Javier Alejandro Mascherano (Spanish pronunciation: [masʃeˈɾano], Italian pronunciation: [maskeˈraːno]; born 8 June 1984 in San Lorenzo) is an Argentine footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for FC Barcelona. He is the captain of the Argentine national team.

Mascherano began his career in at River Plate. He earned his first senior honours in 2003–04, winning the Primera División Argentina. He also won an Olympic gold medal with Argentina in the Athens Games and finished runner up in the Copa América 2004. He moved to Brazilian side Corinthians in 2005, winning the Brazilian Série A in his first season. Mascherano moved to Europe, signing for Premier League side West Ham United. However, unusual contract terms with Media Sports Investments blighted his brief time at the club and at the beginning of 2007 he joined Liverpool on loan.

He was runner up in the UEFA Champions League in his first season on Merseyside and again finished runner up in the Copa América with Argentina. He officially signed for Liverpool in February 2008 for £18.6 million, parting ways with Media Sports Investments. He won a second Olympic gold medal with Argentina in the Beijing 2008 Games, the first male footballer to achieve this since 1928. He was appointed captain of the national team by new head coach Diego Maradona in November 2008 who has repeatedly stated that his selection is "Mascherano and 10 more".[2]

Mascherano's two most used nicknames (in Argentina) are Masche and El Jefecito (The little chief).[3][4] Former Argentine footballers Jorge Valdano and Jorge Solari regard him as possibly the best central midfielder in the world.[5][6]

He was considered a key part of the national side by coach Diego Maradona who stated that his team was just Jonas, Mascherano, Messi and eight more, whilst Maradona was in charge. [7]

Mascherano also holds an Italian passport, which makes him eligible as an EU player.[8]

Club career

River Plate (2003–05)

Mascherano came through the youth ranks at River Plate in Buenos Aires, Argentina. However, before making his club debut he made his name representing Argentina.

Mascherano won his first silverware when River won the 2003–04 Clausura (Closing) championship. In the 2004 Copa Libertadores River reached the semi-final, but lost on penalties to arch-rivals Boca Juniors.

Around this time several clubs including Real Madrid,[9] and Deportivo de La Coruña declared an interest in signing Mascherano, but River Plate turned down all offers, saying that none of the interested parties were prepared to pay enough.

2004–05 was not a successful season for River, finishing third in the Apertura Championship and only tenth in the Clausura. In the Copa Libertadores River again lost in the semi-final, this time to São Paulo.

After the Confederations Cup in Germany, Brazilian club Corinthians acquired Mascherano from River Plate for US$15 million.

Corinthians (2005–06)

The Brazilian Série 1 runs from April, so Mascherano joined Corinthians in mid-season. After playing only nine games for his new club, on September 2005, Mascherano suffered a stress fracture to his left foot causing him to miss the end of the season. He went back to Argentina to be operated on by the National team doctor and recuperate.[10][11][12][13] However, Corinthians still claimed the 2005 Série A championship with the team captained by Mascherano's Argentine compatriot, Carlos Tévez.

In total, Mascherano was out of action for six months, only returning on 5 March 2006.[14] Corinthians were forced to start their 2006 Copa Libertadores without Mascherano, but he returned in time for the Round of 16 tie against River Plate, which Corinthians lost. The 2006 Brazilian Série A also went badly for Corinthians, and at one stage they were battling against relegation. In June, the league season was interrupted for the 2006 World Cup.

Although his performance drew the attention of European clubs, he stated his desire to remain with Corinthians, to help with the relegation battle, and postponed any transfer until January at the earliest.[15] However, hours before the northern summer 2006 transfer window closed, Mascherano joined West Ham United for an undisclosed fee along with team-mate Carlos Tévez.[16]

West Ham (2006 – January 2007)

During the summer of 2006 Mascherano was linked with top clubs around Europe, he stated he would relish playing in Spain for Real Madrid or Barcelona but eventually he signed for West Ham United in the English Premier League. Mascherano holds an Italian passport due to his ancestry.[17] The move to West Ham was seen as surprising, with many of Europe's top clubs having been linked with Mascherano all summer. There were many rumours about the nature of the transfer, primarily regarding Media Sports Investment's interest in buying-out West Ham. Rumours included speculation as to whether West Ham truly owned the players, or whether a third party held their registration, and also that if a high enough (£112 million was touted) offer was received West Ham would be forced to sell.[18] (It has since been discovered that Global Soccer Agencies and Mystere Services are the companies that owned Mascherano.)[19]

Before Mascherano joined, West Ham had won one game, drawn one and lost one. However upon his arrival the team went into free-fall, losing eight games and drawing one game in all competitions before their next win on 29 October. During this time, Mascherano rarely featured in the team, despite their struggles, prompting rumours about financial clauses related to the amount of time he was actually played. In October, the Argentina national coach, Alfio Basile, declared that he hoped Mascherano would leave West Ham "as soon as possible," and "I hope for God's sake that Mascherano can go to Juventus."[20]

On 16 January 2007, Liverpool requested clearance from FIFA to take Mascherano on loan from West Ham.[21] FIFA's rules state that no player can play for more than two different clubs between 1 July and 30 June the following year, but Mascherano had already played for both Corinthians and West Ham during this time.

FIFA approved the deal on 31 January 2007.[22] However, although Liverpool submitted his registration details before the midnight transfer deadline, England's Premier League did not immediately announce whether it would allow Mascherano to play for Liverpool, saying that it wanted to "take time to satisfy itself with the proposed arrangements".[23]

In a further twist, it was announced on 2 March that the Premier League were charging West Ham with breaking rule B13, concerning acting in good faith, and rule U18, which concerns the influence of third-party ownership.[24] On 27 April the Premier League issued West Ham a world-record fine of £5.5 million.[25]

Liverpool (February 2007–2010)

Mascherano in action for Liverpool.

On 10 February, Liverpool added Mascherano to their Champions League squad and gave him the number 20 shirt. Eventually, on 20 February 2007, Mascherano's move to Liverpool became official after the Premier League accepted Liverpool's request to register the player at Anfield.[26]

Mascherano made his debut for Liverpool against Sheffield United on 24 February 2007,[27] and was praised by the Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez and team captain Steven Gerrard after Liverpool's 4–0 victory. After playing in a match against Arsenal on 31 March, Benítez called Mascherano a "monster of a player".[28] Similarly, his teammates were impressed by his talent; Xabi Alonso noted how mature a player he was for his age, saying: "He has a cool mind on the pitch. He is analysing and thinking about the game in each moment."[9] Mascherano's first Champions League appearance came in the quarter-final first leg against PSV in Eindhoven on 3 April. Hastily establishing himself as a starter at the club, Mascherano played in the Champions League Final that year against A.C. Milan. He and teammate Alonso were successful in stifling the creative play of both Kaká and Clarence Seedorf for much of the match but Liverpool eventually succumbed to Milan, losing 2–1.[29] He was voted Liverpool's man of the match by the fans on the official Liverpool website.[30]

Mascherano playing for Liverpool in 2007.

Following months of speculation, Mascherano signed a four-year permanent contract with Liverpool on 29 February 2008, ending his association with Media Sports Investments.[31] The transfer, which reportedly cost Liverpool £18.6 m,[32] which covers not only the transfer fee, but also the players' wages for the four years deal,[33] was allowed to go through as Mascherano was not contracted to another club, making him exempt from the rules of the transfer window. He scored his first Premier League and Liverpool goal on 15 March 2008, with a 20-yard strike against Reading.[34]

On 29 November 2009, Mascherano claimed the first goal in the 2–0 win against Everton at Goodison Park when his 30 yard shot appeared to be heading just off target before it took a wicked deflection off Joseph Yobo before finding the net. The goal officially went down as an own goal.[35] In a game against Portsmouth on 19 December 2009, Mascherano was sent off for committing a bad foul on Portsmouth's Tal Ben-Haim. It was later confirmed that the sending off meant a 4-match suspension for Mascherano. This was due to this being his 2nd red card of the season Liverpool lost this match 2–0.[36] Mascherano has the worst disciplinary record of the 2009-10 Premier League season with seven yellow cards and two red.[37] He scored his first goal of the season with a bullet of a shot from outside the area in the Europa League against Unirea Urziceni away from home in a match Liverpool won 3–1 to secure their place in the last 16 of the competition with an aggregate win of 4–1.[38] On 27 July 2010, after returning from a break after the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Mascherano informed new Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson that he wanted to leave the Anfield club.[39] During that break, Hodgson had failed with several attempts to contact Masherano, able only to leave messages for him saying that he was looking forward to meeting him back on Merseyside as his calls went unreturned.[40]

He is regarded very highly among Liverpool fans and has his own song, which is his name sang to the tune of the White Stripes' song "Seven Nation Army".[41]

On 23 August 2010 he refused to play against Manchester City, stating he would strike until the club to allow his transfer to FC Barcelona[42].

Liverpool announced on 27 August that they had agreed a transfer fee with Barcelona for the player and had given permission to him to speak with the Spanish club.[43]

Old Trafford Incident 2008

In his first game at Old Trafford against Manchester United on 23 March 2008, he was sent off after collecting two yellow cards.[44] He was initially booked for a late tackle on Paul Scholes, and later dismissed for running towards referee Steve Bennett to protest a yellow card shown to Fernando Torres. Mascherano had to be pushed from the field of play by Steven Gerrard and Alonso. Rafa Benítez was also forced to leave the dug out and plead with Mascherano to leave the field. He was also escorted down the tunnel by Peter Crouch. The Football Association ruled that the usual one-game suspension be increased to three games for improper conduct.[45] Mascherano admitted the improper conduct charge levelled at him, but appealed against the further two to three match suspension.[46] However, this appeal was denied by the Football Association,[47] and Mascherano was also fined £15,000. However he demanded that this fine would be paid to a charity.[48]

With the controversial incident behind him, Mascherano would play a key role in Liverpool's 2–1 win over United at Anfield on 13 September 2008. Though he was at fault for failing to cover countryman Carlos Tévez, who scored for United less than three minutes into the game, Mascherano made amends for his mistake, and was instrumental in creating the goal which put Liverpool up 2–1. Mascherano was voted Man of the Match by the fans on Liverpool's official website.[49]

Barcelona (2010-)

On 28 August 2010, he agreed terms on a 4 year deal with Barcelona, for €21 million.[50] On the 30 August 2010, Mascherano passed his medical to complete his transfer to Barcelona, and told Barça TV "The truth is it's a dream, it's a great joy,".[51]

International career

Mascherano contesting a header with Andrei Arshavin

Mascherano’s first international appearance came in 2001. September of that year saw him play on the Argentina team that finished fourth in the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship.

His impact at youth levels was such that he made his senior international debut before playing a single minute for River Plate's first team (due to his central midfield position at club level being occupied by River’s long standing captain Leonardo Astrada, nicknamed the Chief). That international debut came in a friendly against Uruguay on July 16, 2003.[52]

Halfway through the 2003–04 Apertura (Opening) championship, Mascherano was called up to play in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship. Argentina again finished fourth with Mascherano the team's outstanding player.[53] He was however suspended for the third place play-off.

In January 2004, he joined up with Argentina's under-23 team for the South American Pre-Olímpico tournament in Chile. Argentina won the tournament, thereby qualifying for the 2004 Summer Olympics. In August, Mascherano and the team went on to become gold medal-winners in Greece.[54]

At the end of the 2003–2004 season, Mascherano was included in the senior squad for the 2004 Copa América. Argentina lost to Brazil on penalties in the final, but Mascherano impressed enough to be voted Argentina's player of the tournament by his team-mates.[53]

The following year, Mascherano played in the Confederations Cup in Germany, a tournament that ended in disappointment for Argentina who went down 4–1 to Brazil in the final.[55]

In the 2006 World Cup, he played every minute of every game for Argentina, with Argentina being knocked out by Germany in the Quarter-finals.

His first two goals for the senior Argentina team came in July 2007 during the Copa América 2007. Mascherano’s performance at the tournament was such that he was widely selected as the best Argentine player in a squad full of stars.[56]

2008 saw another, less welcome, first as Mascherano received his first red card for the national team after receiving two yellow cards in a match against the USA, on 8 June 2008. He was sent of in the 86th minute of the match, which went on to end 0–0.[57]

Later that year, Mascherano was selected to represent Argentina in the Olympic games in Beijing as one of their over-23 year old players. He was thrilled at the call up saying "It's important for any athlete to defend the gold medal. I might be the only person from my country ever to do it and I'll go down in history."[58] Argentina won the tournament making Mascherano only the second Argentine sportsman ever (following polo player Juan Nelson) to win two Olympic gold medals.[59][60]

Soon after being appointed head coach of Argentina in November 2008, Diego Maradona announced that he wanted Mascherano to be the team's captain. "I want Mascherano to be my captain because I believe he is the Argentinian player who is closest to the idea I have about the Argentinian shirt – sweat for it, sacrifice for it, being a professional, being close to the team-mate," he said. "I will convince him. He will be my captain."[61]

Sure enough, Mascherano accepted Diego Maradona's offer to become the new Argentina captain on 10 November, replacing Javier Zanetti.[62] At the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Argentina captained by Mascherano, got to the quarter finals where they were defeated 4-0 by Germany.[63]