Gabriel Batistuta

Gabriel Omar Batistuta, nicknamed Batigol, born on 1 February 1969 in Reconquista, is an Argentine international footballer. He is the top scorer in the history of Fiorentina with a nine-season backstroke, and the second-leading scorer in Argentina after Lionel Messi. He has also played for Boca Juniors and AS Roma.

his beginnings
While still a teenager, Batistuta's favorite sport is volleyball. He also passionately practices curling. It is his friends who direct him to football. Unkind to his feet, he joined a club in his neighborhood where he evolves first as a goalkeeper. But he quickly displays his sense of purpose and catches the eye of Newell's Old Boys recruiters, where he will sign his first pro contract.

In Argentina
Batistuta begins to make a name for himself by participating in the Copa Libertadores final in 1988 with the Newell's Old Boys team. Despite the loss to Nacional, this 19-year-old impresses observers with his strength and total commitment. He signed illico Club Atlético River Plate, without being able to really impose himself. Boca Juniors, who has been chasing a title since 1981 and Diego Maradona's departure, is taking advantage of the opportunity. A team led by Batistuta, Cabañas, Márcico and Simon allows the Bombonera to ignite again to the rhythm of a technical football and warrior.

L'idole de la Fiorentina
The time for a European adventure has come for Batigol and Fiorentina thinks he has found the replacement for the "fallen" idol, Roberto Baggio. Welcomed coldly by the press which qualifies it as "can", the first seasons will be chaotic. The offensive trio composed of Effenberg, Brian Laudrup and Batistuta will not prevent the "Viola" from sinking in Series B. He will choose to stay at the club, a move that will mark the local spirits and hoist him to the rank of true god, to the equal of Antognoni. The ascent is immediate and the Fiorentina imposes itself among the big ones of Calcio. The arrival of Rui Costa and the hatching of Francesco Toldo allow Batistuta to calmly consider the future with his club. He will be top scorer of the calcio in 1995 and will win moreover the Italian Cup the following year. Inter Milan tries to attach its services but Batistuta is declared untransferable to the great relief of the Tifosi. The 1996-97 season saw the "Viola" advance to the semi-finals of the Cup Cup where it will fail against Ronaldo's Barca. Supported by the likes of Predrag Mijatovic, Enrico Chiesa and Moreno Torricelli, he reached the Champions League in the 1999-2000 season, reaching the second round by beating Arsenal on the outside (Batigol scored the winning goal in the 75th minute (0 - 1).

Departure for Roma
Tired of not being able to be crowned champion of Italy after nine seasons under the Florentine colors, Batistuta signed in 2000 to the Roma which disburses 35 M € to attach its services. Directed by Fabio Capello, the Roma developed a pleasant game, thanks to the combined talents of Francesco Totti and Vincenzo Montella, and won his first league title since 1983.

End of c areer
In 2002, Inter signed a tired man (2 goals in 12 interstate games) who soon flew to Qatar (Al Arabi Doha) where, true to his reputation, he will finish still top scorer in the league with 25 goals (historic record). But at 36, Batigol no longer has the head in football and his injuries repeatedly push him to hang up the crampons. Thus ends the career of one of the most brilliant attackers of the decade. Today, he retired to Australia and is now a fitness trainer and became assistant coach of Argentina coach Batista.