Gerard Piqué Bernabeu (; born 2 February 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Barcelona. He spent four years at Manchester United before joining La Liga club Real Zaragoza on a season-long loan in 2006. He returned to Barcelona in 2008 under Pep Guardiola’s leadership and helped the club win trebles in 2008–09 and 2014–15. Piqués is also a member of the Spain national football team, and made his debut for his country at the 2014 European Championships in Brazil. He retired from the national team after the 2018 World Cup.
About Gerard Piqué in brief
Gerard Piqué Bernabeu (; born 2 February 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Barcelona. He spent four years at Manchester United before joining La Liga club Real Zaragoza on a season-long loan in 2006. He returned to Barcelona in 2008 under Pep Guardiola’s leadership and helped the club win trebles in 2008–09 and 2014–15. He is one of only four players to have won the UEFA Champions League two years in a row with different teams, the others being Marcel Desailly, Paulo Sousa and Samuel Eto’o. He played a key role in the Spain teams that won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012. He retired from the national team after the 2018 World Cup. Pique has also represented Spain 102 times, making his debut on 11 February 2009. He has been called up to the Spain squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro World Cup, but did not make the final squad. He was named in Spain’s squad for both the 2014 and 2016 European Championships. Piqués is also a member of the Spain national football team, and made his debut for his country at the 2014 European Championships in Brazil. He made his professional debut for Manchester United in October 2004, as a 67th minute replacement for John O’Shea in a 3–0 League Cup victory at Crewe Alexandra. His performances earned him a new contract, which he signed in February 2005, to run until the summer of 2009.
On 27 May 2008, Pique signed a four-year contract with Barcelona, with a €5 million buy-out clause. He expressed his joy at re-signing with his boyhood club, although he admitted he had enjoyed his spell at United: I am very happy to be back, I didn’t think I would be here again but this is very good for me. On 13 May 2009, he picked up the first jersey of his career as he helped his club to a 4–1 victory over Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey Final. In doing so, he became the 450th player to score at least one goal for the club. His first goal for Barcelona came in the club’s 5–2 2008-09 Champions League group stage win at Sporting CP on 26 November 2008. He also scored the first of Manchester United’s four goals in a 4-0 home win against Dynamo Kyiv on 7 November 2007, and became the first player to do so in the Champions League. He turned out to be the 57th minute winner against local rivals Espanyol, which came from a corner kick in the 56th minute. On 2 May 2009 he scored Barcelona’s sixth goal in a 6–2 Clásico win against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabéu, which saw him produce a passionate celebration where he grabbed a passionate goal in the celebration. He became the 43rd player to win the El Clasico.
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