Luciano Figueroa

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Family name hatnote Template:Infobox football biography

Luciano Gabriel "Lucho" Figueroa Herrera (Script error: No such module "IPA".; born 19 May 1981) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Club career

Figueroa was born in Santa Fe. He began his professional career with Primera División club Rosario Central, where he formed a partnership with César Delgado. In the 2003 Clausura, Figueroa finished as Argentina's leading goalscorer with 17 goals,[1] which included five in the last match of the season against an under-strength Boca Juniors.[2] This was his last season at Rosario Central. Both he and Delgado transferred overseas in the summer of 2003; Figueroa joined English Premier League club Birmingham City for a fee of £2.5 million.[3]

Controversy arose when Spanish club Osasuna claimed that Figueroa had signed a contract with them before his move to Birmingham, thereby invalidating the transfer.[4] At the end of August 2003 FIFA ruled provisionally in Birmingham's favour,[5] but it was not until October that this ruling was finally confirmed.[6] Figueroa had been close to joining Rangers earlier that summer but the Glasgow club pulled out of the deal.[7]

Though Figueroa was scoring freely for Birmingham's reserve team, manager Steve Bruce believed he would struggle in the Premiership due to his physique.[8] After only one League appearance, as a late substitute in a 2–0 defeat of Portsmouth,[9] and one outing in the League Cup,[10] his contract was annulled,[11] and he signed for Cruz Azul of the Primera División de México, where he was reunited with former teammate Delgado.

After a slow start, Figueroa returned to his old form with Cruz Azul, scoring 9 goals in the last 7 games of the 2004 Clausura.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". He maintained his form in the 2004 Apertura, scoring 10 goals in 14 games for the club.[12]

Villarreal

His exceptional performances for Cruz Azul led to a transfer to Spain, where he signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with Villarreal in November 2004.[13] The transfer fee was officially undisclosed, but was estimated in the media as €3 million.[14]

Figueroa made less of an impact at Villarreal. Even so, he helped the club to a third-place finish in La Liga in the 2004–05 season,[15] and scored their first ever Champions League goal, against Everton in the third qualifying round of the 2005–06 competition,[16] but had left the club by the time they reached the semi-final.[17]

In January 2006, apparently concerned that his lack of playing time would adversely affect his chances of selection for Argentina at the 2006 World Cup,[18] Figueroa returned to his home country. He joined River Plate, who bought 50% of the rights to the player.[19] He started well there, scoring three goals in his first seven games of the 2006 Clausura, but on 5 March 2006 he suffered a cruciate ligament injury which effectively put an end to his career with River.[12][18]

Genoa

On 1 August 2006, Villarreal sold Figueroa to Genoa of Serie B for a reported $13 million fee. He signed a four-year contract with the club.[20] Though still not fully recovered from his injury, medical opinion was that Figueroa should have been able to play again by mid-October. However it became clear that the knee reconstruction had not been completely successful and that another operation would be needed. It was predicted that this further surgery would keep him from playing that season.[21]

Figueroa eventually made his debut for Genoa, by this time in Serie A, on 28 October 2007 as a second-half substitute against Fiorentina,[22] and scored his first goal for the club some six weeks later, a stoppage-time consolation in a 3–1 defeat at home to Siena.[23]

Figueroa was loaned from Genoa to Boca Juniors in October 2008. He played an important role during the Torneo Apertura by scoring important goals as the title race was between Boca Juniors, Tigre and San Lorenzo, who were level on points at the top of the table. Eventually, Figueroa's performances helped Boca to win the Torneo Apertura.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Rosario Central

After Genoa released the player, he returned to his first club, Rosario Central. After passing a medical examination on his knee, he signed a two-and-a-half-year contract on 20 January 2010.[24][12][25]

Panathinaikos

On 6 February 2013, he was released on a free transfer by Emelec and joined Greek club Panathinaikos until the end of the season. He made his debut in a crucial game against AEK Athens that Panathinaikos won 2–0. On 9 March 2013 he scored his first goal for the Greens, with a successful penalty kick against AO Kerkyra. He scored a goal in an away match against Olympiacos in a match that ended 1–1.

It was reported in June 2013 that Figueroa was to sign for Brazilian Série A side Náutico, but the deal fell through.[26]

On 12 September 2013, Figueroa signed once again with Panathinaikos for one year.[27]

Johor Darul Ta'zim

Figueroa signed a three-year contract, reportedly worth $1.5 million annually, with Malaysia Super League team Johor Darul Ta'zim in December 2013. The transfer fee was $1 million.[28] Figueroa scored his first goal in the 88th minute after a through pass from Safiq Rahim to give Johor Darul Ta'zim their first win, 2–0 against Perak FA in the season opener. His previous experiences with clubs in Europe and South America helped Johor Darul Ta'zim to win their first league title in the 2014 season with 11 league goals (22 goals overall).

On 22 August 2015, he won his second league title with Johor. On 31 October 2015, Figueroa won the club's first ever AFC Cup title after defeating Istiklol 1–0 in the final.

After his playing contract with Johor Darul Ta'zim ended in 2015, Figueroa decided to retire as a football player. In 2017, he returned to become the new Johor Darul Ta'zim football club ambassador, and came out of retirement in November of that year to play for Johor Darul Ta'zim in the 2018 Malaysia Super League.[29] In May 2018, he returned to his ambassadorial role and retired again as a professional football player.[30] In August 2018, Figueroa was appointed as the team manager of Johor Darul Ta'zim.[31] Club owner Tunku Ismail Ibrahim later also announced Figueroa as head coach of JDT, with JDT II head coach Benjamin Mora as his assistant.[32]

International career

File:Confed-Cup Finale.JPG
2005 FIFA Confederations Cup Final

Figueroa has appeared for the Argentina national football team while playing for Cruz Azul and Villarreal, performing impressively in the Copa América 2004 and the 2005 Confederations Cup – where only the Brazilian Adriano outscored him – and was part of the gold medal-winning Argentina team at the 2004 Summer Olympics. At international level, he boasts a strike-rate of 60%, with 9 goals from 15 appearances, the same stats as Martín Palermo. The cruciate injury deprived him of the chance to represent his country at the 2006 World Cup.[18]

Career statistics

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[33]
National team Year Apps Goals
Argentina 2004 9 4
2005 6 5
Total 15 9
List of international goals scored by Luciano Figueroa
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1. 13 July 2004 Estadio Miguel Grau, Piura, Peru {{ Template:Yesno alias = Uruguay flag alias = Flag of Uruguay.svg flag alias-1828 = Flag of Uruguay (1828-1830).svg link alias-naval = National Navy of Uruguay flag alias-army = Flag of Uruguayan Army.svg National Army of Uruguay link alias-air force = Uruguayan Air Force flag alias-air force = Flag of the Uruguayan Air Force.svg link alias-navy = National Navy of Uruguay size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || 2–1 || rowspan="2" | 4–2 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:left" | 2004 Copa América || rowspan="2" |[34]

2. 4–2
3. 10 September 2004 El Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina {{ Template:Yesno alias = Uruguay flag alias = Flag of Uruguay.svg flag alias-1828 = Flag of Uruguay (1828-1830).svg link alias-naval = National Navy of Uruguay flag alias-army = Flag of Uruguayan Army.svg National Army of Uruguay link alias-air force = Uruguayan Air Force flag alias-air force = Flag of the Uruguayan Air Force.svg link alias-navy = National Navy of Uruguay size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || 2–0 || rowspan="2" | 4–2

2006 FIFA World Cup qualification [35]
4. 4–0
5. 26 March 2005 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia {{ Template:Yesno alias = Bolivia flag alias = Flag of Bolivia.svg flag alias-state = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg flag alias-football = Flag of Bolivia.svg flag alias-spain = Flag of Cross of Burgundy.svg flag alias-1825 = State flag of Bolivia (1825-1826).svg flag alias-1825a = Civil flag of Bolivia (1825-1826).svg flag alias-1831 = Flag of Bolivia (state, 1826-1851).svg flag alias-1831a = Flag of Bolivia (1826-1851).svg flag alias-confederation = Flag of the Peru-Bolivian Confederation.svg flag alias-wiphala = Banner of the Qulla Suyu (1979).svg flag alias-patuju = Flag of the Patujú flower.svg flag alias-army=Flag of Bolivia (military).svg link alias-army=Bolivian Army flag alias-air force=Flag of Bolivia (military).svg link alias-air force=Bolivian Air Force flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Bolivia.svg link alias-naval = Bolivian Navy flag alias-naval old = Naval Ensign of Bolivia (1966-2013).svg flag alias-naval jack = Naval Jack of Bolivia.svg flag alias-military = Flag of Bolivia (military).svg link alias-military = Bolivian Armed Forces flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Bolivia.svg link alias-navy = Bolivian Navy flag alias-civil = Flag of Bolivia.svg size = name = altvar = football altlink = national football team variant =

}} || 1–1 || 2–1 || style="text-align:left" | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification ||[35]

6. 18 June 2005 Frankenstadion, Nuremberg, Germany {{ Template:Yesno alias = Australia flag alias = Flag of Australia (converted).svg flag alias-1901 = Flag of Australia (1901-1903).svg flag alias-1903 = Flag of Australia (1903-1908).svg flag alias-union = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg flag alias-colonial = Australian Colonial Flag.svg flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Australia.svg flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Australia.svg flag alias-naval-1913 = Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg link alias-naval = Royal Australian Navy link alias-army = Australian Army flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Australia.svg link alias-air force = Royal Australian Air Force flag alias-air force-1948 = Air Force Ensign of Australia (1948–1982).svg flag alias-air force-1922 = Air Force Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg link alias-football = Australia men's national soccer team flag alias-marines=UCP 2RAR.svg link alias-marines=2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Australia.svg link alias-navy = Royal Australian Navy flag alias-military = Ensign of the Australian Defence Force.svg link alias-military = Australian Defence Force size = name = altlink = national football team altvar = football variant =

}} || 1–0 || rowspan="3" | 4–2 || rowspan="3" style="text-align:left" | 2005 Confederations Cup || rowspan="3" |[36]

7. 3–0
8. 4–2
9. 26 June 2005 FIFA World Cup Stadium, Hanover, Germany {{ Template:Yesno alias = Mexico flag alias = Flag of Mexico.svg flag alias-1821a = Flag of the Three Guarantees.svg flag alias-1821 = Bandera del Primer Imperio Mexicano.svg flag alias-1823 = Flag of Mexico (1823-1864, 1867-1893).svg flag alias-1864 = Imperial Standard of Mexico (1864-1867).svg flag alias-1867 = Flag of Mexico (1823-1864, 1867-1893).svg flag alias-1893 = Flag of Mexico (1893-1916).svg flag alias-1916 = Flag of Mexico (1916–1934).svg flag alias-1934 = Flag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg flag alias-air force = Flag of the Mexican Air Force.svg flag alias-army = Flag of the Mexican Army.svg link alias-army = Mexican Army link alias-air force = Mexican Air Force link alias-naval = Mexican Navy flag alias-coast guard = Flag of the Mexican Maritime Search and Rescue.png link alias-coast guard = Mexican Maritime Search and Rescue flag alias-navy = Naval jack of Mexico.svg link alias-navy = Mexican Navy flag alias-marines = Estandarte Infantería de Marina de México.svg link alias-marines = Mexican Naval Infantry Corps size = name = altlink = national football team variant =

}} || 1–1 || 1–1 (7–6 pen.) || style="text-align:left" | 2005 Confederations Cup ||[36]

Honours

Player

Boca Juniors

Johor Darul Ta'zim

Argentina

Individual

Manager

Johor Darul Ta'zim

References

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External links

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