Pablo Aimar facts for kids
.jpg)
Aimar in 2017
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Pablo César Aimar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 3 November 1979 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Río Cuarto, Argentina | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Current team
|
Argentina U17 (head coach) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985–1993 | Estudiantes Río Cuarto | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1997 | River Plate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2000 | River Plate | 82 | (21) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2006 | Valencia | 162 | (27) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | Zaragoza | 57 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2013 | Benfica | 107 | (12) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Johor Darul Ta'zim | 8 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | River Plate | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Estudiantes Río Cuarto | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 414 | (67) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | Argentina U17 | 6 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | Argentina U20 | 7 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2009 | Argentina | 52 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017– | Argentina U17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018– | Argentina (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pablo Aimar, born on November 3, 1979, is a famous Argentine former football player. He used to play as an attacking midfielder. Today, he is an assistant coach for the Argentina national team.
He started playing professionally for River Plate in 1996. Later, he played for Spanish teams like Valencia and Zaragoza for eight seasons. He also spent five years with Benfica in Portugal. Overall, he won nine major titles with these three clubs.
Aimar played 52 games for the Argentina senior team over ten years. He represented his country in two FIFA World Cups and two Copa América tournaments. He also played in a FIFA Confederations Cup. He reached the final of the 2005 Confederations Cup and the 2007 Copa América with Argentina.
In 2018, Aimar became an assistant coach for the Argentina national team. Since then, the team has won the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 World Cup, and the 2024 Copa América.
Contents
Aimar's Football Journey: Club Career Highlights
Starting Out: River Plate Years
Pablo Aimar's football journey began when he joined Estudiantes de Río Cuarto. He trained there three times a week. That's where River Plate noticed him and invited him to their academy.
Aimar's father was unsure at first because Pablo was so young. But River Plate's manager, Daniel Passarella, personally asked him to let Pablo play. Aimar chose football over medical school. He made his debut for River Plate on August 11, 1996. His first goal came in February 1998.
Between 1996 and 2000, Aimar helped River Plate win five titles. He scored 21 goals and made 28 assists in 82 league games. His last game for the club was on December 17, 2000.
Moving to Spain: Valencia Success
In January 2001, Valencia, a top Spanish club, signed Aimar. They paid €24 million for him, which was a club record at the time. He played his first game for Valencia the next month against Manchester United.
Aimar quickly became a key player in Valencia's midfield. He helped the team reach the 2001 UEFA Champions League final. They lost that final to Bayern Munich after a penalty shootout.
The next season, Valencia won the 2001–02 La Liga title for the first time in 31 years. Aimar played in 33 league games and scored 4 goals. He was the club's third-highest goal scorer that season.
In the 2003–04 season, Valencia won both the league and the UEFA Cup. Aimar played an important role in their UEFA Cup win. However, he started to face many injuries, which would affect his career.
After a few changes in managers and more injuries, Aimar decided to leave Valencia. He had played over 200 games for the club in five and a half seasons.
Time at Zaragoza
In 2006, Aimar joined another Spanish club, Real Zaragoza. He signed a four-year deal. The club called it their most important signing ever. He joined his friend and former Valencia teammate, Roberto Ayala, there.
Aimar played his first league game for Zaragoza on August 27. He made 32 appearances and scored five goals in his first season. Zaragoza finished sixth in the league.
The next season was tough for Zaragoza. The club faced many problems and was relegated from La Liga. Because of this, Aimar left the club. He had played 57 games for Zaragoza over two seasons. While there, he also gained dual Spanish nationality.
Playing in Portugal: Benfica Years
.jpg)
On July 17, 2008, Aimar signed a four-year contract with Portuguese club Benfica. He had some injuries at first. But he finished the season strongly and won a Taça da Liga title.
In the 2009–10 season, Aimar played alongside his former River Plate teammate, Javier Saviola. They worked together to support striker Óscar Cardozo and Ángel Di María. This group became the most dangerous attack in the Primeira Liga. Benfica scored 78 goals and won both the league and the cup.
Aimar became a fan favorite at Benfica. But injuries continued to bother him, so he played less often. Even so, he helped the club win three more consecutive Taça da Liga titles. On June 6, 2013, Aimar announced he was leaving Benfica. He thanked the club for "five wonderful years." He had played 179 official games, scored 17 goals, and made 34 assists.
Short Stint in Malaysia: Johor Darul Ta'zim
On August 7, 2013, Aimar signed a two-year contract with Johor Darul Ta'zim, a Malaysian club. He became the highest-paid player in the Malaysia Super League.
He made his debut six months after signing. Before this, Aimar had played at the Larkin Stadium, Johor's home ground, with Argentina in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship. He played 8 games and scored two goals for the club. However, more injuries led to his release on April 21, 2014. Johor Darul Ta'zim went on to win the 2014 league title, so Aimar earned a champion's medal.
Back to Where It Started: River Plate Return
On January 5, 2015, Aimar returned to River Plate for pre-season training. He said he would only sign if he could handle the physical demands. He had undergone heel surgeries and hadn't played since April 2014.
On May 31, he played as a substitute in a home win against Rosario Central. Aimar announced his retirement on July 14, 2015. This was after River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo told him he wasn't in the squad for the Copa Libertadores semi-finals. Gallardo said Aimar was "suffering" from injuries.
One Last Game: Estudiantes de Río Cuarto
On January 16, 2018, Aimar played in a friendly match for his youth club, Estudiantes de Río Cuarto. After the game, he said he would join the team for a Copa Argentina match on January 23. He wanted to make an official appearance for the club where he started playing.
The Copa Argentina match took place at Estudiantes' home stadium. Aimar started the game and wore the captain's armband. He almost scored but the goalkeeper saved his shot. He was substituted in the 50th minute. The match ended in a draw, which wasn't enough for Estudiantes to advance. His brother, Andrés Aimar, also played in the game. Aimar confirmed this was his final farewell match from football.
Aimar's International Career with Argentina
Aimar first played for Argentina at youth levels. He won the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship with future senior team players like Esteban Cambiasso and Juan Román Riquelme. He then played 52 games for the senior team after his debut in 1999, scoring eight goals.
He represented Argentina in the 1999 and 2007 Copa América tournaments. He also played in the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups. Additionally, he played in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup.
In the 2002 World Cup, Aimar came on as a substitute against England. He later started against Sweden.
Aimar scored Argentina's only goal in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup final, which they lost 4–1 to Brazil. He also scored in the 2007 Copa América in a 4–1 win against the United States. Argentina reached the final but lost to Brazil again, 3–0.
In October 2009, Aimar was called up for important 2010 World Cup qualifiers. He helped Argentina win 2–1 against Peru by assisting Gonzalo Higuaín for the first goal.
Aimar's Playing Style and Nicknames
Pablo Aimar was a very talented and creative attacking midfielder. He was right-footed and had many skills. He was great at dribbling, seeing the field, and passing the ball to create chances for his teammates. He was also good at free kicks.
Because of his skills, people compared him to Diego Maradona when he was young. Lionel Messi even said in 2002 that Aimar was one of his biggest influences as a player. Aimar was known for his talent and flair, earning him nicknames like El Payaso (the clown) and El Mago (the wizard). Despite his talent, he struggled with injuries throughout his career.
Aimar's Coaching Career
Aimar became the coach of the Argentina national under-17 football team in July 2017. His under-17 team won the South American U-17 Championship in 2019.
He was also part of the Argentina coaching team that won the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Aimar's Personal Life
Pablo Aimar's younger brother, Andrés Aimar, was also a professional football player. He played as a midfielder for several teams in Argentina and for a few months in Israel. In October 2022, Aimar's mother passed away.
Career Statistics
Club Appearances and Goals
Here are Pablo Aimar's statistics for his club career:
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| River Plate | 1995–96 | Argentine Primera División | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 1996–97 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| 1997–98 | 16 | 4 | — | 7 | 2 | — | 23 | 6 | ||||
| 1998–99 | 18 | 2 | — | 9 | 1 | — | 27 | 3 | ||||
| 1999–00 | 33 | 13 | — | 8 | 3 | — | 41 | 16 | ||||
| 2000–01 | 15 | 4 | — | 5 | 1 | — | 20 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 83 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 112 | 30 | ||
| Valencia | 2000–01 | La Liga | 10 | 2 | — | 8 | 0 | — | 18 | 2 | ||
| 2001–02 | 33 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | — | 40 | 6 | |||
| 2002–03 | 31 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 3 | — | 46 | 11 | |||
| 2003–04 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | 38 | 4 | |||
| 2004–05 | 31 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | — | 39 | 6 | |||
| 2005–06 | 32 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 35 | 5 | |||
| Total | 162 | 27 | 13 | 0 | 40 | 7 | — | 216 | 34 | |||
| Zaragoza | 2006–07 | La Liga | 31 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 5 | ||
| 2007–08 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 25 | 0 | |||
| Total | 53 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 57 | 5 | |||
| Benfica | 2008–09 | Primeira Liga | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 29 | 2 |
| 2009–10 | 25 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 41 | 5 | ||
| 2010–11 | 23 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 46 | 7 | ||
| 2011–12 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 42 | 3 | ||
| 2012–13 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | ||
| Total | 107 | 12 | 14 | 1 | 39 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 179 | 17 | ||
| Johor Darul Ta'zim | 2014 | Malaysia Super League | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 2 | ||
| Total | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | ||
| River Plate | 2015 | Argentine Primera División | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Estudiantes Río Cuarto | 2017–18 | Torneo Federal A | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 413 | 67 | 32 | 1 | 101 | 17 | 18 | 1 | 566 | 86 | ||
International Appearances and Goals
Here are Pablo Aimar's statistics for the Argentina national team:
| Argentina | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 | 5 | 1 |
| 2001 | 8 | 0 |
| 2002 | 6 | 1 |
| 2003 | 9 | 4 |
| 2004 | 2 | 0 |
| 2005 | 6 | 1 |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 |
| 2007 | 7 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 52 | 8 |
International Goals for Argentina
Here are the goals Pablo Aimar scored for Argentina:
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 16 August 2000 | Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina |  Paraguay |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2002 World Cup qualification |
| 2. | 27 March 2002 | Geneva, Switzerland |  Cameroon |
2–1 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 3. | 30 April 2003 | June 11 Stadium, Tripoli, Libya |  Libya |
3–1 | 3–1 | |
| 4. | 6 September 2003 | Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina |  Chile |
2–0 | 2–2 | 2006 World Cup qualification |
| 5. | 9 September 2003 | Estadio Olímpico, Caracas, Venezuela |  Venezuela |
1–0 | 3–0 | |
| 6. | 15 November 2003 | Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina |  Bolivia |
3–0 | 3–0 | |
| 7. | 29 June 2005 | Waldstadion, Frankfurt, Germany |  Brazil |
1–4 | 1–4 | 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup |
| 8. | 28 June 2007 | José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela |  United States |
3–1 | 4–1 | 2007 Copa América |
Managerial Record
Here is Pablo Aimar's coaching record:
| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||
| Argentina U-17 | 13 July 2017 | Present | 20 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 21 | +15 | 65.00 |
| Total | 20 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 21 | +15 | 65.00 | ||
Honours and Achievements
As a Player
River Plate
- Argentine Primera División: 1997 Apertura, 1999 Apertura, 2000 Clausura
- Supercopa Sudamericana: 1997
Valencia
- La Liga: 2001–02, 2003–04
- UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2000–01
- UEFA Cup: 2003–04
- UEFA Super Cup: 2004
Benfica
- Primeira Liga: 2009–10
- Taça de Portugal runner-up: 2012–13
- Taça da Liga: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12
- UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2012–13
Johor Darul Ta’zim
- Malaysian Super League: 2014
Argentina U17
- South American Under-17 Championship runner-up: 1995
- FIFA U-17 World Cup third place: 1995
Argentina U20
- South American Youth Championship: 1997, 1999
- FIFA World Youth Championship: 1997
Argentina Senior Team
- FIFA Confederations Cup runner-up: 2005
- Copa América runner-up: 2007
Individual Awards
- FIFA World Youth Championship Bronze Ball: 1997
- South American Team of the Year: 1999, 2000
- UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2002–03
- Trofeo EFE: 2005–06
- Cosme Damião Awards – Footballer of the Year: 2011
As a Manager
Argentina Senior Team (as assistant manager)
- FIFA World Cup: 2022
- Copa América: 2021, 2024; third place: 2019
- CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions: 2022
Argentina U17
- South American U-17 Championship: 2019
See also
In Spanish: Pablo Aimar para niños
