Lisandro López

Not to be confused with Lisandro Ezequiel López.
Lisandro López

López playing for Lyon in 2013
Personal information
Date of birth (1983-03-02) 2 March 1983
Place of birth Rafael Obligado, Argentina
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Striker / Winger
Club information
Current team
 Racing Club
Number 9
Youth career
2001–2003 Racing Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2005 Racing Club 70 (26)
2005–2009 Porto 106 (49)
2009–2013 Lyon 119 (59)
2013–2015 Al-Gharafa 40 (13)
2015 Internacional 24 (4)
2016– Racing Club 21 (8)
National team
2005–2009 Argentina 7 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 28 November 2016.


Lisandro López (born 2 March 1983), sometimes known as simply Lisandro, is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Racing Club de Avellaneda. Primarily a striker, he is also capable of playing on the wings.[1]

After starting out at Racing Club in 2003, López spent most of his professional career with Porto in Portugal and Lyon in France, winning eight major titles between the two teams.

Club career

Racing Club

Born in Rafael Obligado, Buenos Aires Province, López started his career at Racing Club de Avellaneda in the Primera División, making his first-team debuts at the age of 19.

He was the league's top scorer in the 2004 Apertura tournament, going on to net more than 30 official goals during his three-year spell.

Porto

In April 2005, López signed for FC Porto for a transfer fee of €2.3 million, moving to Portugal alongside countryman Lucho González. His agents, Global Soccer Agencies (later renamed Rio Football Services),[2] retained 50% of the player's rights[3][4]– in the same transfer window, Luís Fabiano, whose rights were owned by GSA's sister company, "Global Soccer Investments" (75%), left the club. He scored seven Primeira Liga goals in his first season in 26 games, repeating the feat the following campaign while appearing in one match less; he also found the net in the 1–1 home draw against Rangers in the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League, adding two against Hamburger SV (also in that competition but in the following edition, 4–1 home win[5]).

In 2007–08, as Porto were crowned league champions for the third consecutive time, López was the competition's top scorer, scoring 24 goals in 27 games and adding three in the season's Champions League. On 20 April 2008, he netted twice – also being booked – in a 2–0 home win against S.L. Benfica; midway through the campaign Porto rejected an offer from FC Zenit St. Petersburg, and the northerners eventually bought the remaining economic rights of the player, for €4.4 million.[6]

López only scored ten goals in 2008–09, but finished fourth in the scoring list in the Champions League with six, only trailing Lionel Messi, Steven Gerrard and Miroslav Klose.[7] Porto wrapped up the season with the conquest of the Taça de Portugal, and he netted the game's only goal in a win against F.C. Paços de Ferreira.

Lyon

López during a Champions League match for Lyon in April 2010

After the sale of Karim Benzema to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, López replaced him at Olympique Lyonnais, being transferred for a fee of €24 million, plus a €4 million bonus subject to performances.[8] On 8 August, he scored on his Ligue 1 debut from a last-minute free-kick at Le Mans FC, in a 2–2 draw. He added a hat-trick against R.S.C. Anderlecht in the second leg of the Champions League qualifying round, in an eventual 8–2 aggregate win.[1]

On 4 November 2009, López scored a decisive equaliser in a group game against Liverpool to ensure Lyon qualified for the knockout stage. Four days later he netted twice in three minutes in a 5–5 ligue draw against Olympique de Marseille,[9] adding a further three the following month, against Lille OSC: the visitors led it 3–1 at half-time, but were eventually defeated 3–4.[10]

On 30 March 2010, López scored twice in the 3–1 home victory against FC Girondins de Bordeaux in the Champions League quarter-finals (3–2 aggregate win). He continued this good form with a goal in Lyon's 2–1 away win against Stade Rennais FC, four days later.[11]

On the final day of the season, López assisted Miralem Pjanić in a 2–0 home win against Le Mans, a result which placed Lyon second in the league table, with the subsequent direct Champions League qualification.[12] On 9 May 2010, he was named Ligue 1 Footballer of the Year.[13]

On 2 October 2010, López scored in a 3–2 away win over AS Nancy for Lyon's second win of the campaign.[14] He added two in the next ligue fixture – one from a penalty kick – a 3–1 defeat of Lille at the Stade de Gerland.[15] On 20 October he found the net again, against Benfica in a 2–0 Champions League group stage win.[16]

After a one-month spell without a goal, López finally added to his account by grabbing a last-minute goal in a 3–1 away win against RC Lens.[17] He added two in another away fixture, against Montpellier HSC (2–1, the second coming in the fifth minute of stoppage time).[18] Three days later Lyon, needing a point to secure passage to the knockout stages of the Champions League, played host to Hapoel Tel Aviv FC, and he opened the scoring in the 62nd minute, in an eventual 2–2 home draw.[19]

López scored again in the next game for Les Gones in a 2–0 win over Toulouse FC, putting them up to second place in the table.[20] He also found the net in the following game, a 1–1 draw against title holders Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome.[21]

On 6 March 2011, after six scoreless games, López scored a hat-trick in the 5–0 thrashing of AC Arles-Avignon.[22] In the 27th matchday he continued his run, opening the scoring in a 2–0 away win against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard.[23] On 10 April, he netted in the 90th minute in a 3–0 home win over Lens[24] and found the net in the following two home fixtures (both 3–2 wins), against Montpellier[25] and Marseille,[26] with L'OL eventually finishing in third position; on the final day of the season he scored a goal in his team's 2–0 win over AS Monaco FC, condemning Les Rouge et Blanc to their first relegation in 35 years.[27]

López started 2011–12 in fine form, scoring in Lyon's first two games, his first coming in the early stages of a 3–1 win at OGC Nice.[28] The following weekend, against newly promoted AC Ajaccio, he hit the post twice in the first ten minutes and had several shots saved by Guillermo Ochoa, but was able to salvage a point for new coach Rémi Garde on his home debut with an excellent header in the 83rd minute.[29]

On 8 January 2012, López scored a hat-trick in a 3–1 win at AS Lyon Duchère for the Coupe de France. Three days later, he netted the 2–1 winner against Lille in the Coupe de la Ligue, in the 64th minute; on the 22nd, in his 100th official game for Lyon, he scored against Vendée Luçon Football for the French Cup round-of-32.

On 28 April 2012, López helped Lyon grab victory in the French Cup final, scoring the game's only goal against US Quevilly.[30] In late April of the following year, he announced he was leaving the club in the summer transfer window,[31] with Garde commenting:

I also wanted to make a huge tribute to Licha (López). I will not forget what he did.[32]

Al-Gharafa / Internacional

On 8 August 2013, López signed for Qatari club Al-Gharafa Sports Club, for a fee of €7.2 million.[33] In late February 2015 he changed clubs and countries again, joining Brazil's Sport Club Internacional on a two-year deal.[34][35]

International career

In 2005, López was called up to the Argentina national team by José Pékerman, and he made his debut against Mexico on 10 March in a 1–1 friendly draw. After fantastic Porto performances, he was summoned three years later by Alfio Basile for exhibition games with Egypt, Mexico, the United States[36] and Belarus.

On 12 August 2009, López scored one goal in Argentina's 3–2 victory over Russia at the Lokomotiv Stadium in Moscow.[37] Nine days later, he was called by national team boss Diego Maradona for the decisive encounters against Brazil and Paraguay for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, but was overlooked for the final stages in South Africa.

Career statistics

As of 7 June 2015[38]

Club

Club Season League Domestic cup League cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Racing Club 2002–03 30–––30
2003–04 318–––318
2004–05 3718–––3718
Total 7126–––7126
Porto 2005–06 26710–21298
2006–07 25800–833311
2007–08 27244000833927
2008–09 281041001064217
Total 106499100281314363
Lyon 2009–10 331520221274924
2010–11 27172010523519
2011–12 28166731614325
2012–13 31111110623914
Total 1195911873271216682
Al-Gharafa 2013–14 2393152003112
2014–15 174000000174
Total 40133152004816
Internacional 2015 20007242134
Total 20007242134
Career total 34014723101975927441191

International goals

Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 12 August 2009 Lokomotiv Stadium, Moscow, Russia  Russia 2–1 3–2 Friendly

Honours

Club

Porto
Lyon
Internacional

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 "Lisandro fills Benzema void". ESPN Soccernet. 26 August 2009.
  2. ↑ Relatório e contas consolidado 1º Semestre 2007/2008 (Consolidated report and finance 1º Semester); CMVM, 29 February 2008 (Portuguese)
  3. ↑ "Porto look forward with López". UEFA.com. 15 April 2005. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  4. ↑ Facto relevante (Relevant fact); FC Porto, 15 April 2005 (Portuguese)
  5. ↑ "The UEFA Champions League 2006/07 – Hamburger SV (GER)". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  6. ↑ Comunicado (Announcement); FC Porto, 18 January 2008 (Portuguese)
  7. ↑ "Messi sweeps up goalscoring honours". UEFA.com. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  8. ↑ "Acordo com o Lyon para a transferência de Lisandro" [Agreement with Lyon for Lisandro transfer] (in Portuguese). FC Porto. 7 July 2009. Retrieved 7 July 2009.
  9. ↑ Olympique Lyon 5–5 Marseille: OM and OL share ten goals in all-time classic; Goal.com, 8 November 2009
  10. ↑ Lille down Lyon in seven-goal thriller; ESPN Soccernet, 6 December 2009
  11. ↑ Lyon profit from Bordeaux slip; ESPN Soccernet, 3 April 2010
  12. ↑ Pjanic takes Lyon into Champions League; ESPN Soccernet, 15 May 2010
  13. ↑ "Lisandro honoured by Ligue 1 peers". UEFA.com. 9 May 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
  14. ↑ AS Nancy Lorraine 2–3 Lyon; ESPN Soccernet, 2 October 2010
  15. ↑ Two wins in a row for Lyon; ESPN Soccernet, 17 October 2010
  16. ↑ Lyon cruise to victory against ten-man Benfica; UEFA.com, 20 October 2010
  17. ↑ Lens 1–3 Lyon; ESPN Soccernet, 21 November 2010
  18. ↑ Lisandro double fires Lyon to win; ESPN Soccernet, 4 December 2010
  19. ↑ Lacazette's Lyon leveller denies Hapoel; UEFA.com, 7 December 2010
  20. ↑ Lyon move up to third; ESPN Soccernet, 12 December 2010
  21. ↑ Lyon miss big chance; ESPN Soccernet, 19 December 2010
  22. ↑ Lisandro hat-trick inspires Lyon; ESPN Soccernet, 6 March 2011
  23. ↑ FC Sochaux 0 vs 2 O. Lyon; Goal.com, 12 March 2011
  24. ↑ Lyon back in the race for the title; ESPN Soccernet, 10 April 2011
  25. ↑ Lyon 3–2 Montpellier; ESPN Soccernet, 27 April 2011
  26. ↑ Lyon 3–2 Marseille; ESPN Soccernet, 8 May 2011
  27. ↑ First XI: Fall from grace; ESPN Soccernet, 7 July 2011
  28. ↑ Garde starts Lyon reign with impressive win; ESPN Soccernet, 6 August 2011
  29. ↑ Lyon 1–1 AC Ajaccio; ESPN Soccernet, 13 August 2011
  30. ↑ Lyon edge third-tier minnows to lift Cup; ESPN Soccernet, 28 April 2012
  31. ↑ "Lisandro Lopez set for Spurs transfer after revealing desire to quit Lyon". Metro. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  32. ↑ "Garde pays tribute to Lisandro Lopez". Goal.com. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  33. ↑ Transfer of Argentinian international striker Lisandro Lopez; Actus News, 8 August 2013
  34. ↑ "Lisandro López assina com o Inter e é o sétimo reforço para 2015" [Lisandro López signs with Inter and is seventh addition for 2015] (in Portuguese). Zero Hora. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  35. ↑ "Fin de un sueño: Lisandro López jugará en Inter de Porto Alegre" [End of a dream: Lisandro López will play in Inter de Porto Alegre] (in Spanish). Cancha Llena. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  36. ↑ "U.S. Men draw 0–0 in epic contest with Argentina in final match at Giants Stadium". US Soccer. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  37. ↑ Russia 2–3 Argentina; Football.co, 12 August 2009
  38. ↑ "L. López". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
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