LUISH FIGO

(Born 1972)

He played in the Portuguese club Sporting, and the Spanish club FC Barcelona. Since 2000, the club Real Madrid (Spain). Since 1991, played for Portugal.

In the history of Portuguese football are two great teams. One in 1966, shone in England, but lost in the semifinals of the tournament hosts, the team of England, which was destined to become world champion. Another team of Portugal showed great football at the 2000 European Championships, held in Belgium and Holland, but lost in the semi-French team, which became in the end the winner of the tournament. In the national team of Portugal in 1966 shone Eusebio, the national team in 2000 - Luis Figo. Nowadays it is certainly one of the strongest players in the world.

Game Figo - a spectacle for football connoisseurs. He clearly has high-speed dribbling, a great blow to both legs, can break through on goal from any distance, often these attacks are a complete surprise for goalkeepers. Excellent technical equipment combined with the Portuguese football player with excellent athletic data. He is not afraid of the power struggle, but he has pointed out correctly. Actions Figo with the ball always seem to be very elegant, admired, but sometimes external showiness does not benefit rationality.

Figo is especially good in conjunction with intelligent, technically partners - with whom he could overcome any defense.

Photo — «Luish Figo»

In the Portuguese team for him these were Rui Costa and Joao Pinto. And in the club Real Madrid, where he brilliantly played today (2004) - Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham.

It began the same way football Figo in the small town of Almada, located on the left bank of the river Tezhu. The river soon flowing into the Atlantic Ocean, this place is very broad and is, rather, this bay. On the other side, just opposite Almada, is Lisbon. As a child, Luis began to play in amateur teams of one of the poorest districts of his native city, but was quickly spotted by football breeders and have in the eleven years he moved to the other side in the Portuguese capital, where he was enrolled in the youth team Sporting Lisbon.

His first coaches remember that Figo had already surpassed all others in the technique and speed, and in a football mentality. He soon learned to not only play myself, but also to organize a game partners. Therefore the most suitable place for him on the field was the right midfield position, gravitating to the attack.

Success at international level came to Luis unusually early. Already in 1989 in the junior team of Portugal, he won a bronze medal at the world championships for juniors their age group, held in Scotland. In 1991 he won with his team world championship for players under the age of twenty years.

Photo — «Luish Figo»

That championship was held in Portugal itself, but the Portuguese coach Carlos Junior Keyrosh.

After such success Keyrosh was appointed coach of the Portuguese national team and began to prepare it for the exit in the World Cup 1994. The core team made up half-baked champions, juniors, and including, of course, Luis Figo.

But apparently, his hour had not yet struck, team failed to overcome the qualifying tournament. But at Sporting, where Figo made his debut when he was not yet eighteen, his game has already been striking phenomenon. Figo has been trying to get more famous Portuguese Club - Benfica, but in the end he chose the Spanish "Barcelona". The invitation followed from the Johan Cruyff, then trained "Bars". So in 1995, Luis Figo was in the capital of Catalonia. He was twenty-three years.

True, the great Dutchman in the next year left the coaching job, and then mentors Figo was Bobby Robson, Carlos Rexach, Louis van Gaal. But be that as it may, it is in "Barcelona" Portuguese football talent shone all facets. Its partners at different times were brothers de Boers, Philip Cocu, Ronaldo, Patrick Kluivert, Rivaldo. With the club Figo won the 1997 Cup Winners′ Cup and European Super Cup twice, became the champion of Spain. During the years of speeches in Portuguese "Barcelona" in his many thousands of fans.

Photo — «Luish Figo»

Figo has played brilliantly at the European Championship in 2000. He was the soul of the entire Portugal. The first match of group tournament with England formed dramatically, to the eighteenth minute, the Portuguese lost 0:2. But just in that match British Figo scored a goal for being one of the most beautiful goals of the championship. The first half ended in a draw - 2:2, while in the second, the Portuguese pulled out all the same victory.

In the next two matches of the qualifying tournament, the Portuguese did not miss a single ball, winning a national team of Romania - 1:0, and defeating Germany squad - 3:0. In the final matches of one-fourth was to beat Turkey - 2:0. Inspired, brilliant game and admired the Portuguese sports journalists and spectators, and the whole world glued to the TV screens. Many have predicted in advance team in the champions of Europe.

In the semi-final against France, the world champion, also the Portuguese first opened the account. But the French were able to score a goal back. Basic time ended in a draw. Three minutes before the end of extra time had a memorable scene - the judge considered that the ball hit the hand of the Portuguese player. Penalties just struck Zinedine Zidane. Since France was the finals, where only a miracle win at the Italian national team, equalized within a few seconds before the end of normal time.

Photo — «Luish Figo»

In 2000, Luis Figo was named the best soccer player in Europe and received the "Golden Ball" Parisian weekly magazine France Football. " But even before that, July 24, 2000 it was announced that Luis Figo transferred from Barcelona to Real Madrid. Was shocked by the whole Catalonia - for "Barca" and "Royal Club" a long and bitter rivals. In a moment of yesterday′s idol turned into an enemy, and immediately ceased to exist all the fan clubs Figo.

Presumably, the Portuguese himself, anticipating the reaction of their fans, decided to take such a step not without hesitation. But he had his reasons - Real Madrid has always been and remains the dream of every footballer. Of course, the important role played by financial considerations: Contract Luis Figo was to receive twice as much as in Barcelona.

By the time our passion aroused by his conversion, had subsided, and we can recognize that the star of "Real", which were later joined by Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, David Beckham, Luis Figo has played in the same my game, for which his love Millions of fans around the world. Along with Real Madrid in 2002, he had already won the League Cup European Cup.

"Royal Club" confidently walked to the finals in 2003, but in the semifinal on the sum of the results of two matches stumbled over Juventus.

Photo — «Luish Figo»

And in the first quarterfinal match against English club Manchester United Figo scored a wonder goal. Here′s how it is recalled David Beckham, the present partner, Figo, in that match is played for English club: "Figo was at a distance of 25 meters from the gate on the left flank. I remember when I looked at him and thought: "He has an excellent position for lumbago. But Figo had not thought about backache. He received a pass from Zidane, leaned back and then a powerful blow with his right leg, swung a little. And the ball flew over Fabien Barthez under the crossbar near the far post.

In the new season of the Champions League (2003-2004) on "Real Madrid still succeed.

As for the Portuguese national team, it is frankly disappointing his fans at the 2002 World Cup, even without being able to withdraw from the group stage: to beat Poland - 4:0, and lost to the U. S. team - 2:3, and the national team in South Korea - 0: 1.

But Euro 2004 held in Portugal, the home of Luis Figo . . .