Gabriel Milito’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

Gabriel Alejandro Milito (born 7 September 1980) is an Argentine retired footballer who played as a central defender, and current manager.
He spent most of his professional career in Spain, representing Zaragoza and Barcelona. Over the course of seven seasons, he amassed La Liga totals of 187 games and six goals.
Milito appeared with the Argentine national team in three major tournaments, including the 2006 World Cup, gaining 42 caps.

Club career

Early years

Born in Bernal, Quilmes, Buenos Aires Province, Milito started playing professionally with Primera División side Club Atlético Independiente in 1997. During that time, he often faced his older brother Diego, who played for Independiente’s arch-rivals Racing Club de Avellaneda.

Zaragoza

In July 2003, Milito was due to be transferred to Real Madrid, but the Spaniards rejected the player after medical results showed, according to them, a not-fully-recovered knee injury. Jorge Valdano, who acted as director of football, further added that the player had always been appreciated for his technical skills, but his physical state was a cause for great concern; he decided to stay in the country, and joined Real Zaragoza.

In his four seasons with the Aragonese, Milito was an automatic first-choice (never played in less than 33 La Liga matches), and rejoined brother Diego in 2005. On 10 July 2007, an agreement was reached with FC Barcelona for €18.5million (£13.9 million) and, the following week, he passed his medical and signed a four-year deal with the club worth €4 million (£2.7 million) a year; he was given the number 3 shirt, which was formerly worn by Thiago Motta.

Barcelona

Milito made his competitive debut for Barcelona on 2 September 2007 in a game against Athletic Bilbao. He scored his first competitive goal for the Catalans on 24 November, in a league match against Recreativo de Huelva.

On 5 May 2008, it was announced that Milito had damage to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee; this rendered him ineligible for the entire 2008–09 campaign, which ended in a treble.

After being sidelined for almost two years (602 days), Milito finally returned to action when he played in a friendly with Kazma Sporting Club in Kuwait. On 5 January 2010, he made his return to competitive football in the first leg of the Copa del Rey’s round-of-16, a 1–2 home loss against Sevilla FC; five days later he reappeared in the domestic league, coming on as a substitute for Carles Puyol for the final seven minutes of the 5–0 win over CD Tenerife.

On 11 November 2010, Milito contributed with one goal to a 5–1 home triumph against AD Ceuta for the domestic cup (7–1 on aggregate), but had to leave the game injured. On 30 April 2011, starting in a league match at Real Sociedad, he had a goal wrongfully ruled out for offside with the score at 1–1, as the hosts went on to win it 2–1; as a result of his action he also tore a calf muscle, being sidelined for the rest of the season and contributing with ten appearances for the eventual champions.

Return to Independiente / Retirement

In early August 2011, 30-year-old Milito was released from the last year of his contract with Barcelona, and signed shortly after with former club Independiente. On 12 June 2012, he announced his retirement due to being mentally and physically exhausted.

Coaching

Milito’s first coaching experience was with the reserves team of Independiente. He resigned late into 2014, due to differences with the club’s president Hugo Moyano.

On 15 April 2015, Milito replaced Mauricio Pellegrino at the helm of Estudiantes de La Plata, after being convinced by president Juan Sebastián Verón. Despite good results, he resigned at the end of the year.

On 12 May 2016, Milito was re-appointed as Independiente manager, again in the place of Pellegrino. He signed an 18-month contract.

International career

With Argentina, Milito participated in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, helping the nation to the final. He was also part of the squad which took part in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, performing well in his only appearance, the group stage match against the Netherlands which ended in a 0–0 draw.

Milito was selected to the 2007 Copa América squad. He contributed with five appearances, as the Albiceleste finished in second position in Venezuela.

On 20 August 2010, national team coach Sergio Batista recalled Milito for a friendly with Spain the following month, the player’s first international appearance in more than three years. He started in the 4–1 win in Buenos Aires, and he was subsequently selected for the 2011 Copa América, appearing in all the games for the eventual quarter-finalists.

International goals

Personal life

Milito’s older brother, Diego, was also a footballer. A striker, he played with individual and team success for Inter Milan, and they both represented Real Zaragoza and the national team.

Statistics

Club

International

Honours

Club

Independiente

• Argentine Primera División: Apertura 2002

Zaragoza

• Copa del Rey: 2003–04
• Supercopa de España: 2004

Barcelona

• La Liga: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
• Copa del Rey: 2008–09; Runner-up 2010–11
• Supercopa de España: 2009, 2010
• UEFA Champions League: 2008–09, 2010–11
• UEFA Super Cup: 2009
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2009

Individual

• Argentine Footballer of the Year: 2002
• South American Team of the Year: 2002

• “South American Team of the Year”. RSSSF. 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015. 

Managerial statistics

As of 13 May 2016