Argentina's Batistuta hangs up boots

BUENOS AIRES, March 13 (Reuters) - Argentina's record goalscorer Gabriel Batistuta has decided to quit soccer at the age of 36.
'I'm announcing my definitive retirement from football and I thank everyone who has helped make my career so successful,' said the former Fiorentina and AS Roma striker in a statement sent to Argentine media from Qatar on Sunday.

The decision came two days after Batistuta ended his contract with Qatari club Al Arabi following an injury-plagued year in which he played only three matches and failed to score.

Batistuta, who hit 56 goals in 78 internationals, said he was planning to coach in the future.

'I will certainly continue in football in a different role,' he added. 'I will continue with my contractual, publicity and managerial commitments and finish my studies for coaching.'

Batistuta played in the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cup finals, his last international goal coming in the 1-0 win over Nigeria in the 2002 World Cup finals.

His Argentina career also produced frustration when he was overlooked for long periods by former coach Marcelo Bielsa, who often preferred Hernan Crespo in attack and would not field the pair together because he said their styles were incompatible.

Batistuta made his professional debut with Newell's Old Boys in 1989. He also spent six months with River Plate before moving to Boca Juniors, becoming one of the few players to play for the two bitter Buenos Aires rivals.

He joined Italy's Fiorentina in 1991 and spent nine seasons there, including one in the second division after he preferred to help the club back to the top flight rather than move elsewhere.

Batistuta joined AS Roma in 2000 and had a brief spell with Inter Milan in 2003 before leaving for Al Arabi.

:Bow:

:Bow:

Awesome player, Batigol remains a legend, would've been nice to see him in a Blaugrana shirt, but all is good. :) :Bow:


:Bow: :Bow: :Bow: :Bow: :Bow: :Bow:

farewall legend

he is probably the deadliest finisher i've ever seen play

if anyone knows of any compilations out there, post them for people to appreciate how good batigol was especially in those days at fiorentina

I loved watching the SBS soccer adds, had Batigol many times on it on his time at Florence. (Y)

:bow:

Batistuta, who hit 56 goals in 78 internationals
(Y) :Bow:

Always a legend
Goodbye Bati-Gol

Great player will definently be remembered for ages.

Legend.

Farewell.

:Bow:

I haven't even really started watching football when Batigol was in his peak, anyone by any chance has his compilation? Although the chance is slim...:(

Farewell Batigol

Absolute legend!

Holy shlt, how the time just flew by. So people really do get older, don't they? :( ******* legend.

One of the greatest players ever to emerge in the world of football. One of those players that represents the true beauty and passion of this sport.

It seemed like yesterday he was a big young prospect in his country. And we now look back and we have almost 20 years of non-stop spectacular goal-scoring for Boca, River, Fiorentina, Roma, Inter...

Best wishes Batigol. May everything work out for you in your life.

:Bow: :Bow: :Bow:

The best striker i've ever seen play.

Hopefully his coaching career is just as good....although thats hard to imagine.

Great great player.

I'll join my fellow footy fans and bow down to a player i've admired like none other.

:Bow:

Sigh today we bury Batistuta (H) . Hehe just kidding. Great player man.....great player :Bow: :Bow: :Bow: :Bow:

:Bow::Bow::Bow::Bow::Bow::Bow:

Bastituta. He defines shot power in the world of football. His era at Florentina and when he played for the national team were amazing.

doh i still remember WC1994 when he's play along side Maradona, Caniggia and Redondo :f***: ,
he scored some great goals like those in CL when Florentina took on MAn u and Arsenal ,also the volley in Roma-Parma match ...absolutely great

Te vamos a extranar Batigol.

One of the greatest ever, defines "class".

:Bow: Batigol

he was my first ever favourite player, he was the reason i loved fiorentina while i was younger. it was a true joy to watch him play for whatever shirt he pulled on.

a true legend, class act, sad to see him retire


:Bow: Batistuta

:Bow: Batigol


Thank you for everything u did in Rome:rockman:

Legend!!!

GRACIAS TOTALES..!!!!
:Bow: :Bow: :Bow: :Bow:

He was (is) the best striker i've seen, he had a the most powerfull shoot!!!


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Clarin

http://www.clarin.com/diario/2005/03/14/deportes/d-01401.htm

El goleador histórico de la Selección también se refirió a la celeste y blanca: "Lo que más triste me pone es no volver a escuchar el himno nacional en un estadio. No volver a cantarlo desde adentro de la cancha. Eso es algo de lo que aún no me puedo reponer. Ni siquiera desde que tomé la decisión de dejar la Selección".

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http://www.clarin.com/diario/2005/03/14/fotos/info15.jpg:Bow:

Batisuta....you f*cking legend! Shame to see him go.

:Bow:

WHO???????..........:D


only kidding.............a legend for sure

Eventhough he was an Argie, he was one of the best ever :D

Seriously though, a true legend of football, known by people who didnt even follow the sport (a la Pele or Maradona). Good luck to him, and i hope to see him back in italy soon as an assistant in Florence or Rome!

Oh, and not to break the pattern, i keel at the altar of BATIGOL:

:Bow: :Bow: :Bow:

My favourite ever non-Italian player. I really wished he'd have finished his career at Fiorentina this season

:Bow:


http://www.netlaputa.ne.jp/~d-nagai/fiorentina/squadre/batistuta.jpg

one of the gretest strikers to play the game, ******* amazing legend

:Bow: :Bow:

absolute legend, a joy to watch. I'll always remember that stunning goal he scored against us when we came back from 3-1 down in the 99 season. Real shame to see him go.

I'd be interested in that comp marcus if you find one(H)

One of my heroes


I would have love to see him leave succeed more in Korea/Japan

true legend :rockman:

i have a compilation on cd somewhere in my room...i'll try to dig it up and post it later

Romario should take note :D

I can only echo what everyone else has said, great great player. He had it all really, great shot, strength, pace, aerial game and could use his feet too! He really was a once in a lifetime breed! :Bow:

Hes a legend. :rockman:

I have a 5 min, 50MB compilation of him. Tons of awesome goals. I'll upload it later to yousendit. :D

Batigol = the PERFECT / COMPLETE striker.

here's the comp i have:

http://tracker.bittorrent.to:9898/torrents/ea6fbb321edb5cafc90ec8d858c5cd86ce27807e.torrent

get it with a bit torrent client;)

Great player his scored some great goal i remeber the freekick his scored against Scum when he was with Fiorentina wat a legend he was :Bow:

Anyone wanna help me come up with Winning Eleven stats for Bati? Thx. :D

Attack 98
Defence 40
Balance 92
Stamina 83
Top Speed 84
Acceleration 84
Response 90
Agility 80
Dribble Accuracy 86
Dribble Speed 82
Short Pass Accuracy 75
Short Pass Speed 78
Long Pass Accuracy 75
Long Pass Speed 78
Shot Accuracy 97
Shot Power 93
Shot Technique 96
Free Kick Accuracy 88
Curling 86
Header 95
Jump 90
Technique 90
Aggression 85
Mentality 86
Consistency ?
Keeper Skills 50
Team Work 84
Conditioning ?
Weak Foot Accuracy ?

i will always remember the goal he score against us (mu vs fiorentina). what a great goal that was

LEGEND!!!!! Sad to see him go, im sure he could played a couple more years, I guess its the injuries!!!!!DAMN THEM TO HELL!!!!!!!!!!:f***:

this guy defines the role of the striker.

Absolute legend. He's a class above everyone else, there's no one quite like him.

For those who haven't downloaded the 50MB file, you better. it's goal after goal after goal.


Who plays like him the most?
Totti perhaps?

nah man, not totti. there ain't noone like Batigol.

Batigol is what we call the complete striker.
Henry can piss off.

http://www.gabrielbatistuta.net/interview/article40.html

interesting story.

Originally posted by jumbo
Anyone wanna help me come up with Winning Eleven stats for Bati? Thx. :D


i might be wrong here, but i think i've already got him in PES4

i'm not sure of the differences b/w pes and w/e

Batigol was amazing. He was one of the few complete strikers out there in his prime.

A legend really, a role model to follow, sad thing that he never won a World Cup, but oh well...one of the things I always remember from him is that he would say that he never really liked soccer, but he played it because he was good at it...:Bow: :Bow:

BATIGOL!!

I used to watch Italia Seria A and i liked AS Roma at that time. Batigol's (or Batigoal? we also call him in this way in Cantonese) powerful shots and freekicks are so enjoyable. :rockman:

Legend! :D

http://xs20.xs.to/pics/05112/batistuta_veron.jpg

One of the best strikers ever
http://www.netlaputa.ne.jp/~d-nagai/fiorentina/squadre/batistuta.jpg

william did you ever get a chance to watch batigol in florence?

Batistuta for City manager :rockman:

Him and Rui Costa should have retired in Fiorentina. I remember wonderful plays from this duo in the Artemio Franchi. I watched a game there when i was on Erasmus program in Italy.
I hope he has a good transition into the new coach role and achieves his objectives. Legend.

mega montana, thanks for the compilation, im downloading it right now...

bring back the 90's

:Bow: Batigol

Batigol=******* legend and THE complete striker.

Compilation - 17 minutes of Batigol:

Batistuta Compilation (http://www.bennovg.footballclips.net/Comps/new%20bati.zip)