Nicolás Pareja

Nicolás "Nico" Martín Pareja (born 19 January 1984) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a central defender.

Nicolás Pareja
Pareja in 2010
Personal information
Full name Nicolás Martín Pareja
Date of birth (1984-01-19) 19 January 1984
Place of birth Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position(s) Centre back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Argentinos Juniors 49 (2)
2006–2008 Anderlecht 39 (0)
2008–2010 Espanyol 60 (3)
2010–2014 Spartak Moscow 47 (3)
2013–2014 → Sevilla (loan) 25 (0)
2014–2018 Sevilla 60 (2)
2018–2019 Atlas 3 (0)
National team
2008 Argentina Olympic 5 (0)
2010 Argentina 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:42, 21 July 2019 (UTC)

After starting out at Argentinos Juniors he went on to spend most of his career with Spartak Moscow and Sevilla, winning two Europa League trophies with the latter club. He was hindered by several injuries.

Pareja won the 2008 Olympic tournament with Argentina.

Club career

Argentinos Juniors

Born in Buenos Aires, Pareja started playing for Argentinos Juniors.[1][2] He scored his first goal in the Primera División on 10 February 2006, in a 2–1 win against Club Atlético Independiente.[3]

Anderlecht

R.S.C. Anderlecht acquired Pareja in 2006 for €2 million as a replacement for Vincent Kompany, and the former went on to be a teammate of compatriots Lucas Biglia, Nicolás Frutos and Cristian Leiva.[4] His first game in the Pro League took place on 20 August, when he came on as a second-half substitute in the 4–3 away defeat of K.V.C. Westerlo.[5]

Despite several injury problems,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Pareja was regularly used during his two-year spell in Belgium, pairing mainly Roland Juhász. In late January 2008, he agreed to a contract extension until June 2012.[14]

Espanyol

Pareja joined Spanish club RCD Espanyol in the summer of 2008, for a fee of €4.5 million. He made his La Liga debut on 14 September, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 away win against Recreativo de Huelva,[15] and scored his first goal in the competition the following 11 January to help salvage a point at home to UD Almería (2–2).[16]

During his tenure in Catalonia, Pareja started in all his league appearances.[17]

Spartak Moscow

In August 2010, after being linked to a move to former side Anderlecht,[18] Pareja signed with FC Spartak Moscow.[19] He made his Russian Premier League debut late in that month, featuring four minutes in a 4–2 home win against FC Tom Tomsk.[20]

After missing out several matches throughout June and July 2011 due to international commitment, both Pareja and compatriot Marcos Rojo were fined for returning late to the club.[21] He netted his first goal on 11 September, the only to help the hosts defeat FC Amkar Perm.[22]

Pareja was handed a three-match ban after being sent off for a hard tackle on PFC CSKA Moscow's Vágner Love in November 2010,[23][24] being suspended even harsher (four) in October of the next year following a match against FC Zenit Saint Petersburg.[25] He signed a contract extension shortly after the second offense, however, running until 2016.[26]

After featuring regularly in his second season, Pareja appeared only 12 times during his third, due to rotations with Salvatore Bocchetti and Juan Insaurralde[27][28] as well as physical problems.[29][30]

Sevilla

On 4 July 2013, Pareja was loaned to Sevilla FC.[31] He appeared in 37 competitive matches in his debut campaign, including 12 in the UEFA Europa League which his team won; subsequently, he was selected to the 18-man Europa League squad of the season, along with teammates Beto, Stéphane Mbia and Ivan Rakitić.[32]

On 23 June 2014, the Andalusians activated his buyout clause for €2.5 million, and Pareja signing a three-year deal.[33] On 3 January of the following year, whilst celebrating his 100th appearance in Spain's top flight, he scored the game's only goal at home against RC Celta de Vigo, through a direct free kick;[34] on 23 April, early into a Europa League quarter-final contest at Zenit, he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament to his right knee, going on to be sidelined until the end of the year.[35]

In late August 2016, 32-year-old Pareja agreed to a further extension at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium until 2019.[36] Having acted as team captain for the first time on the 28th, in a 0–0 away draw to Villarreal CF,[37] he was named by manager Jorge Sampaoli as one the four skippers early into the new season.[38]

On 24 August 2018, Pareja's contract was terminated by mutual consent and Daniel Carriço was named the new captain.[39]

Atlas

On 25 August 2018, Pareja moved to the Mexican Liga MX after joining Club Atlas.[40] Eleven months later, having made only four competitive appearances, he left the club.[41]

International career

Pareja was part of the Argentina Olympic team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, contributing with five appearances to the gold medal conquest.[42][43] His performances earned him praise from Diego Maradona.[44]

Pareja earned his first cap for the full side on 17 November 2010, in a 1–0 friendly win with Brazil.[45] He was selected for the following year's Copa América,[46] being an unused squad member.

In August 2017, Pareja received a call up by his former Sevilla manager Sampaoli for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela.[47]

Personal life

Relatively small for his position, Pareja first played football in his local neighbourhood.[2] While at Espanyol, he earned the nickname of Torero (bullfighter) because of his middle name "Martín".[48]

Friends with Daniel Jarque, Pareja donned a T-shirt in remembrance of him during the 2014 Europa League celebrations.[49] Having grown up supporting Real Madrid,[50] he also held an Italian passport.[51][52]

Honours

Club

Anderlecht

Sevilla

International

Argentina

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References
  1. "El plantel no quiere hablar de bajas" [Squad does not want to hear about releases]. La Nación (in Spanish). 19 May 2005. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  2. Geril, Jürgen (18 July 2006). "De Argentijnse connectie van Anderlecht wil ook scoren in de Champions League" [Anderlecht's Argentine association also wants to score in the Champions League]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  3. "Independiente y sus ilusiones chocaron contra Argentinos" [Independiente and their illusions crashed against Argentinos]. Ámbito Financiero (in Spanish). 10 February 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  4. "Argentijnse vervanger van Kompany kost twee miljoen" [Argentine replacement for Kompany cost two million]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 28 June 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  5. "Frutos en Pareja mee naar Westerlo" [Frutos and Pareja go to Westerlo]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 20 August 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  6. "Pareja vier weken buiten strijd" [Pareja out of action four weeks]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 25 July 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  7. "Vercauteren zoekt fitte verdedigers" [Vercauteren looking for healthy defenders]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 14 October 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  8. "Spitsenschaarste dreigt voor Franky Vercauteren" [Dangerous threats loom over Franky Vercauteren]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 16 December 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  9. "Pareja paar weken out?" [Pareja a couple of weeks out?]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 20 April 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  10. "Pareja belde al met De Muner" [Pareja already called De Muner]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 8 August 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  11. "Anderlecht zonder Pareja" [Anderlecht without Pareja]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 3 December 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  12. "Pareja: 'Ik vrees voor mijn voetblessure'" [Pareja: 'I fear for my foot injury']. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 22 February 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  13. "Pareja en Serhat out voor Charleroi" [Pareja and Serhat out for Charleroi]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 8 March 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  14. "Pareja en Wasilewski tekenen bij" [Pareja and Wasilewski sign]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 25 January 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  15. Siguero, Santiago (14 September 2008). "Luis García firma pleno y liderato" [Two for two and first place, signed Luis García]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  16. "Pareja empata en el añadido y la afición pide la dimisión de la junta" [Pareja draws in injury time and fans ask that board of directors resign]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 11 January 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  17. Molero, Iván (22 July 2009). "Pareja apoya al capitán Jarque: "Es el indicado"" [Pareja supports captain Jarque: "He is the right one"]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  18. "Espanyol akkoord met Anderlecht over afbetaling Pareja" [Espanyol agreement with Anderlecht on Pareja fee]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 16 April 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  19. "Spartak sign Pareja from Espanyol". UEFA. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  20. "18-й тур• "СПАРТАК" – "ТОМЬ" – 4:2 Николас ПАРЕХА: "КАРПИН ПРИВИВАЕТ ИСПАНСКИЙ ФУТБОЛ"" (in Russian). Sport Express. 21 August 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  21. "El Spartak multa a Pareja y Rojo por su retraso tras la Copa América" [Spartak fine Pareja and Rojo for tardiness after Copa América]. Marca (in Spanish). 27 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  22. "СОГАЗ – ЧЕМПИОНАТ РОССИИ. ПРЕМЬЕР-ЛИГА. 23-й тур: АМКАР – СПАРТАК – 0:1 (0:0)" (in Russian). Sport Express. 11 September 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  23. "О бедном Парехе замолвите слово" (in Russian). Sport Express. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  24. "Пареха дисквалифицирован на три матча" [Pareja suspended for three matches] (in Russian). Sport Express. 24 November 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  25. "Пареха дисквалифицирован на четыре матча" [Pareja suspended for four matches] (in Russian). Sport Express. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  26. "Пареха продлил контракт со "Спартаком" до 2016 года" [Pareja extended his contract with Spartak until 2016] (in Russian). Sport Express. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  27. "Николас Пареха: "Не исключаю, что рассмотрю варианты ухода"" [Nicolás Pareja: "I am not ruling out the possibility of leaving"] (in Russian). Sport Express. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  28. "Николас Пареха: "Лидер "Спартака"? Думаю, Чельстрем"" [Nicolás Pareja: "Spartak's leader? Källström, I think"] (in Russian). Sport Express. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  29. "Пареха травмировал бедро" [Thigh concussion for Pareja] (in Russian). Sport Express. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  30. "Эменике, Пареха, Ананидзе и Хурадо не сыграют с ЦСКА" [Emenike, Pareja, Ananidze and Jurado will not play against CSKA] (in Russian). Sport Express. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  31. "Nico Pareja, cedido al Sevilla" [Nico Pareja, loaned to Sevilla]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 4 July 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  32. "UEFA Europa League squad of the season". UEFA. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  33. "El Sevilla ejerce las opciones de compra por Carriço y Pareja" [Sevilla exercise buyout clauses for Carriço and Pareja]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 23 June 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  34. Mondaca Lobo, Francisco Javier (5 January 2015). "Nico Pareja cumple cien partidos en Primera División" [Nico Pareja celebrates one hundred games in Primera División] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  35. "Pareja, entre 6 y 7 meses KO por rotura de ligamentos" [Pareja, out from 6 to 7 months due to ligament rupture]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 24 April 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  36. "Nico Pareja: "Estoy muy feliz por seguir en mi casa"" [Nico Pareja: "I am very happy to continue in my home"]. Marca (in Spanish). 23 August 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  37. Muñoz, Elena (29 August 2016). "Villarreal 0–0 Sevilla: resumen y resultado del encuentro" [Villarreal 0–0 Sevilla: highlights and scoreline]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  38. "Vicente Iborra, Daniel Carriço, Nico Pareja y Vitolo, los capitanes" [Vicente Iborra, Daniel Carriço, Nico Pareja and Vitolo, the captains]. Marca (in Spanish). 8 September 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  39. "Acuerdo para la resicisión del contrato de Nico Pareja" [Agreement for the termination of Nico Pareja's contract] (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  40. "Nico Pareja es nuevo jugador de La Academia" [Nico Pareja is a new player for The Academy] (in Spanish). Club Atlas. 25 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  41. Hernández, Jesús (6 July 2019). "Nico Pareja se va de Atlas; jugó cuatro partidos, uno completo" [Nico Pareja leaves Atlas; he played four matches, one complete]. Milenio (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  42. "Pareja met Messi naar Olympische Spelen" [Pareja to the Olympic Games with Messi]. Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). 9 July 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  43. "Argentina aprovecha un despiste de Nigeria y revalida su corona olímpica" [Argentina profits from Nigeria fumble and renews olympic crown] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 23 August 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  44. "Maradona prijst Nicolas Pareja" [Maradona praises Nicolas Pareja]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 19 August 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  45. Stevenson, Jonathan (17 November 2010). "Argentina 1–0 Brazil". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  46. "Sergio Batista convoca a nueve jugadores de la Liga" [Sergio Batista calls nine players from League]. Marca (in Spanish). 25 June 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  47. "Jorge Sampaoli dio la lista de convocados para jugar con Uruguay y Venezuela: no está Gonzalo Higuaín" [Jorge Sampaoli released squad to play with Uruguay and Venezuela: Gonzalo Higuaín not included]. La Nación (in Spanish). 11 August 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  48. "Anderlecht wint dan toch nog de lotto" [Anderlecht still win the lottery]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 2 September 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  49. Piferrer, D. (15 May 2014). "La afición perica agradece a Pareja su homenaje a Daniel Jarque" [The perico supporters thank Pareja for his homage to Daniel Jarque]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  50. "Argentijn NICOLAS PAREJA maakt zijn grote debuut in topper" [Argentine NICOLAS PAREJA makes his debut in classic]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 27 August 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  51. "Pareja: 'Ik wil graag naar Espanyol'" [Pareja: 'I would like to go to Espanyol']. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 28 August 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  52. "Pareja obtiene la doble nacionalidad y ya no ocupa plaza de extracomunitario" [Pareja gets double nationality and his no longer a non-EU player]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 30 January 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  53. "Spot-on Sevilla leave Benfica dreams in tatters". UEFA. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
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