Hernan Crespo

Crespo was born in Buenos Aires Province, in the Florida neighbourhood of the Vicente López Partido, Greater Buenos Aires, next to the Buenos Aires city. He made his debut for River Plate during the 1993/94 season, scoring 13 goals in 25 league appearances (an early sign of what was to come). He helped River Plate win the Apertura league title, the second of two championships held in Argentina in the year. He helped River win the Apertura title again in 1994. In 1996, Crespo helped River to win the Copa Libertadores, the South American club championship, scoring twice in the home leg of the final in Buenos Aires.

He left River for Parma in Italy in August 1996 after he won the silver medal with Argentina in the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics, finishing the tournament as top scorer with six goals. In May 1997, coached by Carlo Ancelotti (current manager of A.C. Milan), Crespo helped Parma finish runners-up in Serie A, scoring 12 goals in 27 matches. In 1999, with Parma he won both the Italian Cup and the UEFA Cup (in the final against Olympique de Marseille, held in Moscow, Crespo scored the opening goal in Parma's 3-0 victory). In 2000, after four successful years with Parma, Lazio broke the world transfer record (at that time) by paying £35,500 000 for Crespo. He ended his first season in Lazio as top scorer in Serie A with 26 goals.

In September 2002, Crespo signed with Inter Milan as replacement for the departed Ronaldo for €40 million. In his only season at the club, he scored 7 goals in 18 appearances in Italian Serie A and 9 goals in 12 appearances in the Champions League.

Crespo was transferred to English Premiership club Chelsea on 26 August 2003, for £16,800 000. However, he had a disappointing season in London, making only 31 appearances in all competitions and scoring 12 goals. After José Mourinho took over as Chelsea manager in the 2004 off-season, Crespo became surplus to Chelsea's plans and was loaned out for the 2004-05 season to AC Milan, as requested by his former coach Carlo Ancelotti. With Milan he reacquired his form by scoring 10 goals. Crespo scored two of Milan's three goals in the 2004/05 Champions League final against Liverpool before an inspired Liverpool comeback.

After speculation involving Crespo and a return to Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea's failed attempts to land a big name striker during the summer of 05, José Mourinho decided to bring back Crespo from A.C. Milan. Despite Crespo making his desire to stay at Milan well known, Chelsea needed competition for striker Didier Drogba and José Mourinho convinced him that he had a future in the FA Premier League.

Unlike his first season in England, Crespo seemed to have finally adapted. He made his first appearance back at Chelsea in the 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the FA Community Shield. He scored his first league goal of 2005 against Wigan in Chelsea's first game of the season at the JJB Stadium, his second came soon after in his fourth league game, a powerful header against Charlton. Crespo then opened his account in the season's Champion's League campaign with a header against Real Betis. He has since scored against Anderlecht, Newcastle United, Portsmouth, Fulham, Birmingham City, Sunderland, Liverpool (in fact scoring twice, only to be incorrectly ruled offside for his second), and West Ham.

In July 2006, Crespo stated his intention to return to play in Italy, particularly his former club AC Milan, as he still owns a residence in the suburbs of Milan. However, Chelsea released a club statement on its website stating that Crespo will remain a Chelsea player unless the club accepted a suitable offer for him.

On the 7th August 2006, Crespo signed for Inter Milan on a two-year loan from Chelsea, in a similar deal to that agreed on for Juan Sebastián Verón. Chelsea have the option to bring Crespo back after one season, and Inter will pay almost all of Crespo's wages during his loan period. In all competitions, he scored 26 goals for Chelsea. 14 of these came in his last season at the West London club, the other 12 were scored during his first spell before going on loan.