He is regarded as one of the most promising prospects to come out of Argentina. Like Argentine teammate Lionel Messi, he has been labelled as the "New Maradona". Diego Maradona once described him as the "Argentine prophet for the 21st century".[1]
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Background
Tévez was born as Carlos Alberto Martínez, and raised in the humble neighbourhood of Ejército de Los Andes, better known as "Fuerte Apache". It was from there where he got the nickname of Apache. His parents changed his surname to his mothers during a conflict between his junior club All Boys and Boca Juniors.[2]
Tévez has a distinctive burn mark from his right ear, down his neck to his chest. This occurred when he was ten months old while he was exploring his mother’s kitchen floor and he inadvertently pulled a kettle of boiling water over himself. This caused third-degree burns to the right side of his face, neck and chest and left him in intensive care for almost two months. Today, the scars are a highly visible feature of Tévez, who did not get them fixed because he was playing in a junior football team. He refused an offer from his then club, Boca Juniors, to have them cosmetically improved, saying that the scars were a part of who he was in the past and who he is today.[3]
Club career
Boca Juniors
Tévez joined Boca at the age of thirteen and played his first professional match with Boca on October 21, 2001 against Talleres de Córdoba. He played for the team until the end of 2004. With Boca Juniors he won an Argentine Championship (2003), a Copa Libertadores (2003), an Intercontinental Cup (2003), and a Copa Sudamericana (2004). Because of the Intercontinental Cup of 2003, he did not participate in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship with the Argentine team.
Following Argentina's and Tévez personal success at the 2004 Olympic Games, he was named Futbolista latinoamericano más destacado ("Most notable Latin American footballer") in 2003 by Latin American Fox Sports. In addition, the Argentine Football Writers chose him as Footballer of the Year and Sportsman of the Year 2004.
Corinthians
In December 2004, he transferred to Sport Club Corinthians Paulista for $20 million with a five year contract worth $10 million, following the Brazilian club's deal with Media Sports Investments. The deal was the biggest transfer ever in South American football. Initially, Tévez was not well received by the Corinthians fans - including Brazilian president Lula. However, Tévez became the captain and star of the team that won the 2005 Brazilian league and the fans' favourite player. When the 2005 Brazilian league ended, he was granted the award of best player of the tournament by the Brazilian football federation, becoming the first non-Brazilian player to win that award since 1976.
West Ham United
On 23 August 2006, Sky Sports revealed that Tévez was refusing to play for Corinthians.[4] The article insinuated that a move to Europe was likely, with Chelsea and Manchester United both mentioned as possible destinations. Yet on Thursday 31 August 2006, the day of the European transfer deadline, Tévez confirmed on his website that both he and Javier Mascherano were signing for West Ham United on permanent deals, for £12 million.[5][6] The deal shocked the football world and controversy surrounds the move's exact nature and terms, with media reports suggesting that several other Premiership clubs turned down the opportunity of signing Tévez and Mascherano because of the stipulations put in place by the owner of the players' contracts, Media Sports Investments.[7]
Following the arrivals of Tévez and Mascherano, West Ham failed to win for nine games (one draw and eight defeats), including seven consecutive matches without scoring. On 5 October 2006, Argentina national football team manager Alfio Basile urged the pair to quit West Ham. Just three days later, however, Tévez told the media that he was aiming to stay at West Ham "for the long-term". Until West Ham's 1-0 defeat by Chelsea on 18 November 2006, he had not played for West Ham since coming off the bench against Tottenham Hotspur on October 22 2006 (a game West Ham lost 1-0), during which time West Ham had managed to end their losing streak. Tévez also left the ground early after being substituted and throwing a mini tantrum versus Sheffield United in November. As punishment, which was decided upon by his Upton Park team mates, Tévez had to donate half of a weeks wages to charity and train in a Brazil shirt. Tévez refused to wear the Brazil shirt saying "I played in Brazil and have a great respect for Brazil and Brazilians but I’m Argentine and won’t wear that shirt".[8]
On 17 December 2006, the News of the World revealed that Tévez said he was surprised Alan Pardew had not been sacked earlier than now and that he criticized Pardew's management.[9]
On 6 January 2007, Tévez made his first start for West Ham United under the management of Alan Curbishley against Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup 3rd round. West Ham United won the game 3-0, with Tévez playing a role in all of the goals. However, during a routine Premiership clash against Fulham, Tévez suffered an injury which was expected to keep him out for a sustained period of time. However, Tévez soon began full training again and came on as a substitute against Watford on 10 February in a 1-0 defeat.
Tévez scored his first goal for the club on March 4, 2007 in a 3-4 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, scoring from a direct free kick and assisting West Ham's other two goals on the day.[10] He scored his third consecutive goal for West Ham in the 2-0 win against Middlesbrough, after having set up Bobby Zamora for the first. It was his first goal from open play in a West Ham shirt and he was named Man of the Match.
In April, following a record £5.5m fine for West Ham for breaching Premier League rules over the signings of Tévez and Mascherano, Tévez was cleared to play for West Ham by the Premier League after changes were made to a third party agreement related to him.[11]
In April 2007, the Argentine picked up the Player of the Year Award from club magazine Hammers News and also received the Hammer of the Year award from West Ham United.[12] In May, he inspired West Ham to a 3-0 win over relegation rivals Wigan, and then scored a brace and set up a Mark Noble volley the following week against Bolton Wanderers.
In West Ham's final game of the season against the recently-crowned champions, Manchester United, on 13 May 2007, Tévez secured the club's Premiership status by scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory. Due to Wigan Athletic's 2-1 win over Sheffield United on the same day, a loss to Manchester United would have resulted in West Ham's relegation.
2007 transfer saga
Tévez's future at West Ham has been the subject of constant speculation ever since he signed for the Hammers, with the media linking him to a host of European clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Internazionale. However, West Ham stated repeatedly that they owned his registration and did not wish to sell him.
At the end of June, Tévez rejected a move to Inter Milan, having been given a deadline for his decision by the Serie A champions.[13] His agent, Kia Joorabchian, stated that he was in discussions with West Ham, as the player was settled in the Premiership and had publicly stated his desire to stay in England. Tévez went on to claim that he would not make a decision on his future until the Copa America finished in July, but on 5 July the Daily Mail broke news that Tévez had reportedly agreed to join Manchester United in a deal worth £20 million, subject to an appeal from West Ham.[14] In response to the rumoured deal, the Premier League issued a statement indicating they would block any proposed transfer unless they were certain West Ham would receive the majority of any transfer fee.[15] The Premier League have insisted that "Any deal for Carlos Tevez has to be done directly with West Ham"[16].
On 6 July, reports emerged that Tévez had agreed personal terms with Manchester United. Shortly thereafter, West Ham released a statement, saying "Carlos Tevez is a registered West Ham United player, contracted to the club until June 2010 [...] There is no agreement with West Ham United for Carlos Tevez to leave the club and we expect him to return in time for next season's preparations. No decision on his future can be reached without the agreement of West Ham United."[17] In light of this statement, Kia Joorabchian claimed that permission had been given by West Ham, and that talks with United had taken place.[18]
In the middle of July 2007, Manchester United and West Ham agreed to invite FIFA to rule on the ownership of Tévez, but on 24 July 2007, FIFA recommended that West Ham and Carlos Tévez refer the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport[19]. However, Kia Joorabchian issued West Ham with a High Court writ to "...to compel West Ham to release the registration of Carlos Tevez in accordance with contracts entered into between the parties.".[20] The High Court date was set for 22 August and was due to last three days. However, an agreement was reached between West Ham and MSI, with the approval of the Premier League, whereby MSI would pay £2 million to West Ham, who would then release Tévez from his registration with them.[21]
Manchester United
Following the payment of £2 million to West Ham by MSI, Tévez was formally released from his contract with West Ham. Manchester United put forward a proposed two-year loan deal for Tévez to the Premier League, which was approved on 10 August.[22] He was given the number 32 jersey, the same number as that which he had worn at West Ham. He claims to like the number as it contains the same numbers as Michael Jordan's famous 23, a sportsman who Tevez lists as one of his idols. He made his debut in a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth on 15 August, replacing Wayne Rooney, who had suffered a foot injury, and set up a goal for Paul Scholes.[23] On 26th August 2007, Tevez allegedly scored his first goal for United against Tottenham, as a long range strike from fellow new signing Nani brushed his head on its way to goal. Replays showed that Tevez certainly touched the ball, while manager Sir Alex Ferguson also credited the goal to the Argentine so as to relieve the enormous pressure heaped on the him. However, many of the next day's papers still chose to list the goal as scored by Nani. On 23rd September he scored his first officially recognised goal with a diving header, in a 2-0 victory for Manchester United against Chelsea F.C, at Old Trafford. On 6th October, Tevez hit the back of the net again, in another man of the match performance, scoring the first goal in a 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic.
International career
Tévez was a key part of Boca's victory in the 2003 Copa Libertadores but his greatest achievement was during the 2004 Olympic Games, where he won the gold medal with his team and scored eight goals in six matches to be the top scorer of the competition. He was the world's second Top Goal Scorer of 2004 in international competitions (according to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics[24]), one less than Ali Daei from Iran.
Tévez was selected by José Pekerman for Argentina for the 2006 World Cup. He started the first match against the Ivory Coast on the bench but came on as a substitute for the match against Serbia and Montenegro. He scored the fifth goal and assisted Lionel Messi's first goal which was Argentina's final goal in a superb 6-0 victory for them. In Argentina's drawn final Group C match against Holland, Tévez played the entire duration and emerged man of the match.
Career stats
| Season | Club | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-2002 | Boca Juniors | 11 | 1 |
| 2002-2003 | Boca Juniors | 32 | 10 |
| 2003-2004 | Boca Juniors | 23 | 12 |
| 2004-2005 | Boca Juniors | 9 | 2 |
| 2005 | Corinthians | 29 | 20 |
| 2006 | Corinthians | 9 | 5 |
| 2006-2007 | West Ham | 26 | 7 |
| 2007- | Manchester United | 9 | 2 |
Titles
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's Football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 2004 Athens | ARG | |
- 2005 – Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (Corinthians)
- 2004 – Olympic gold medal (Argentina)
- 2004 – Pre-Olympics (Argentina)
- 2004 – Copa Sudamericana (Boca Juniors)
- 2003 – Intercontinental Cup (Boca Juniors)
- 2003 – Argentine Apertura (Boca Juniors)
- 2003 – Copa Libertadores (Boca Juniors)
- 2003 – South American under-20 Championship (Argentina)
Personal awards
- 2007 – West Ham United Hammer of the Year
- 2007 – Hammers News Player of the Year
- 2005 – Campeonato Brasileiro's Best Player by CBF (Brazilian Soccer Confederation)
- 2005 – Campeonato Brasileiro's Best Player (Brazilian Placar magazine)
- 2004 – Olimpia de Oro award for Argentine most important Sportperson of the year (Shared with Basketball player Manu Ginobili) (Clarín newspaper)
- 2004 – Olympic Golden Boot (8 goals in 6 matches)
- 2003, 2004 and 2005 – South American Player of the Year (Uruguayan newspaper El País)
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