Ezequiel Garay

Ezequiel Marcelo Garay González (Spanish pronunciation: [eseˈkjel ɣaˈɾaj]; born 10 October 1986) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a central defender.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Garay and the second or maternal family name is González.

Ezequiel Garay
Garay playing for Zenit in 2015
Personal information
Full name Ezequiel Marcelo Garay González[1]
Date of birth (1986-10-10) 10 October 1986[2]
Place of birth Rosario, Argentina
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[3]
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
Newell's Old Boys
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Newell's Old Boys 13 (1)
2005–2008 Racing Santander 60 (12)
2008–2011 Real Madrid 25 (1)
2008–2009 → Racing Santander (loan) 24 (2)
2011–2014 Benfica 78 (9)
2014–2016 Zenit Saint Petersburg 50 (3)
2016–2020 Valencia 92 (6)
National team‡
2003 Argentina U17 6 (2)
2008 Argentina U23 9 (0)
2007–2015 Argentina 32 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 February 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 05:53, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

He started his career with Newell's Old Boys but moved to Spain at the age of 19, going on to amass La Liga totals of 201 games and 21 goals over ten seasons with Racing de Santander, Real Madrid and Valencia. In 2011 he signed with Benfica, winning four major titles, most notably the domestic treble in 2013–14.

Garay represented Argentina at the 2014 World Cup, and two Copa América tournaments.

Club career

Early years

Garay was born in Rosario, Santa Fe. At the early age of 18, he made his professional debut for hometown's Newell's Old Boys, in the Primera División. His first match was against Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, as the local team eventually won the Apertura championship in the 2004–05 season.

Garay made another 12 league appearances for Newell's, scoring his first and only goal for the club in the local derby against Rosario Central, a 2–1 win.[4]

Racing Santander

Garay joined La Liga club Racing de Santander in December 2005, helping with seven complete matches as the Cantabria side barely avoided relegation. His first full season was nothing short of spectacular as he netted nine league goals in 31 games, being the second top scorer in his position in Europe's major leagues only behind Inter Milan's Marco Materazzi (ten);[5][6] against Real Madrid only, he scored three times – 2–1 home win[4] (both through penalties, as well as five other goals) and 1–3 away loss – as Racing eventually finished tenth, the club's best since returning to the top flight in 2002.

On 19 March 2008, in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey against Getafe CF, Garay suffered a serious leg injury which put him out of action for the remainder of the campaign.[7] He still scored three goals in 22 contests with his team finishing in a best-ever sixth position, qualifying for the first time to the UEFA Cup[8]– one of those came on 30 September 2007 in a 1–0 win at UD Almería.[9]

Garay playing for Real Madrid against Real Sociedad in 2011

Real Madrid

On 18 May 2008, Racing sold Garay to Real Madrid,[10] but received the player again on a season-long loan.[11] Returned in July 2009, he made his league debut for the latter on 29 August, in the opening game of the season against Deportivo de La Coruña, a 3–2 home win;[12] on 12 December, after coming on as a substitute for severely injured Pepe, he scored his first goal for the club, heading in a free kick from Xabi Alonso to make it 3–2 at Valencia CF with six minutes to go.[13]

Garay was only fourth-choice stopper in 2010–11 under new manager José Mourinho,[14] only appearing in five league matches, adding two in the Spanish Cup (including one minute in the final against FC Barcelona, a 1–0 extra-time win).[15]

Benfica
Garay with Benfica in 2011

On 5 July 2011, Garay transferred to S.L. Benfica[16] for a fee of €5.5 million,[17] signing a four-year contract – initially part of the deal that sent Fábio Coentrão to Real Madrid,[18] Garay eventually signed a separate deal.[19] Real Madrid also remained eligible for 50% of any transfer fee Benfica would receive,[17] and the latter also sold part of his rights to Benfica Stars Fund for €1.175 million, making the club owner of 40%.[20]

During his spell in Lisbon, Garay shared teams with a host of compatriots, and often partnered with Luisão in central defence.[21][22][23] On 24 April 2014, he scored his eighth official goal of the season, netting his team's first in a 2–1 home victory over Juventus F.C. for the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals.[24]

Zenit

On 25 June 2014, Russian club FC Zenit Saint Petersburg signed Garay in a transfer totalling €6 million, with Benfica receiving €2.4 million for their 40% part of the player's rights.[25][26]

He appeared in 42 games across all competitions in his first season, helping the team to their fifth Russian Premier League championship.

Valencia

On 31 August 2016, Garay joined Spanish club Valencia for a fee reported at around €20 million.[27][28] He scored four goals in his debut campaign, but his side could only finish 12th.[29]

Garay was on the starting XI in the 2019 Copa del Rey Final, a 2–1 triumph against Barcelona.[30] In February 2020, after suffering a cruciate ligament injury to his right knee which would sideline him for up to six months,[31] he asked to be released so that another player in his position could be signed.[32]

International career
Mario Götze scoring the winning goal for Germany as Garay (left), Martín Demichelis (centre) and goalkeeper Sergio Romero look on during the 2014 World Cup Final

In 2005, Garay helped the Argentine under-20s win the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands. That side also included Sergio Agüero, Fernando Gago, Lionel Messi and Oscar Ustari.[33]

Garay earned his first cap for the senior team cap in a friendly against Norway, a 1–2 loss on 22 August 2007.[34][35] He had previously been called in May by coach Alfio Basile to a series of friendlies prior to the 2007 Copa América, but injury prevented him from appearing in those matches and the official competition.[4]

Garay was selected by new national team manager Sergio Batista to the 2011 Copa América. He was also picked by the following coach, Alejandro Sabella, for his 2014 FIFA World Cup squad, making his debut in the competition on 15 June by featuring the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 group stage defeat of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[36] He was first-choice in all the remaining games and, on 9 July, converted his penalty shootout attempt against the Netherlands (0–0 after 120 minutes) to send his country to the final for the first time in 24 years.[37]

Garay made the list for the 2015 Copa América,[38] starting in the team's opening fixture against Paraguay in La Serena (2–2).[39]

Personal life

On 15 March 2020, Garay became the first La Liga player to test positive for COVID-19.[40]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 1 February 2020[41][42]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Newell's Old Boys 2004–05 Argentine Primera División 10——10
2005–06 121——121
Total 131——131
Racing Santander 2005–06 La Liga 7000—70
2006–07 31910—329
2007–08 22372—295
2008–09 24220—4[lower-alpha 1]0—302
Total 8414102—|40—9816
Real Madrid 2009–10 La Liga 20100—3[lower-alpha 2]0—231
2010–11 5020—1[lower-alpha 2]0—80
Total 25120—40—311
Benfica 2011–12 Primeira Liga 242203011[lower-alpha 2]0—402
2012–13 271401014[lower-alpha 3]1—462
2013–14 276503014[lower-alpha 4]2—498
Total 78911070393—13512
Zenit 2014–15 Russian Premier League 26110—15[lower-alpha 5]0—421
2015–16 20220—6[lower-alpha 2]000282
2016–17 4000——1[lower-alpha 6]050
Total 50330—21010753
Valencia 2016–17 La Liga 27410—284
2017–18 24040—280
2018–19 24230—8[lower-alpha 7]0—352
2019–20 17000—5[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 8]0230
Total 92680—130101146
Career totals 34234342708132046639
  1. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  2. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. 6 appearances in UEFA Champions League, 8 in UEFA Europa League
  4. 6 appearances in UEFA Champions League, 8 in UEFA Europa League
  5. 10 appearances in UEFA Champions League, 5 in UEFA Europa League
  6. Appearance(s) in Russian Super Cup
  7. 3 appearances in UEFA Champions League, 5 in UEFA Europa League
  8. Appearance(s) in Supercopa de España

International
As of 8 October 2015[43]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Argentina 200710
201120
201280
201370
201470
201570
Total320

Honours

Club

Newell's Old Boys

Real Madrid

Benfica

Zenit Saint Petersburg

Valencia

International

Argentina U17

Argentina U20

Argentina U23

Argentina

Individual

References
  1. "Acta del partido celebrado el 12 de mayo de 2019, en Valencia" [Minutes of the match held on 12 May 2019, in Valencia] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  2. "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of Players: Argentina" (PDF). FIFA. 14 July 2014. p. 2. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  3. "Эсекиэль Гарай" [Ezequiel Garay] (in Russian). FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  4. "Onwards and upwards for Garay". FIFA. 12 June 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  5. Fernández, Elena (21 June 2007). "La Juve ya ha superado la pérdida de Milito" [Juve have already come to terms with loss of Milito] (in Spanish). Merca Fútbol. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  6. Jurado, José Carlos (1 October 2007). "Defensas centrales, delanteros por un día" [Central defenders, forwards for a day]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  7. "El Getafe elimina al Racing en un partido muy polémico y repetirá final en la Copa" [Getafe oust Racing in highly controversial match and will repeat Cup final]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). 20 March 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  8. "El Racing se mete por primera vez en la UEFA al ganar a Osasuna (1–0)" [Racing reach UEFA for the first time after beating Osasuna (1–0)]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 18 May 2008. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  9. "Almeria 0–1 Racing Santander". ESPN Soccernet. 30 September 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  10. "Garay: Gunning for the future". Real Madrid CF. 20 May 2008. Archived from the original on 29 May 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2009.
  11. "Racing y Real Madrid cierran el acuerdo para el traspaso de Ezequiel Garay" [Racing and Real Madrid close deal for transfer of Ezequiel Garay]. El Economista (in Spanish). 20 May 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  12. Rioja, Raúl (29 August 2009). "Lass salva a un Real Madrid que todavía no convence (3–2)" [Lass saves a Real Madrid who still fail to convince (3–2)]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  13. "Garay header secures Real win". ESPN Soccernet. 12 December 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  14. "Garay y Mou, ¿caminos cruzados?" [Garay and Mou, crossed paths?] (in Spanish). Defensa Central. 4 July 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  15. Ronaldo heads Real to victory; ESPN Soccernet, 20 April 2011
  16. "Garay to move to Benfica". ESPN Soccernet. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  17. "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Portuguese Securities Market Commission. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  18. Real Madrid sign fullback Coentrao from Benfica Archived 10 July 2012 at Archive.today; Reuters, 5 July 2011
  19. "Garay leaves Madrid for Benfica". ESPN Soccernet. 16 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  20. "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Portuguese Securities Market Commission. 30 September 2011. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  21. "Luisão e Garay formam a 'muralha' ideal" [Luisão and Garay form ideal 'wall']. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 15 February 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  22. Pimentel, Tiago (14 March 2013). "Benfica nunca perdeu esta época sem Luisão e Garay" [Benfica have never lost this season without Luisão and Garay]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  23. "Benfica sem centrais titulares: "déjà vu" de Londres" [Benfica without starting centre-backs: London "déjà vu"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 14 March 2013. Archived from the original on 17 March 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  24. "Lima puts Benfica on top against Juventus". UEFA. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  25. "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Portuguese Securities Market Commission. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  26. "Relatório & contas 2013/2014" [2013/2014 report & finance] (PDF) (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  27. "VCF official statement | Ezequiel Garay". Valencia CF. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  28. "Real Madrid turn to CAS over Garay sale to Zenit". Diario AS. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  29. Hernández, José (10 May 2017). "La batalla por el 'Pichichi' del Valencia 2016–17" [The 'Pichichi' battle of 2016–17 Valencia] (in Spanish). Deporte Valenciano. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  30. Chowdhury, Saj (25 May 2019). "Barcelona 1–2 Valencia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  31. García, Andrés (2 February 2020). "Ezequiel Garay KO, se pierde toda la temporada del Valencia CF" [Ezequiel Garay KO, misses entire Valencia CF season]. Levante-EMV (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  32. Calero, Toni (27 February 2020). "Garay: «Sí, firmé la baja para que fichen a un central»" [Garay: «Yes, I was released so that they sign a stopper»]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  33. Ezequiel Garay – FIFA competition record
  34. "Confirmaciones y reapariciones" [Confirmations and reappearances] (in Spanish). ESPN. 8 August 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  35. "Dos goles de Carew le dan victoria a Noruega sobre Argentina" [Two Carew goals give Norway win over Argentina]. El Mercurio (in Spanish). 22 August 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  36. "Bosnia beaten by Messi marvel". FIFA. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  37. "Romero the shoot-out hero as Argentina reach final". FIFA. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  38. "Gerardo Martino confirmó la lista de 23 convocados y mantuvo a Casco para la Copa América" [Gerardo Martino confirmed list of 23 selected and kept Casco for the Copa América]. La Nación (in Spanish). 27 May 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  39. "Argentina 2–2 Paraguay". BBC Sport. 13 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  40. Rathborn, Jack (15 March 2020). "Coronavirus: First La Liga player tests positive for virus as Spain prepares to go into lockdown". The Independent. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  41. "E. Garay". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  42. Ezequiel Garay at BDFutbol
  43. Ezequiel Garay at National-Football-Teams.com
  44. "Ezequiel Garay". GFDB. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  45. Rogovitskiy, Dmitriy (25 June 2014). "Zenit win race to sign Argentina defender Garay". Reuters. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  46. "Spot-on Sevilla leave Benfica dreams in tatters". UEFA. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  47. "Mundial Sub 17: el casillero vacío que tiene la Argentina en su historia de juveniles" [Under 17 World Cup: the empty cabinet Argentina have in their youth history]. La Nación (in Spanish). 26 October 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  48. "Ezequiel Garay #2, Argentina; #24, Zenit St Petersburg". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  49. Dawkes, Phil (5 July 2015). "Chile 0–0 Argentina (Chile win 4–1 on penalties)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  50. "UEFA Europa League squad of the season". UEFA. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
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