CARLOS TEVEZ
He is regarded as one of the most promising prospects to come out of Argentina and has been labelled as the "New Maradona".
Tévez's full name is Carlos Alberto Martínez. He was raised in Ejército de Los Andes, where he got the nickname of Apache. His parents changed his surname to his mothers during a conflict between his junior club All Boys and Boca Juniors.
Tévez has a distinctive burn mark from his right ear, down his neck to his chest. This occurred when he was ten months old while he was exploring his mother’s kitchen floor and he inadvertently pulled a kettle of boiling water over himself.
Tévez joined Boca at the age of thirteen and played his first professional match with Boca in 2001 against Talleres de Córdoba. With Boca Juniors he won an Argentine Championship (2003), a Copa Libertadores (2003), an Intercontinental Cup (2003), and a Copa Sudamericana (2004). Because of the Intercontinental Cup of 2003, he did not participate in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship with the Argentine team.
Following Argentina's and Tévez personal success at the 2004 Olympic Games, the Argentine Football Writers chose him as Footballer of the Year and Sportsman of the Year 2004.
In December 2004, he transferred to Sport Club Corinthians Paulista for $20 million with a five year contract worth $10 million, following the Brazilian club's deal with Media Sports Investments. The deal was the biggest transfer ever in South American football.
Tévez became the captain and star of the team that won the 2005 Brazilian league and the fans' favourite player.
On Thursday 31 August 2006, the day of the European transfer deadline, Tévez confirmed on his website that both he and Javier Mascherano were signing for West Ham United on permanent deals, for £12 million, via his contractual owner Media Sports Investments
In April, following a record £5.5m fine for West Ham for breaching Premier League rules over the signings of Tévez and Mascherano, Tévez was cleared to play for West Ham.
Tévez's future at West Ham has been the subject of constant speculation ever since he signed for the Hammers, with the media linking him to a host of European clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Internazionale. However, West Ham stated repeatedly that they owned his registration and did not wish to sell him.
At the end of June, Tévez rejected a move to Inter Milan, having been given a deadline for his decision by the Serie A champions. Manchester United were intersetd but unsure of exactly who Tevez was owned by.
Manchester United and West Ham agreed to invite FIFA to rule on the ownership of Tévez, but finally an agreement was reached between West Ham and MSI, with the approval of the Premier League, whereby MSI would pay £2 million to West Ham, who would then release Tévez from his registration with them.
Manchester United put forward a proposed two-year loan deal for Tévez to the Premier League, which was approved on 10 August.
He was given the number 32 jersey, the same number as that which he had worn at West Ham. He claims to like the number as it contains the same numbers as Michael Jordan's famous 23, a sportsman who Tevez lists as one of his idols.
He made his debut in a 1-1 draw against Portsmouth on 15 August, replacing Wayne Rooney, who had suffered a foot injury, and set up a goal for Paul Scholes.
