Ignacio Scocco

Nacho Scocco

Personal information
Full name	Ignacio Martín Scocco
Date of birth	29 May 1985 (1985-05-29) (age 26)
Place of birth	Santa Fe, Argentina
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position	Winger Attacking Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Al Ain
Number	32
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003–2006	Newell's Old Boys	75	(16)
2006–2008	UNAM Pumas	74	(28)
2008–2011	AEK Athens	82	(27)
2011–	Al Ain	1	(1)
National team
2004–2006	Argentina U-20	12	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Ignacio "Nacho" Martín Scocco (born on 29 May 1985 in Santa Fe, Argentina) is an Argentine International Football player currently playing as a winger for Al Ain of the Pro-League. Scocco can play on both wings, but prefers to play on the left. He can also play as a attacking midfielder and often as striker. Scocco also holds an Italian passport due to his Italian ancestry.

Club career

Newell's Old Boys

The Newell's Old Boys youth program quickly picked this young man up, and he was just nineteen when he made his debut in the Argentine top flight against San Lorenzo. He scored 17 goals in 75 games and played alongside players such as Fernando Belluschi and Ariel Ortega in the championship winning team of Apertura 2004. He also scored a very important goal for Newell's Old Boys against Boca Juniors scoring in the 82nd minute making his club 1–0 up. In the summer of 2006 Scocco signed for Pumas UNAM for a fee of $3.5m, but Scocco stated to the newspaper «Reforma» that one day he will return to Newell's Old Boys.

"El Tucán", was a regular fixture in the Newell's Old Boys setup, and during the Clausura 2006 season he scored 9 goals in 18 games, but better was to come in the 2006 edition of the Libertadores where Newell's reached the knockout stage. Scocco’s 4 goals in just 5 starts were crucial to their campaign. Scocco wore the number 32 in the famous red and black shirts.

When Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti took over Pumas UNAM, and his main strikers Joaquín Botero and Bruno Marioni left he was willing to sign Scocco for $3.5m.

Club Universidad Nacional

In 2006, Scocco joined Mexican side Pumas for $3.5 million. He made his debut against Jaguares de Chiapas, and during his second appearance against Veracruz he scored his first goal, from the goal kick. Scocco also scored a hat-trick for Pumas against Querétaro. Scocco scored his last goal for Pumas UNAM against Veracruz, gaining Pumas UNAM 4–2. Scocco was a mainstay in the Pumas starting team, he's strike partner was Esteban Solari. Scocco ended his career at Pumas with 74 appearances and 28 goals.

Scocco reinforces the Deportivo Toluca borrowed from the Pumas UNAM order by Americo Gallego in the quarter finals of the Copa Libertadores 2007.

AEK Athens

Scocco signed a 3 year contract with AEK Athens on 18 June 2008. AEK Athens signed Scocco for a fee of €1.5 million and will be earning €400,000 per year.^[1] In his latest interviews Scocco also stated that this was a huge opportunity for his career and that playing in Europe was a dream for him. Scocco is the fourth Argentine AEK Athens player. The others are Sebastián Saja, Ismael Blanco and Cristian Nasuti. During his time at AEK, Scocco has been mostly used as a left winger and sometimes also as a second striker which is his preferred position.

Scocco has attracted varies teams from the Serie A, Fiorentina, Udinese and Genoa due to his impressive performances in the Greek Super League and the Europa League.

Scocco also scored 2 goals past Olympiakos on 6 January 2010 and won AEK the match 1–2 away in the Karaiskakis Stadium. This performance earned him the Man Of The Match award and certainly his remarkable 40 yard free kick, his second goal, will be considered one of the best goals of the season, the following week he scored against Atromitos and then Panathinaikos. Scocco also scored a phenomenal goal against Panthrakikos and an outstanding free kick against Panionios 1 minute before the end of the match making the score 1–1.

On the 16/09/10 Scocco scored the 3rd and final goal on AEK's first European match against Hajduk Split. This was the first goal of the season for Scocco. AEK won the match 3–1. Three days later Scocco scored an outstanding 30 yard shot against Asteras Tripolis. On 17/10/10, Scocco scored an equally spectacular 40 yard strike against Aris Thessaloniki, and followed up with a second goal for a 4–0 victory.

On the 25/11/10, Scocco renewed his contract with AEK signing a new 3-year deal which will keep him at the club until 2013. Scocco's contract is worth €3.6m earning €1m per year and a buy-out clause worth €3m for foreign teams^[2]

On 18/5/11 Scocco scored a 38 yard shot against PAOK Thessaloniki in a 2-1 defeat

Al Ain FC

On June 2011 Scocco joined Al Ain FC for €2.8m

International career

Argentina Under-20

Scocco started his Youth Interenational Career in 2004, Scocco has had 12 appearances and scored 3 Goals, he made his debut against Colombia on 27 July 2004. On 3 November 2004, Scocco made his second appearance against Paraguay and scored in the 77th minute making Argentina 2–0 up. Scocco was also called up to be part of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. Scocco played 2 matches in the tournament against Uzbekistan on December 1, 2005 and against Mali on December 4, 2005. Scocco also played alongside Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero.

Argentina

On April 15, 2005, José Pekerman called up Scocco for a friendly against Chile but didn't make an appearance. On June 3, 2005, Scocco was called up for another friendly for Argentina against Puerto Rico, but pulled a hamstring and was forced out for a couple of weeks and was not included in the match.

After impressing Argentine coach Alfio Basile, Scocco was called up for an unofficial friendly match against Guatemala on February 6, 2008, Scocco played 20 minutes in the match and came on for Ezequiel Lavezzi. Scocco was also included in the 21 man squad against Venezuela on August 20, 2008.

Style of play

Scocco's most commonly known for his outstanding dribbling ability and pace, taking on defenders down the wing and play-making for his team mates. Scocco generally likes to cut in and shoot. Scocco is also known for his phenomenal powerful shots. Former Panionios keeper Dario Krešić described Scocco's shots as unstoppable, after scoring three long range shots against him.

Personal life

Scocco is married to Argentinian model Melissa Pochettino, the couple have a daughter named Eva. Scocco is best friends with professional footballer Fernando Belluschi who is the God father of Eva. They both served as best man at each other's wedding.

Statistics

Last updated 2 June 2008

Season	Club	Competition	Apps	Goals
2003/04	Newell's Old Boys	Primera División Argentina	5	0
2004/05	Newell's Old Boys	Primera División Argentina	34	3
2005/06	Newell's Old Boys	Primera División Argentina	36	13
2006/07	Pumas UNAM	Primera División de México	32	11
2007/08	Pumas UNAM	Primera División de México	34	12
2007	Pumas UNAM	Primera División de México	34	12
2008/09	AEK Athens	Greek Super League	32	7
2009/10	AEK Athens	Greek Super League	30	11
2010/11	AEK Athens	Greek Super League	20	9
Total			223	66

Achievements

Club

Newell's Old Boys

• Primera División: 1

2004 Apertura

Honours

AEK Athens

• Greek Cup: 2010–11

References

1. ^ "AEK FC signs Ignacio Scocco". aekfc.gr. http://www.aekfc.gr/index.asp?a_id=305&n_id=4219. 
2. ^ Scocco signs new 3-year deal

External links

• Argentine Primera statistics (Spanish)
• Guardian statistics
• Profile at AEK Athens' official site

Persondata
Name	Scocco, Ignacio
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	29 May 1985
Place of birth	Santa Fe, Argentina
Date of death
Place of death