FCBARCELONA.CAT

26.02.2010 13:23

Piqué’s rise to prominence

Edgar Fornós

Gerard Piqué's journey to become a first-team regular at FC Barcelona began when he was just ten and has seen him play for Manchester United and Real Zaragoza in an illustrious start to life at the top.

The 23-year-old was born on February 2, 1987 and a decade later joined the ranks of the Blaugrana at Aleví B level and embarked on a journey that has already seen him secure several major honours.

Moving on up

Improving his performance each season and learning with every team he played with and every coach he worked under Piqué rose through the youth ranks at Barça. After Aleví B he moved up to play for the Infantíl A and B sides and then the Juveníl A and B teams before progressing to the Cadete B outfit that was run by Guardiola's current assistant Tito Vilanova. The defender's quality and ability to learn and adapt quickly saw him tipped to be a star of the future.

Home and away

At the end of the 2003/04 campaign, aged just 17, Piqué chose to move to England and join Manchester United. With the Old Trafford-based outfit he made his debut as a professional on October 26, just three weeks after arriving. After two seasons under Sir Alex Ferguson another move was brokered as Piqué joined Real Zaragoza on loan and played alongside Gabriel Milito at la Romareda. During his time at the Aragónese club he played 22 matches, 18 in the starting team, and scored two goals.

For the 2007/08 season he returned to Manchester United and enjoyed a successful campaign as he helped the club to win the Premier League title and the Champions League trophy, after they beat Chelsea on penalties in Moscow. In Europe Piqué made his mark as he scored twice en route to the final.

Returning home

In the summer of 2009 Piqué was offered the chance to return to Barça by Guardiola and jumped at it. He could never have imagined just what a good move it would prove to be as he quickly proved how far he had come as he became a regular in the centre of the team's rearguard. In that memorable year he helped FC Barcelona to a monumental treble of league title, Copa del Rey and Champions League. That was then complimented by the Spanish Super Cup, the European Super Cup and the World Club Cup this term.

Goalscorer

Despite being a defender by trade Piqué has shown his aptitude in front of goal as he has netted 11 goals in his three and a half seasons at the top. In the league he has five goals to his name, two for Zaragoza and three for Barça, while in the Champions League he has netted two for both Manchester United and the Blaugrana. Piqué has also scored twice in the Copa del Rey with one goal for Zaragoza and the other for Barça, in the tie against Espanyol last season.