Lionel Scaloni

Lionel Scaloni is a wingback for Atalanta. He was born on 16 May 1978 in Rosario, Argentina.

Lionel began his professional career in 1995 at Argentinean Primera División Newell’s Old Boys. During his debut 1995/96 season Lionel made 16 appearances.

In 1996 the young winger was transferred to Estudiantes on a promising contract. During 2 seasons at Estudiantes the Argentine winger made frequent appearances in the starting lineup but still wasn’t able to establish himself as a regular. From 1996 to 1998 Scaloni played 37 matches and scored 7 goals for the Argentine club.

In 1996 Lionel was offered to join Spanish Deportivo de La Coruña as a regular right winger in the starting lineup and he agreed. Since Scaloni’s debut season in European football the head coach began to put him in the starting lineup, giving the young winger an opportunity to adapt to Spanish pro football. During 10 years Scaloni was a key defender for Deportivo de La Coruña making a total of 202 appearances and scoring 14 goals.

In 2006 Lionel was loaned to West Ham United for half a season. In the summer of 2006 Scaloni returned from a loan spell and signed for Racing Santander where he played 30 matches and scored 1 goal during the 2006/07 season.

In 2007 the Argentine footballer was acquired by Italian side S.S. Lazio. Scaloni was loaned to Spanish RCD Mallorca for 2008/09 season. In 2013 the player signed a new deal with Atalanta.

Lionel Scaloni won Spanish League, Spanish Cup and Spanish Supercup while playing for Deportivo.

In 1997 Lionel Scaloni was capped 6 times and scored 2 goals for the victorious Argentina U-20. From 2003 to 2006 Scaloni was called up 7 times to represent the Argentina national team.