Spanish footballer and manager
Gerard López Segú (Catalan pronunciation: [ʒəˈɾaɾt ˈlɔpəθ səˈɣu] Gerard , is a Spanish former professional footballer , currently manager of the Catalonia national team . An all-around midfielder , he was known for precision passes and ball control skills. During his career, he played for several clubs, including Barcelona and Valencia , helping the latter to reach the 2000 Champions League final .
Over nine seasons, Gerard amassed La Liga totals of 183 matches and 16 goals. He participated with Spain at Euro 2000 .
Barcelona and Valencia [ edit ] Born in Granollers , Barcelona , Catalonia , Gerard began his career in the FC Barcelona youth system and, in the 1996–97 season , made his professional debut with its B team . As a 17-year-old he was signed by Valencia CF , making his La Liga debut on 31 August 1997 in a 2–1 away loss against RCD Mallorca (90 minutes played);[ 2] 1998–99 campaign he was loaned to Deportivo Alavés , which had returned to the top flight after a four-decade absence.[ 3]
After a breakout season with the Basque side, scoring a squad-best seven goals,[ 4] reach the final of the UEFA Champions League .[ 5] Che , he came to be regarded as one of the top players in Spain and, after receiving interest from several top clubs in Europe, including Inter Milan , A.C. Milan and Manchester United , he decided to join his former club Barcelona in July 2000, in a deal worth € 24 million;[ 6] SS Lazio on 5 April 2000 , he became the youngest player ever to achieve this feat in the knockout stages of the Champions League.[ 7]
Gerard would go on to appear regularly for the team during his five-year second spell, although never an undisputed starter. Injuries also began to curtail his career.[ 8] [ 9] [ 10]
Monaco and retirement [ edit ] After leaving Barça with the 2005 national championship , Gerard moved abroad, spending two unassuming seasons with France's AS Monaco FC ,[ 11] [ 12] 2007–08 , with top-division Recreativo de Huelva .[ 13]
After rejecting a move to PAOK FC , Gerard trained for a few months with lowly EC Granollers , in Preferent Territorial de Catalunya [ 14] Girona FC until the end of the campaign ;[ 15] Segunda División games.[ 16] [ 17] [ 18]
International career [ edit ] After a spectacular 1999–00 season with Valencia, on both fronts, Gerard earned his first cap for Spain on 3 June 2000, in a 1–1 friendly with Sweden in Gothenburg .[ 19] UEFA Euro 2000 .[ 20] [ 21]
In October 2013, Gerard replaced Johan Cruyff as manager of Catalonia .[ 22] relegation to Segunda División B .[ 23]
At the end of the 2016–17 season , Gerard coached his team back to the second tier. Subsequently, he renewed his contract for another year.[ 24]
On 25 April 2018, with the side placed inside the relegation zone , Gerard was relieved of his duties.[ 25]
Gerard's older brothers, Sergi and Julià López Segú (commonly known as Juli, born 1969), were also footballers, and defenders . The former, who also represented Barcelona, died by suicide at 39.[ 26]
The latter played almost exclusively for Barça B whilst they were in division two, also having a brief top-flight spell (13 matches) with Real Valladolid , in 1993–94 .[ 27] [ 28]
International goals [ edit ] Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gerard goal.
Managerial statistics [ edit ] As of 22 April 2018
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team
Nat
From
To
Record
Ref
Barcelona B
22 July 2015
25 April 2018
118
49
31
38
169
122
+47
0 41.53
[ 31]
Total
118
49
31
38
169
122
+47
0 41.53
—
^ a b c "GERARD López Segú" . El Mundo . Retrieved 8 January 2020 .^ Infante, Cristina (1 September 1997). "Venganza en Mallorca" [Revenge in Mallorca]. ABC . Retrieved 13 December 2017 . ^ Blanco, Jordi (20 February 2022). "El Barcelona le ha pagado al Valencia 186 millones de dólares por ocho jugadores en los últimos 20 años" [Barcelona have paid Valencia 186 million dollars in the last 20 years] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes . Retrieved 18 July 2023 . ^ Quílez, Emilio (9 May 2021). "Gerard consigue el gol doscientos del Deportivo Alavés en Primera División" [Gerard gets Deportivo Alavés' 200th goal in Primera División ]. Noticias de Álava (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2023 . ^ a b "Real Madrid 3–0 Valencia" . The Guardian . Retrieved 28 January 2016 .^ Ortuño, Xavier (22 July 2016). "5 fichajes del Valencia, 150 millones: André Gomes, Mathieu, Jordi Alba, David Villa y Gerard" [5 signings from Valencia, 150 million: André Gomes, Mathieu, Jordi Alba, David Villa and Gerard]. Sport . Retrieved 16 February 2018 . ^ Browning, Oliver (7 August 2020). "Champions League: How many players have scored hat-tricks in the knockout stages?" . Give Me Sport. Retrieved 1 May 2022 . ^ "Season over for Gerard" . UEFA. 15 March 2002. Retrieved 18 January 2014 .^ "Gerard thwarted by injury" . UEFA. 13 January 2003. Retrieved 18 January 2014 .^ "Gerard goes under the knife" . UEFA. 27 November 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2014 .^ "Monaco make double swoop" . UEFA. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 18 January 2014 .^ "Gerard ruled out for six months" . UEFA. 7 November 2005. Retrieved 18 January 2014 .^ "Gerard cambia Mónaco por el Recreativo" [Gerard changes Monaco for Recreativo]. 20 minutos . Retrieved 28 May 2019 .^ "Gerard se entrena con el Granollers" [Gerard trains with Granollers]. Mundo Deportivo . Retrieved 1 January 2016 .^ "Mercado: El Girona ficha a Gerard López, ex Barça y Valencia" [Market: Girona sign Gerard López, ex Barça and Valencia] (in Spanish). Goal . 17 February 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2016 .^ "Gerard López salió, marcó y resolvió para el Girona" [Gerard López came, saw and conquered for Girona]. Marca . Retrieved 1 January 2016 .^ "El Girona roza la permanencia" [Girona nearly saved]. Marca (in Spanish). 30 May 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2016 .^ "El Eibar prolonga su racha: quince partidos sin ganar" [Eibar extend streak: fifteen games without a win]. Marca (in Spanish). 7 June 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2016 .^ Román, Rogelio (4 June 2000). "Ensayo con nota" [Positive rehearsal]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 February 2018 . ^ Gascón, Javier (26 May 2000). "Iker y Gerard, las sorpresas" [Iker and Gerard, the surprises]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 August 2013 . ^ "Spanish squad unveiled" . BBC Sport . 28 May 2000. Retrieved 18 January 2014 .^ "Gerard López, nuevo seleccionador catalán" [Gerard López, new Catalan national team manager] (in Spanish). Diario Gol. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2015 .^ "Gerard López new Barça B coach" . FC Barcelona. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015 .^ "Gerard renueva por el Barça B" [Gerard renews for Barça B]. Marca (in Spanish). 30 June 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2018 .^ "Gerard López's contract rescinded" . FC Barcelona. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018 .^ "Fallece Sergi López, ex futbolista y hermano de Gerard, arrollado por un tren" [Sergi López, ex-footballer and brother of Gerard, dies, run over by train]. 20 minutos (in Spanish). 4 November 2006. Retrieved 18 January 2014 .^ "Juli: Julià López Segú" . BDFutbol. Retrieved 18 January 2014 .^ Tomàs, Manel; Clos, Jordi (29 October 2009). "Barça brothers" . FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2014 . ^ Besa, Ramón (3 September 2000). "España sale del lío con dos golazos" [Spain emerge from mess with two wonder goals]. El País . Retrieved 13 December 2017 . ^ Miguelez, José (8 October 2000). "España gana con sosería" [Spain win dully]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2017 . ^ "Segunda División B (Grupo 3) 2015–16" [Segunda División B (Group 3) 2015–16] (in Spanish). Futbolme. Retrieved 10 April 2017 ."Gerard: Gerard López Segú" . BDFutbol. Retrieved 10 April 2017 ."Gerard: Gerard López Segú" . BDFutbol. Retrieved 9 December 2017 .^ Piñol, Àngels (16 August 1999). "El Valencia contesta al Barça" [Valencia answer Barça]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2023 . ^ "Meia Gerard troca o Barcelona pelo Monaco" [Midfielder Gerard swaps Barcelona for Monaco]. Folha de S.Paulo . Retrieved 18 July 2023 . 
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Israel
