Date of birth: 28 April 1970
Nationality: Argentinian
Playing career: CA Vélez Sarsfield, AC Pisa, Sevilla FC, Club Atlético de Madrid, FC Internazionale Milano, S.S. Lazio, Club Atlético de Madrid, Racing Club
Coaching career: Racing Club, Club Estudiantes de la Plata, CA River Plate, CA San Lorenzo, Calcio Catania, Racing Club, Club Atlético de Madrid

• A native of Buenos Aires, he launched his career as a combative midfielder with Vélez Sarsfield and was a full Argentinian international at 18, making his debut in July 1988 in a friendly against Australia.

• Moved abroad in 1990 to play in Italy's Serie A for Pisa; two years later he left for Spanish club Sevilla FC, where he played under Argentina's 1986 FIFA World Cup-winning coach Carlos Bilardo and – for one season – alongside another illustrious compatriot, Diego Maradona.

• Joined Atlético in 1994 and won the Spanish domestic double with the club in his second season – the first major club honours of his career, to add to two Copa América titles (1991 and 1993) plus the 1992 FIFA Confederations Cup with Argentina.

• Enjoyed further success after returning to Italy, winning the UEFA Cup with Inter, plus the UEFA Super Cup and Serie A and Coppa Italia double in his debut campaign with Lazio (1999/2000). After four years in Rome, he returned to Madrid for a second spell with Atlético, where he remained for two seasons before ending his playing career back home in Argentina with Racing Club.

• A participant at three successive World Cups for Argentina (1994-2002), he retired as his country's most-capped player with 106 appearances and 11 goals.

• Started coaching career with Racing Club and won Argentinian titles with both Estudiantes (2006 Apertura) and River Plate (2008 Clausura); brief spells at San Lorenzo, Italian club Catania and Racing (again) preceded his appointment in December 2011 at Atlético, where he was brought in to replace Gregorio Manzano and succeeded in steering the club to their second UEFA Europa League final in three years.