Javier Chevantón

Ernesto Javier Chevantón Espinosa (born 12 August 1980) is a former Uruguayan footballer, who played as a forward.

Javier Chevantón
Chevantón playing for Sevilla in 2008
Personal information
Full name Ernesto Javier Chevantón Espinosa
Date of birth (1980-08-12) 12 August 1980
Place of birth Juan Lacaze, Uruguay
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2001 Danubio 57 (49)
2001–2004 Lecce 87 (47)
2004–2006 Monaco 50 (20)
2006–2010 Sevilla 34 (8)
2010 → Atalanta (loan) 12 (2)
2010–2011 Lecce 14 (2)
2011–2012 Colón 15 (6)
2012–2013 Lecce 14 (6)
2013 Queens Park Rangers 2 (0)
2014–2015 Liverpool Montevideo 10 (3)
Total 295 (143)
National team‡
2001–2008 Uruguay 22 (7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:57, 14 May 2014 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:57, 27 December 2013 (UTC)
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Chevantón and the second or maternal family name is Espinosa.

He obtained a Spanish passport after playing a few years in Spain.[2] Chevantón has been described as a player who possesses explosiveness, pace and tenacity.[3]

Club career

Lecce

Chevantón was scouted by U.S. Lecce sports director Pantaleo Corvino and signed in the summer of 2001. Despite his 12 goals in 27 games, Lecce were relegated that season into Serie B and Chevantón stayed with them. His presence would prove vital, scoring 18 goals in 30 games to promote Lecce straight back into top flight domestic football. In the 2003–04 Serie A he was the fourth goalscorer of the tournament with 19 goals and became the all-time goalscorer for Lecce, overcoming former Argentina national team and Lecce player Pedro Pablo Pasculli.

Monaco

Following the loss of Fernando Morientes (returning to Real Madrid after his loan period expired) and Dado Pršo (who became free agent after failed to agree a new contract), Didier Deschamps was looking to reinforce his frontguard and so made an offer for Chevantón. In July 2004, he signed a 4-year contract with Monaco for a reported €10M.[4][5][6] A few weeks later Mohamed Kallon was signed and the duo was expected to become striking partner.

Unfortunately, he was injured in August 2004 and Javier Saviola was signed as replacement.[7] He was fit again in October but injured again in January. Since returned in February, he finally netted a goal in Ligue 1 on 16 April 2005. That season he scored 10 league goals, 1 goal behind Kallon and but ahead rising star Emmanuel Adebayor, Saviola and out-favoured Shabani Nonda. The 2004 UEFA Champions League finalist also exited in the round 16 of 2004–05 UEFA Champions League as non of the Monegasque strikers able to score against PSV.

In 2005–06 season, Nonda was released and Kallon was sent to Middle East on loan. Chevantón and Adebayor became the starting pair under Deschamps. He missed few matches in August 2005 including the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League 3rd qualifying round return leg.[8] Since Francesco Guidolin succeed as coach in October, Chevantón remained as one of the striker in the league. However, he did not played in the whole UEFA Cup group stage, due to both fitness problem and squad rotation. In January 2006, Christian Vieri and Marco Di Vaio were signed and Adebayor was sold (who suffered with injury too). He did a knee operation in January 2006[9] and return on 7 February, the Coupe de la Ligue semi-final. On the same month, he played as substitute in UEFA Cup round of 32, which the coach preferred Serge Gakpé partnered with Vieri. In the league he played a successive 11 league matches since round 28 (on 25 February) and almost scored in every match (7 goals in 7 different matches). Chevantón became the team top-scorer in the league with 10 goals by his performance in the second half of season, ahead mid-season signing Di Vaio and winger Olivier Kapo who both scored 5 league goals.

Sevilla

On 1 August 2006, he was signed by 2005–06 UEFA Cup holder Sevilla for a reported €8M and agreed a 5-year contract.[10][11] The beginning of Chevantón's season at Sevilla started with a back strain which put him out for the first few weeks, but he scored four goals for Sevilla in the UEFA cup against SC Braga, AZ Alkmaar, Shakhtar Donetsk and Grasshopper Club Zürich, and scored his first La Liga goal by way of a stylish bicycle kick at home against Real Madrid on 9 December 2006, which led to the home team's 2–1 victory. The second time Sevilla met Real Madrid that season Chevantón scored another goal with an excellent free kick. He recently netted the equaliser against Arsenal in a pre-season friendly for Sevilla in a 1–1 disappointment at the Emirates but has since found opportunities in the Spanish League limited.

Atalanta

On 26 November 2009, he was given permission to trial with Serie A club Atalanta, who ultimately agreed a loan deal with Sevilla. The player joined the club on 2 January 2010, until the end of the 2009–10 season.[12]

Lecce

On 23 August 2010, Chevantón returned to his former club Lecce.[13] His contract with Sevilla was terminated in earlier days.

Colón de Santa Fe

In July 2011, Lecce didn't renew his contract and he was hired by the Argentinian team Colón de Santa Fe.[14]

Lecce

In the summer of 2012, he joined Lecce, now in the Lega Pro Prima Divisione, for a third time after their relegation from Serie A in 2011–12 and subsequent expulsion from the Serie B for their part in the Calcio Scommesse scandal.

Queens Park Rangers

On 25 September 2013, Chevantón signed a short-term deal, until Christmas Eve, with English Championship club Queens Park Rangers.[15] He made his debut for the club on 5 October 2013, coming on as a late substitute for Niko Kranjčar in a 2–0 win against Barnsley.[16]

Chevantón was released by Queens Park Rangers on 24 December 2013.[17]

Liverpool (Uruguay)

After being released by QPR, Chevantón left England and returned to Uruguay where he signed a contract with Liverpool F.C. (Montevideo).

International career

Run-ins with the Uruguay head coach Jorge Fossati have restricted his playing time for the national team, most strikingly obvious was his omission from the last stage of 2006 World Cup qualification.[18] Uruguay failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.

After a long spell out of the national side Chevantón was finally included back in the Uruguay national squad for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification in September 2008 for the matches against Argentina and Bolivia in October. It was partially due to the injury of Diego Forlán.[19] Chevantón played the match against Argentina as substitute in the 73rd minutes for Sebastián Abreu while Abreu partnered mainly with Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani during the match. Chevantón was then dropped against Bolivia and was not called up again due to personal fitness and competition among Uruguay's top strikers.

References
  1. "Player Profile". www.uslecce.it. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  2. "Diego Perotti prolonga su contrato hasta 2014". Marca (in Spanish). 9 February 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  3. "French Focus: Ernesto Chevanton (Monaco)". www.channel4.com. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  4. Calvi, Giuseppe (14 July 2004). "Chevanton va da Deschamps". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  5. "CHEVANTON à Monaco". AS Monaco FC (in French). 16 July 2004. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  6. "Chevanton to fill Monaco gap". UEFA. 15 July 2004. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  7. "Monaco seal Saviola loan". UEFA. 30 August 2004. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  8. "Chevantón causes Monaco concern". UEFA. 22 August 2005. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  9. "Chevantón battles with wounded knee". UEFA. 4 January 2006. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  10. "Javier Chevanton au FC Séville". AS Monaco FC (in French). 1 August 2006. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  11. "Sevilla challenge for Chevantón". UEFA. 1 August 2006. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  12. "CHEVANTÓN SE VA CEDIDO AL ATALANTA HASTA FINAL DE TEMPORADA" (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. 26 November 2009. Archived from the original on 24 February 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  13. "Ufficiale il ritorno di Chevanton". US Lecce (in Italian). 23 August 2010. Archived from the original on 26 August 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  14. "El delantero es Chevantón". Club Colón (in Spanish). 21 July 2011. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  15. "EXCLUSIVE: CHEVANTON CHECKS IN". Queens Park Rangers FC. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  16. "Queens Park Rangers 2-0 Barnsley". BBC Sport. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  17. "CHEVANTON DEPARTS". Queens Park Rangers FC. 24 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  18. Figueroa, Patricio (6 October 2005). "Chevanton: I will not return". Sky Sports. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  19. "Chevanton Selected in Uruguay Squad". Goal.com. 27 September 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
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