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Gabriel Milito

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Gabriel Milito
Milito coaching Estudiantes in 2015
Personal information
Full name Gabriel Alejandro Milito[1]
Date of birth (1980-09-07) 7 September 1980 (age 44)[2]
Place of birth Bernal, Argentina
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
Independiente
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2003 Independiente 123 (3)
2003–2007 Zaragoza 137 (5)
2007–2011 Barcelona 84 (1)
2011–2012 Independiente 31 (0)
Total 339 (9)
International career
1997 Argentina U17 4 (0)
1999 Argentina U20 2 (0)
2000–2011 Argentina 42 (1)
Managerial career
2013–2014 Independiente (reserves)
2015 Estudiantes
2016 Independiente
2017–2018 O'Higgins
2019–2020 Estudiantes
2021–2023 Argentinos Juniors
2024 Atlético Mineiro
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Argentina
Copa América
Runner-up 2007 Venezuela
FIFA Confederations Cup
Runner-up 2005 Germany
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gabriel Alejandro Milito (born 7 September 1980) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played as a centre-back. He was recently the head coach of Brazilian club Atlético Mineiro.

He began and finished his professional career at Independiente. He spent seven years in Spain, representing Zaragoza and Barcelona and amassing La Liga totals of 187 matches and six goals.

Milito appeared with the Argentina national team in three major tournaments, including the 2006 World Cup, winning 42 caps. He later managed three teams in the Argentine Primera División, including Independiente.

Playing career

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Club

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Early years

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Born in Bernal, Buenos Aires Province, Milito started playing professionally with Primera División side Independiente in 1997. During that time he often faced his older brother Diego, who played for Independiente's arch-rivals Racing Club de Avellaneda.[3]

Zaragoza

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In July 2003, Milito was due to be transferred to Real Madrid,[4] but the Spaniards rejected the player after medical results showed, according to them, a not-fully-recovered knee injury;[5] Jorge Valdano, who acted as director of football, further added that the player had always been appreciated for his technical skills, but his physical state was a cause for great concern.[6][7] He decided to stay in the country, and joined Real Zaragoza.[8]

In his four seasons with the Aragonese, Milito was an automatic first choice and won the Copa del Rey in his first season against former suitors Real Madrid;[9] he never played fewer than 33 La Liga matches, and rejoined sibling Diego in 2005. In July that year, he was pursued by European champions Liverpool and their Spanish manager Rafael Benítez, whose £7.5 million approach was rejected;[10] he then signed a new contract until 2010, with a buyout clause of €30 million.[11]

Italian newspaper Tuttosport published an interview in June 2007 in which Milito – who holds the country's passport through descent – said that he wanted to leave for Juventus. The player denied the meeting had taken place.[12]

Barcelona

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Milito (center) waves to fans during Barcelona's 2010–11 victory parade

On 10 July 2007, an agreement was reached with Barcelona for €18.5million (£13.9 million) and, the following week, Milito passed his medical and signed a four-year deal with the club worth €4 million (£2.7 million) a year;[13] he was given the number 3 shirt, which was formerly worn by Thiago Motta.

Milito made his competitive debut for Barcelona on 2 September 2007, in a 3–1 home win against Athletic Bilbao.[14] He scored his first goal for the Catalans on 24 November, in a 3–0 victory over Recreativo de Huelva also at the Camp Nou.[15]

On 5 May 2008, it was announced that Milito had damage to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.[16] This rendered him ineligible for the entire 2008–09 campaign, which ended in a treble.

After being sidelined for almost two years (602 days), Milito finally returned to action when he played in a friendly with Kazma in Kuwait.[17] On 5 January 2010, he made his return to competitive football in the first leg of the Copa del Rey's round of 16, a 1–2 home loss against Sevilla.[18] He reappeared in the domestic league five days later, coming on as a substitute for Carles Puyol for the final seven minutes of the 5–0 away win over Tenerife.[19]

Milito contributed one goal to a 5–1 home win against Ceuta in the domestic cup on 11 November 2010 (7–1 on aggregate), but had to leave the game injured.[20][21] On 30 April 2011, starting in a league match at Real Sociedad, he had a goal wrongfully ruled out for offside with the score at 1–1, as the hosts went on to win it 2–1;[22] as a result of his action he also tore a calf muscle, being sidelined for the rest of the season[23] and making ten appearances for the eventual champions.

Return to Independiente

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In early August 2011, the 30-year-old Milito was released from the last year of his contract with Barcelona,[24] and signed shortly after with former club Independiente. On 12 June 2012, he announced his retirement due to being mentally and physically exhausted.[25]

International

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Milito playing for the Argentina national team in 2011

Milito participated in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup with Argentina, helping the nation to the final. He was also part of the squad which took part in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, performing well in his only appearance, the group stage match against the Netherlands which ended in a 0–0 draw.[26]

Milito was selected to the 2007 Copa América squad. He contributed five appearances, as the Albiceleste finished in second position in Venezuela.[27][28][29][30][31]

On 20 August 2010, national team coach Sergio Batista recalled Milito for a friendly with Spain the following month, the player's first international appearance in more than three years.[32] He started in the 4–1 win in Buenos Aires,[33] and he was subsequently selected for the 2011 Copa América,[34] appearing in all the games for the eventual quarter-finalists.

Coaching career

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Milito's first coaching experience was with the reserves team of Independiente. He resigned late into 2014, due to differences with the club's president Hugo Moyano.[35]

On 15 April 2015, Milito replaced Mauricio Pellegrino at the helm of Estudiantes, after being convinced by president Juan Sebastián Verón.[36] Despite good results, he resigned at the end of the year.[37]

On 12 May 2016, Milito was re-appointed as Independiente manager, again in the place of Pellegrino. He signed an 18-month contract.[38]

Milito started his first coaching adventure outside Argentina on 9 August 2017, signing for two years with O'Higgins from the Chilean Primera División.[39] He returned to Estudiantes on a three-year deal on 11 March 2019[40] but, one year later, after being ousted in the round of 64 of the Copa Argentina by lowly Deportivo Laferrere, he again resigned.[41]

In January 2021, Milito signed a three-year contract at Argentinos Juniors, replacing Diego Dabove who had moved to San Lorenzo.[42] At the end of the 2022 season, having qualified for the Copa Libertadores, he extended his contract to 2027 but with a clause to cancel it.[43] He unexpectedly used the option on 30 August 2023, after a 1–0 home loss to San Martín in the last 16 of the domestic cup.[44]

On 24 March 2024, Milito was announced as head coach of Brazilian club Atlético Mineiro, agreeing to a deal running until December 2025.[45] He took charge ahead of the 2024 Campeonato Mineiro finals and led the team to the title with an aggregate 5–3 win over archrivals Cruzeiro.[46]

Milito also led Galo to the finals of both the 2024 Copa do Brasil and the 2024 Copa Libertadores, but lost both titles. On 4 December 2024, after a 12-winless match run, he was sacked.[47]

Personal life

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Milito's older brother, Diego, was also a footballer. A striker, he played with individual and team success for Inter Milan, and they both represented Real Zaragoza and the national team.[48][49]

Career statistics

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Club

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[50][51]

Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Independiente 1997–98 Argentine Primera División 2 0 – 2 0
1998–99 Argentine Primera División 25 0 – 2 0 27 0
1999–2000 Argentine Primera División 34 2 – 8 0 42 2
2000–01 Argentine Primera División 25 1 – 5 0 30 1
2001–02 Argentine Primera División 3 0 – 3 0
2002–03 Argentine Primera División 34 0 – 34 0
Total 123 3 – 15 0 138 3
Zaragoza 2003–04 La Liga 35 0 0 0 0 0 35 0
2004–05 La Liga 33 3 0 0 10 0 43 3
2005–06 La Liga 34 1 0 0 0 0 34 1
2006–07 La Liga 35 1 4 0 0 0 39 1
Total 137 5 4 0 10 0 151 5
Barcelona 2007–08 La Liga 27 1 6 0 9 0 42 1
2008–09 La Liga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2009–10 La Liga 11 0 1 0 5 0 17 0
2010–11 La Liga 10 0 4 1 2 0 16 1
Total 48 1 11 1 16 0 75 2
Independiente 2011–12 Argentine Primera División 19 0 1 0 2 0 22 0
Career total 308 9 15 1 43 0 364 10

International

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Argentina
Year Apps Goals
2000 1 0
2001 0 0
2002 0 0
2003 4 0
2004 3 0
2005 6 0
2006 5 0
2007 14 1
2008 0 0
2009 0 0
2010 2 0
2011 7 0
Total 42 1

International goal

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Argentina score listed first, score column indicates score after each Milito goal.

Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 16 October 2007 José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela  Venezuela 1–0 2–0 2010 World Cup qualification[52]

Managerial statistics

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As of match played 4 December 2024[53]
Team Nat From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Estudiantes Argentina 15 April 2015 5 December 2015 31 16 9 6 42 23 +19 051.61
Independiente 12 May 2016 31 December 2016 19 8 6 5 14 11 +3 042.11
O'Higgins Chile 14 August 2017 30 June 2018 26 10 5 11 35 37 −2 038.46
Estudiantes Argentina 11 March 2019 4 March 2020 34 12 12 10 36 28 +8 035.29
Argentinos Juniors 19 January 2021 30 August 2023 135 57 35 43 162 127 +35 042.22
Atlético Mineiro Brazil 24 March 2024 4 December 2024 62 23 20 19 85 77 +8 037.10
Total 307 126 87 94 374 303 +71 041.04

Honours

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Player

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Independiente

Zaragoza

Barcelona

Argentina

Individual

Manager

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Atlético Mineiro

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 presented by Toyota: List of players" (PDF). FIFA. 1 December 2009. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Gabriel MILITO". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  3. ^ Taveira, Fernando (4 May 2019). ""Milito hay uno solo": la historia de la rivalidad entre Diego y Gabriel, que se reedita en el cruce entre Racing y Estudiantes" ["There's only one Milito": the story of the rivalry between Diego and Gabriel, reborn as Racing and Estudiantes clash] (in Spanish). Infobae. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Milito makes for Madrid". UEFA. 8 July 2003. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  5. ^ "Madrid cancel Milito signing". UEFA. 22 July 2003. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  6. ^ Brown, Lucas (26 August 2009). "Jorge Valdano: I was right not to sign Gabriel Milito for Real Madrid". Goal. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  7. ^ Martín, Luis (12 April 2010). "Milito, contra Valdano" [Milito, against Valdano]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  8. ^ "Milito taken on by Zaragoza". UEFA. 24 July 2003. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  9. ^ Tuner, Georgina (19 March 2004). "Queiroz: Real are unbalanced". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Zaragoza rule out Milito sale". Liverpool Echo. 22 July 2005. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Milito renueva cinco temporadas con el Zaragoza" [Miito renews for five seasons with Zaragoza] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. 26 July 2005. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  12. ^ "Gaby Milito asegura que nunca ha dicho que se quiera ir del Zaragoza" [Gaby Milito assures that he never said that he wanted to leave Zaragoza]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 15 June 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  13. ^ Turner, Lucy (19 July 2007). "Milito honoured to sign for Barça". UEFA. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  14. ^ "Barcelona 3–1 Athletic Bilbao". ESPN Soccernet. 2 September 2007. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
  15. ^ "Barcelona 3–0 Recreativo Huelva". ESPN Soccernet. 24 November 2007. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
  16. ^ "Barcelona's Milito faces lengthy lay-off". UEFA. 5 May 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  17. ^ Malek, Cyrus C. (22 December 2009). "Barcelona's Gabriel Milito returns to action...602 days later". Goal. Retrieved 22 December 2009.
  18. ^ Aldunate, Ramiro (6 January 2010). "Carbón para Burrull, premio para el Sevilla" [Thumbs down for Burrull, up for Sevilla]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  19. ^ "El Barça responde con una "manita"" [Barça answer with a "fiver"]. ABC (in Spanish). 10 January 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  20. ^ Aldunate, Ramiro (11 November 2010). "Hay Barça para rato" [We have Barça for a long time]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  21. ^ "Barcelona 5–1 Ceuta". ESPN Soccernet. 10 November 2010. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  22. ^ "Sociedad surprise Barca with defeat". ESPN Soccernet. 30 April 2011. Archived from the original on 4 May 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  23. ^ "Milito, Montoya out for six weeks". FIFA. 1 May 2011. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  24. ^ "Milito allowed to leave". FC Barcelona. 4 August 2011. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  25. ^ "Gaby Milito anunció su retiro del fútbol: "Estoy agotado física y mentalmente"" [Gaby Milito announced retirement from football: "I'm worn out physically and mentally"] (in Spanish). Infobae. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  26. ^ "Holland 0–0 Argentina". BBC Sport. June 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  27. ^ Muñoz, Daniel (29 June 2007). "Argentina gana sin despeinarse" [Argentina win leaving tracksuit on]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  28. ^ Ballestero, Ignacio (3 July 2007). "Riquelme conduce a Argentina a cuartos" [Riquelme leads Argentina to last-eight]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  29. ^ Magdalena, Miguel (9 July 2007). "Genialidades hacia semifinales" [Geniuses at work towards the semi-finals]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  30. ^ Magdalena, Miguel (12 July 2007). "Reafirmación hacia el título" [Staking another claim towards title]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  31. ^ Magdalena, Miguel (15 July 2007). "La apuesta ganadora" [The winning bet]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  32. ^ "Gago e Higuaín entran en la lista contra España" [Gago and Higuaín make list for Spain clash]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 20 August 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  33. ^ Herguedas, Miguel Ángel (7 September 2010). "Argentina se ceba con la campeona" [Argentina do what they want with champions]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  34. ^ "Messi y Agüero lideran la lista para la Copa América" [Messi and Agüero lead list for Copa América]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 26 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  35. ^ Schiavo, Francisco (30 August 2015). "El Torneo de Primera División. Con los bancos al revés: el día en que Milito y Pellegrino dirigirán los clubes cruzados" [Primera División Tournament. Benches upside down: the day Milito and Pellegrino will lead opposite clubs]. La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  36. ^ "La hora de Milito" [Milito's time]. Olé (in Spanish). 16 April 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  37. ^ "Milito pegó el portazo y se va del Pincha" [Milito slammed the door and leaves the Pincha]. Clarín (in Spanish). 5 December 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  38. ^ "Gaby Milito entrenará a Independiente" [Gaby Milito will coach Independiente]. Marca (in Spanish). 12 May 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  39. ^ "Gabriel Milito regresa a los banquillos: entrenará a O'Higgins" [Gabriel Milito returns to the benches: he will coach O'Higgins]. Marca (in Spanish). 10 August 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  40. ^ "Milito, el nuevo entrenador" [Milito, the new manager] (in Spanish). Estudiantes La Plata. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  41. ^ "Gabriel Milito se va de Estudiantes" [Gabriel Milito leaves Estudiantes] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  42. ^ "Gabriel Milito es el nuevo entrenador de Argentinos Juniors" [Gabriel Milito is the new manager of Argentinos Juniors]. La Voz del Interior (in Spanish). 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  43. ^ "El contrato récord de Gabriel Milito en Argentinos Juniors: renovó hasta 2027" [Gabriel Milito's record contract at Argentinos Juniors: he renewed until 2027] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  44. ^ "Sorpresa: Gabriel Milito renunció como técnico de Argentinos Juniors" [Surprise: Gabriel Milito resigned as manager of Argentinos Juniors] (in Spanish). ESPN. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  45. ^ "Gabriel Milito é o novo técnico do Galo" [Gabriel Milito is Galo's new head coach] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Clube Atlético Mineiro. 24 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  46. ^ "GALO, CINCO VEZES GALO!" [GALO, FIVE TIMES GALO!] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Clube Atlético Mineiro. 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  47. ^ "Galo informa saída do técnico Gabriel Milito" [Galo infor the departure of head coach Gabriel Milito] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Clube Atlético Mineiro. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  48. ^ "El hermano de Milito tampoco será del Madrid" [Milito's brother will also not be a Madrid player] (in Spanish). Merca Fútbol. 25 November 2004. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  49. ^ "Diego Milito: "Le agradezco a Pep todo lo que ha hecho por mi hermano"" [Diego Milito: "I thank Pep for everything he has done for my brother"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 18 November 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  50. ^ "G. Milito". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  51. ^ "Gabriel Milito". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  52. ^ "Argentina derrota a Venezuela 2–0 con goles de Gabi Milito y Messi" [Argentina defeat Venezuela 2–0 with goals from Gabi Milito and Messi] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. 17 October 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  53. ^ Gabriel Milito coach profile at Soccerway
  54. ^ Pierrend, José Luis; Gorgazzi, Osvaldo José. "Argentina – Player of the Year". RSSSF. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  55. ^ Pierrend, José Luis. "South American Team of the Year". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
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