Patricio Araujo

Football player infobox
playername= Patricio Araujo


fullname = Patricio Gabriel Araujo Vázquez
nickname = "El Joto"
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1988|1|30
cityofbirth = Colima, Colima
countryofbirth = Mexico
height = height|meter=1.77
currentclub = flagicon|Mexico Chivas de Guadalajara
position = Midfielder
Defensive Midfielder
clubnumber = 5
years = 2005-
clubs = flagicon|Mexico Chivas de Guadalajara
caps(goals) = 76 (2)
nationalyears = 2005
2007
2007-
nationalteam = flagicon|Mexico Mexico U-17
flagicon|Mexico Mexico U-20
flagicon|Mexico Mexico
nationalcaps(goals) = 9 (0)
7 (0)
3 (0)
pcupdate = 9 May, 2007
ntupdate = 6 June, 2008

Patricio Gabriel Araujo Vázquez (born January 30, 1988 in Colima, Colima) is a Mexican Footballer who currently plays for Chivas de Guadalajara as a Defensive Midfielder in the Primera Division de México.

Biography

Araujo became well-known at 2005 as captain of the Mexican National team that won the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Peru, wearing jersey # 2. Since he was the captain, he became the first mexican soccer player to have held up a World Champion trophy. "El Pato" (a common nickname for Patricio meaning "duck") forced his way into Chivas first team, but he did not accompany the Mexican National Team to the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games, held in Cartagena, Colombia, because it conflicted with Chivas's Copa Libertadores campaign. After many very good games, in which he wore jersey # 78, Araujo became a vital piece in José Manuel de la Torre's squad, earned jersey # 5 after Carlos Salcido's departure from the team, and played all the games of Apertura 2006 season which Chivas would win; thus becoming, along with teammate Omar Esparza, the first member of the U-17 World Champion Mexican Team to get another championship after the World Cup in Peru. Even though Araujo had become a regular in the midfield lineup for Chivas, the regional eliminatories for the U-20 World Cup during february of 2007 made José Manuel de la Torre to substitute Araujo with teammate Edgar Mejía. Even after losing his place in Chivas' starting lineup, Araujo was selected by Jesús Ramírez to be captain of the Mexican National Team that played the 2007 U-20 World Cup Championship in Canada, wearing again jersey # 2. The Mexican National Team lost the game in quarter-finals against Argentina. After the World Cup, he returned to Chivas, where he would play in the few opportunities he'd be given. On October 13, 2007, during the Apertura 2007 championship, Araujo scored his first goal as a professional against Necaxa. At the beginning of Clausura 2008 championship, Araujo scored another goal, this time against Pumas UNAM. Clausura 2008 seems as a great chance for Araujo to get back his place in Chivas' lineup as a starter, since Edgar Mejia was injured during the pre-season.Big things are expected from Patricio Araujo, since he is the leader of the most successful generation yet of Mexican soccer and one of the kindest soccer players over the world. Despite not being in Chivas' starting lineup. With the firing of Hugo Sanchez Mexico selected youth coach Chucho Ramirez as the interim and has called up on Patricio Araujo in their game against China. Curiously, the player who plays as starter in Araujo's position at Chivas, Edgar Mejía, hasn't even made his debut in the national team.

European Interest

On July 2008 Patricio Araujo has attracted Spanish club, Valencia that have made an offer around 6 million euros, the offer is being analyzed by Nestor de la Torre.

National Team

Patricio Araujo has played with the Mexico national football team in three categories. He played with the Mexico U-17 in which Mexico won the U-17 World Cup played in Peru in 2005. 2 years later he played with the Mexico U-20 for the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2007 in Canada. In both teams he wore jersey # 2. Finally, on August 22 he was called up to the national senior team to play a friendly match against the Colombian national football team, where he played 55 minutes. He played his second game in the National Mexican team against Guatemala on October 17, 2007 and played 87 minutes. With the senior National team he wears jersey # 8. After his debut with the senior national team, he was called for the U-23 team which failed at getting a place at the Soccer Tournament at 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. With the U-23 team he wore jersey # 6 and was no longer the captain.

Honors

Club

Chivas de Guadalajara
* "Mexican Championship" - Apertura 2006

International

flagicon|MEX Mexico
*FIFA U-17 World Championship: 2005