goals on one of two Clasicos that Tigres has won by identical scores, 6-2.

In October 2007, Gaitán, citing personal reasons, asked for a three month license to be absent from the team until the end of the season. In December 2007, Club Necaxa announced the incorporation of Gaitán to the squad, along with Omar “El Gato” Ortiz Uribe and Juan José de la Cruz Ortiz. In 2010, Gaitán played briefly for Veracruz.

United States

In February 2011, Gaitán was officially introduced to the squad for the Los Angeles Blues of the USL Pro.

Personal life

Gaitán has many nicknames. National most important television network call him "El Divino" (The divine), because of his gifted touch of the ball and feel of the game. For those that, because of religious reasons, even Gaitan himself, are uncomfortable calling a soccer player "Divine", particularly those in national TV and Radio networks and certain newspapers in Mexico, he is nicknamed "El Chueco" (The crooked), due to him being left-handed, and left-footed. In the Mexican Spanish version of the EA Sports FIFA games, he is nicknamed "Mago" (magician), to replace "El Divino". He is also called "Elegante" (The fancy one)

Titles

Season	Club	Title
2001	Boca Juniors	Copa Libertadores
2004	Tigres	Mexican league top scorer
2005	Tigres	Interliga 2005
2006	Tigres	Interliga 2006

External links

• Statistics at Guardian Stats Centre
• (Spanish) Argentine Primera statistics
• Football Database profile