Agustin Delgado

"Saint Augustin"

Ecuador's forward Agustin Delgado is hugged by teammate forward Ivan Kaviedes after Delgado scored the first goal against Mexico in the first minutes of match 27 group G of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea Japan opposing Mexico and Ecuador 09 June, 2002 in Miyagi, Japan. AFP PHOTO OMAR TORRES

Mexico's midfielder Gerardo Torrado (L) pressures Ecuador's forward Agustin Delgado during match 27 group G of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea Japan 09 June, 2002 in Miyagi, Japan. AFP PHOTO GABRIEL BOUYS

Agustin Delgado, the giant Ecuador striker, is assured of a place in football history after he scored his country's first World Cup goal in the match against Mexico in the 2002 finals.

Always a powerful presence, "Tin" rose high above the Mexican defence to power the ball home just five minutes into the match. It was not enough to help his tiny nation into the second round but it was a goal which represents a milestone for Ecuador.

Nicknamed "San Agustin" by Ecuadorian supporters, Delgado is idolised in his homeland and rightly so after leading his country's first ever World Cup qualification courtesy of nine goals, a feat that put him on par with Argentina's ace marksman Hernan Crespo during 2002 qualifying.

He cuts an impressive figure at 1.87m and 83kg and has a distinctively elegant style that makes him a constant threat in the opposing goal area.

First discovered by Yugoslav coach Dusan Draskovic, who had a stint at the helm of Ecuador, he was called up as a 19-year-old to lead the national attack and has rarely been out of the team since.

Coming and going

In 1991, he signed with Barcelona de Guayaquil, one of the biggest clubs in Ecuador, but his quest for trophies went unsatisfied and he was soon packing his bags for a move to Nacional which preceded another change, this time to Colombia where he joined Independiente de Medellin.

Enrique Smith (L) of Costa Rica's Alajuela fights for the ball with Agustin Delgado of Mexico's Necaxa in the first half of their match in the CONCACAF Champions Cup Match 03 October 1999 in Las Vegas, NV. AFP PHOTO/John Gurzinski

It was to be another brief stop in his career as he returned to Barcelona in Ecuador where he linked up with first of all Ariel Graziani and then later Anthony de Avilla in attack.

He was part of the side that reached the final of the prestigious Copa Libertadores in 1998 although his side were beaten by Vasco de Gama of Brazil.

Next on his merry-go-round of clubs was Cruz Azul in the Mexican league, where he spent one season before joining Necaxa in the same championship.

In 21 matches, he scored a respectable 13 goals, enough to catch the eye of English side Southampton who brought him to the Premiership in October, 2001 for 4.6 million dollars (5.2 million euros).

International influence

The experience Delgado picked up at club level served him in good stead in the national team and he was one of the leading figures that sought out coach Hernan Dario Gomez and helped persuade the Colombian to remain as coach of Ecuador following an attack in which the coach was shot and assaulted.

Argentine Javier Zanetti (L) and Ecuadorean Agustin Delgado vie for the ball, 04 June 2005 during their 2006 FIFA World Cup South American qualifying match at Atahualpa stadium in Quito, Ecuador. Ecuador defeated Argentina 2-0. AFP PHOTO Daniel GARCIA

Once qualification for the tournament in the Far East was assured, he went to Germany to undergo knee surgery in order to be fully fit for the 2002 World Cup.

Delgado was in trouble with his club Southampton after the World Cup for failing to return for the Premiership side's pre-season tour.

He was transfer-listed and fined after he stayed in Ecuador following the World Cup to recover from further knee problems, but returned to England on August 9, 2002.