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Hernán Crespo (born July 5, 1975 in Florida, Argentina) is an Argentine international football player currently playing in the English Premiership for Chelsea. Crespo is one of the best strikers in the world and a proven goal scorer at all levels, famed for his powerful aerial ability and anticipatory off the ball movements.
Crespo made his debut for River Plate during the 1993/94 season, scoring 13 goals in 25 league appearances (an early sign of what was to come). He helped River Plate win the Apertura league title, the second of two championships held in Argentina in the year. He helped River win the Apertura title again in 1994.
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In 1996, Crespo helped River to win the Copa Libertadores, the South American club championship, scoring twice in the home leg of the final in Buenos Aires.
He left River for Parma in Italy in August 1996 after he won the silver medal with Argentina in the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics, finishing the tournament as top scorer with six goals. In May 1997, coached by Carlo Ancelotti (current manager of A.C. Milan), Crespo helped Parma finish runners-up in Serie A, scoring 12 goals in 27 matches. In 1999, with Parma he won both the Italian Cup and the UEFA Cup (in the final against Olympique de Marseille, held in Moscow, Crespo scored the opening goal in Parma's 3-0 victory). In 2000, after four successful years with Parma, Lazio broke the world transfer record by paying £35,500 000 for Crespo. He ended his first season in Lazio as top scorer in Serie A with 26 goals.
In September 2002, Crespo signed for Inter Milan as replacement for the departed Ronaldo, for €40 million.
Crespo signed for English Premiership club Chelsea on 26 August 2003, for £16,800 000. However, he had a disappointing season in London, making only 31 appearances in all competitions and scoring 12 goals. After José Mourinho took over as Chelsea manager in the 2004 off-season, Crespo became surplus to Chelsea's plans, and was loaned out for a year to AC Milan, as requested by his former coach Carlo Ancelotti, for the 2004-05 season, where he reacquire his level scoring 10 goals. Crespo scored two of Milan's three goals in the 2004/05 Champions League final against Liverpool, despite losing on penalties after an inspired Liverpool comeback.
After speculation involving Crespo and a return to Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea's failed attempts land a big name striker during the summer of 05, José Mourinho decided to bring back Crespo from A.C. Milan. Despite making his desire to stay at Milan well known, Chelsea needing competition for striker Didier Drogba, José Mourinho convinced him that he had a future in the FA Premier League. Unlike with his first season in England, Crespo seemed to had finally adapted. He made his first appearance back at Chelsea in the 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the FA Community Shield. He scored his first league goal of 2005 against Wigan in Chelsea's first game of the season at the JJB Stadium, his second come soon after in his fourth league game, a powerful header against Charlton. Crespo then opened his account in the season's Champion's League campaign with a header against Real Betis. He has since scored against Anderlecht, Newcastle United, Portsmouth, Fulham, Birmingham City and West Ham.
Image:Crespo for Argentina.jpg In February 1995, Crespo won his first cap for Argentina national team, in a friendly against Bulgaria in Mendoza, but he had to wait 16 months for his second cap and more than two years for his first goal. He played for his country in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He has 53 caps for Argentina, and has scored 29 goals. A ratio of more than one goal every other game makes Crespo a formidable forward at all levels.
In June 2005, and as part of his comeback of the 2004/05 season, Crespo scored two goals in Argentina's 3:1 World Cup Qualifying triumph over their arch-rivals Brazil in Buenos Aires. This win ensured Argentina's participation in the 2006 World Cup. These last two goals against Brazil turned him into the all-time top scorer for Argentina in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Fans used to call Crespo "Valdanito" because his looks, build and running style recall 1986 World Cup winning forward Jorge Valdano.
Hernán Crespo was several times compared to legend Gabriel Batistuta. At the very least, he is considered a great replacement. Argentine coach José Pekerman still sees Crespo as the leader for the strikeforce and his form and fitness are all important for Argentine success in 2006 World Cup, even though younger players such as Javier Saviola, Lionel Messi, Carlos Tévez, and Luciano Figueroa have been gaining the coach's attention. |
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HERNAN CRESPO PICTURES |
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