Gabriel Heinze

Gabriel Heinze moved to Manchester United in June 2004 for a fee of £6.9 million, quickly establishing himself as the club's first-choice left-back.

Early Career and European Development

Born in Crespo on 19 April 1978, Heinze began his professional journey at Newell's Old Boys. He moved to Spain to sign for Real Valladolid, though he spent time on loan at Sporting CP before finding consistent form. His subsequent three-year tenure at Paris Saint-Germain, beginning after the 2000–01 campaign, included more than 100 appearances and a 2004 Coupe de France title.

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Successes in England and Spain

At Manchester United, Heinze earned the club’s player of the season award for 2004–05. Despite a severe injury in September 2005 that sidelined him for the remainder of the campaign, he returned to win a Premier League title. He transitioned to Real Madrid in August 2007 for £8 million, winning the league title during his debut season and later securing the Supercopa de España.

Championships with Marseille and Roma

Heinze joined Marseille in 2009, where he contributed to a historic double by winning both the Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de la Ligue in his first year. He remained a defensive fixture for the club until 2011, eventually moving to Italy to join Roma. He concluded his playing career back where he started, signing a two-year deal with Newell's Old Boys in 2012.

International and Managerial Roles

A key member of the Argentina national team, Heinze won a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. After retiring from play, he transitioned into management in 2015 with Godoy Cruz. He later managed Argentinos Juniors and Vélez Sarsfield, leading the latter to two Copa Sudamericana qualifications, before taking a role at Major League Soccer club Atlanta United in 2020.