Hernan Crespo

On the Crespo of a wave

Argentine Hernan Crespo (R) celebrates after scoring the third goal against Brazil, while fallen Brazilian Roque Junior looks at him 08 June, 2005 during their 2006 FIFA World Cup South American qualifying match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina. AFP PHOTO Daniel GARCIA

The disappointment of the 2002 World Cup may still linger in the memory for Hernan Crespo but he was back to his best firing Argentina to qualification for the 2006 edition.

Once the most expensive player in football, it was his two goals against Brazil in a 3-1 win in 2005 that sealed Argentina's ticket to football's greatest competition.

AC Milan's Argentinan forward Hernan Crespo (R) shoots and scores past Liverpool's Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek during the UEFA Champions league football final AC Milan vs Liverpool, 25 May 2005 at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul. AC Milan leads 3-0. AFP PHOTO CARL DE SOUZA

At club level, he spent a successful season at AC Milan on loan in 2004 after an average 2003-04 season in London at Chelsea.

Back to his best in Serie A, he also scored twice in the 2005 Champions League final before Milan blew a 3-0 lead against Liverpool and then agonisingly lost on penalties.

Such was his impact however that Chelsea declined to sell him outright and handed Crespo the number 9 shirt at Stamford Bridge the following season.

While his contribution was key in qualifying Argentina for the 2002 World Cup, scoring nine goals, he was left on the bench in favour of Gabriel Batistuta at the finals, leading to great debate amongst onlookers and bitterness between the two men.

He picked up the nickname "Valdanito" at his first club River Plate, a reference to the great former Argentine international Jorge Valdano and he tucked away 36 goals in 82 matches for the Buenos Aires club between 1993 and 1996.

Before leaving for Italy in 1996 he won a host of honours including two Argentine titles and the Copa Libertadores with River Plate, adding a silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Four successful years with Serie A giants Parma followed where he now stands as the club's all-time leading scorer with 81 goals from 150 matches.

Blockbuster

Parma's forward Hernan Jorge Crespo (R) jubilates after scoring the 1st goal as Olympique de Marseille's goalkeeper looks on 12 May 1999 at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow during the 28th UEFA soccer Cup final between Olympique de Marseille and Parma AC.

He also added the Italian Cup, before smashing home the opening goal in the final of the UEFA Cup in 1999 when Parma thrashed Marseille 3-0 in Moscow.

Crespo was then involved in a blockbuster transfer in the summer of 2000 when rivals Lazio paid a then world record 49 million dollars (55.6 million euros) to take the Argentine ace to Rome.

Chelsea's Hernan Crespo (TOP) head the ball over Sparta Praha's Vladimir Labant during their Champions League match 26 November, 2003 at Stamford Bridge, London. AFP PHOTO/ADRIAN DENNIS

Lazio were paying for Crespo's predatory instincts inside the box, his outstanding technique, the ability to score with both feet and his towering headers.

Inter Milan sold Ronaldo to Real Madrid on the eve of the 2002 season and replaced him with Crespo, but he was on the move again in 2003 when the hefty cheque-book of Roman Abramovich brought him to London-based Chelsea.

Hindered by injuries and struggling to adapt to English life, he left the Premier League for AC Milan but Jose Mourinho convinced him to return to Chelsea and another crack at life in the English capital.