Erik Lamela facts for kids
Erik Manuel Lamela Cordero (born 4 March 1992) is an Argentine professional footballer. He plays as a right winger or attacking midfielder for AEK Athens in Greece. Erik is also a player for the Argentina national team.
Lamela started his career at River Plate in Argentina. In 2011, he moved to Roma in Italy. After two seasons, he joined Tottenham Hotspur in England for a record fee for the club at that time. He has also played for Sevilla in Spain. Erik has represented Argentina in international tournaments, helping his country reach the finals of the Copa América in 2015 and 2016.
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Lamela lining up for Tottenham Hotspur in 2020
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 4 March 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.81 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Right winger, attacking midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | AEK Athens | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2010 | River Plate | ||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | River Plate | 36 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Roma | 62 | (19) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2021 | Tottenham Hotspur | 177 | (17) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2024 | Sevilla | 65 | (13) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | AEK Athens | 12 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Argentina U20 | 4 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2018 | Argentina | 25 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Contents
Early Life and Childhood Dreams
Erik Lamela was born on March 4, 1992, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His family gave him the nickname "Coco." When he was just seven years old, he joined the youth team of River Plate.
At 12, Erik was already famous for scoring 120 goals in one season for River Plate's youth side! There were even reports that FC Barcelona wanted him to move to Spain, just like Lionel Messi did when he was young. Erik shared his dream of winning the World Cup for Argentina, following in the footsteps of his hero, Diego Maradona.
Playing for Clubs
Starting at River Plate
Erik Lamela made his first professional appearance for River Plate on June 14, 2009. He was only 17 years old! He scored his first goal for the team in December 2010.
During the 2010–11 season, Erik was a regular player, scoring four goals in 34 games. Even though River Plate finished well, the team was unfortunately moved down to a lower league.
Moving to Roma
In August 2011, Erik joined the Italian club Roma. He quickly started scoring goals for his new team. In his first season, he scored six goals in 31 games.
The 2012–13 season was even better for Erik. He scored 15 goals in 33 games, making him one of the top scorers in the league. However, Roma lost the Italian Cup final that year, and they didn't qualify for European competitions.
Time at Tottenham Hotspur
On August 30, 2013, Erik Lamela moved to the English club Tottenham Hotspur. His transfer fee was a club record at the time, showing how much Tottenham believed in him.
First Season and Injuries
Erik made his debut for Tottenham in September 2013. He quickly showed his skill by assisting goals for his teammates. He scored his first goal for the club in a Europa League game in November. Unfortunately, a back injury ended his first season early in April 2014.
Becoming a Key Player
In the 2014–15 season, Erik became a regular starter for Tottenham under their new manager. He showed his amazing talent by scoring two goals against Asteras Tripoli in the Europa League. One of these goals was a special "rabona" kick from outside the penalty area. This goal was so incredible that it was named the Europa League 'Goal of the Season'!
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Erik continued to be a very important player for Tottenham in the 2015–16 season. He scored his first professional hat-trick (three goals in one game) in the Europa League. He also scored five goals in the Premier League, his best total yet.
Challenges and Comeback
The 2016–17 season started well for Erik, but a hip injury kept him out of action for a long time. He returned to play in November 2017 after more than a year. He quickly started making assists and scoring goals again, showing his determination.
Later Years at Tottenham
In 2018, Erik signed a new contract with Tottenham. He continued to score important goals, including one in the UEFA Champions League against Barcelona. He was part of the Tottenham team that reached the Champions League final in 2019.
In March 2021, Erik scored another amazing "rabona" goal in a game against Arsenal. This goal was so spectacular that it won the Premier League 'Goal of the Season' award and later the prestigious FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal of the year!
Moving to Sevilla
In July 2021, Erik joined Sevilla in Spain. He had a fantastic start, scoring two goals in his very first game! After a shoulder injury, he came back strong.
In May 2023, Erik scored a crucial goal in extra time in the Europa League semi-final, sending Sevilla to the final. In the final, he helped Sevilla win the trophy by scoring a penalty in the shootout. This was Erik's first major title in his professional career!
Joining AEK Athens
In July 2024, Erik Lamela signed a three-year contract with AEK Athens in Greece.
Playing for Argentina
Erik Lamela played for Argentina's Under-20 team, scoring three goals in four matches. He made his debut for the senior Argentina national team in May 2011.
In September 2014, Erik scored his first goal for the senior team in a friendly game against Germany. He was also part of the Argentine squad for the Copa América tournaments in 2015 and 2016. In the 2016 tournament, he scored two goals, helping Argentina reach the final.
Personal Life
Erik Lamela is in a long-term relationship with Sofia Herrero. They have two sons named Tobias and Thiago.
Honours and Awards
Erik Lamela has won several awards and helped his teams achieve great things:
Roma
- Italian Cup runner-up: 2012–13
Tottenham Hotspur
- League Cup runner-up: 2014–15, 2020–21
- UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2018–19
Sevilla
- UEFA Europa League: 2022–23
Argentina
- Copa América runner-up: 2015, 2016
Individual Awards
- Premier League Goal of the Month: March 2021
- Premier League Goal of the Season: 2020–21
- FIFA Puskas Award: 2021
Images for kids
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Lamela playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2020
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Lamela playing for Roma in 2013
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Lamela playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2016
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Lamela lining up for Argentina in 2013
See also
In Spanish: Erik Lamela para niños
