Players - Mauricio Pellegrino

Mauricio Pellegrino
Birthdate: 5 October 1971
Birthplace: Leones, Argentina
Other clubs: Club Atlético Sarmiento (1985-90), Velez Sarsfield (1990-99), Barcelona (loan 1998-99), Valencia (1999-2005), Alaves (2005-06)
Signed from: Valencia
Signed for LFC: 05.01.2005
International debut: 11.06.1997 vs. Equador
International caps: 3/0 - 17.06.1997
Liverpool debut: 15.01.2005
Last appearance: 15.05.2005
Contract expiry: 17.06.2005
Win ratio: 30.77% W:4 D:3 L:6
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 2 / 0
League games / goals / assists: 12 / 0 / 0
Total games / goals / assists: 13 / 0 / 0

Player Profile

Pellegrino started his career in Velez Sarsfield in Argentina in 1990 where he stayed for the majority of the 90's before joining Barcelona on loan in the 1998/99 season, where he won the first of his three Spanish titles. The tall Argentinian became a key figure in the heart of Rafa Benítez' defence at Valencia, winning La Liga in 2002 and 2004. Pellegrino acquired a wealth of experience in European football as he competed in two Champions League finals and won the UEFA Cup. In the 2001 final against Bayern Munich Pellegrino suffered the worst nightmare of any footballer when he missed the decisive penalty in the shoot-out. Benítez brought the 33-year-old Beatles' fan over in January 2005: "I could not sleep for several nights after the move was confirmed. The first free weekend I get I plan to visit everything in the city that is connected with the Beatles," Pellegrino said, who was occasionally referred to as the "Fifth Beatle" by the Argentinian press. It was painfully clear that he was over the hill when he came to Liverpool and after an uneventful five months he went back to Spain with Alaves. Pellegrino returned to Liverpool in the summer of 2008 as first-team coach and left in 2010 as Benítez was sacked as manager. He followed Rafa to Inter where he along with his boss only stayed a few months.

In the summer of 2012 Pellegrino was appointed manager of his old club, Valencia. He only lasted until December 2012 when, although Valencia had progressed to the last 16 in the Champions League, they had only won five out of fourteen league games, leaving them twelfth in the table. He then spent three years in Argentina managing Estudiantes and then Independiente. In 2016-17 he was abck in Speain, leading Alaves to the Copa del Rey final and returned to the Premiership in June 2017, taking over at Southampton. He was sacked in March 2018 and the following June was appointed at La Liga side Leganes. 
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 12 0 1 0 0 13
2004-2005 12 0 1 0 0 13
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
1 90 Aston Villa
1 90 Manchester United
1 90 Southampton
1 90 Manchester City
1 90 Blackburn Rovers
1 90 Everton
1 90 Bolton Wanderers
1 90 Tottenham
1 90 Watford
1 82 Newcastle United
1 53 Crystal Palace
1 46 Middlesbrough
1 11 Birmingham City
Total Started/substitutions
12 Started
4 On the bench
1 Substitute
3 Substituted
Total Venue
7 Home
6 Away
Total Competition
12 Premier League
1 League Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
13 4 3 6 30.8% Rafa Benítez
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 15.01.2005 Manchester United Anfield League
Related Articles
Liverpool's Latin Americans

Declan Sloan has put together a complete record of every South American player to wear the famous Red Jersey, from Mauricio Pellegrino in 2005 to newly recruited Roberto Firmino.

Related Quotes

"I have always wanted to play in England. I could not sleep for several nights after the move was confirmed. The first free weekend I get I plan to visit everything in the city that is connected with the Beatles."

Mauricio Pellegrino was occasionally referred to as the 'Fifth Beatle' by the Argentinian press.

"Mauricio has shown he is a great coach. He is someone with passion who knows the game. But he has the same problem as Sammy Lee - he has to improve his English!"

Rafa on the appointment of Mauricio Pellegrino as coach while having having a dig at Sammy Lee

Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Club Atlético Sarmiento 1985-1990 Argentina N/A N/A N/A N/A
Velez Sarsfield 1990-1999 Argentina 1 192 11 233 13
Barcelona 1998-1999 Spain 1 23 0 23 0
Valencia 1999-2000 Spain 1 33 1 50 1
Valencia 2000-2001 Spain 1 27 0 45 0
Valencia 2001-2002 Spain 1 30 1 37 1
Valencia 2002-2003 Spain 1 28 1 39 1
Valencia 2003-2004 Spain 1 20 2 21 2
Valencia 2004-2005 Spain 1 1 0 2 0
Alaves 2005-2006 Spain 1 13 0 13 0
Total 367 16 463 18