Julio Arca

Julio Andrés Arca (born 31 January 1981 in Quilmes) is an Argentine footballer, currently playing for Middlesbrough. Arca is also a former Argentine Under-21 captain. He is a left back or midfield enforcer. An attack minded player, his key attributes are dribbling and hard work.

Club career

Sunderland

Sunderland's manager, Peter Reid, signed Arca in 2000 from Argentinos Juniors with a £3.5 million five-year deal, while holding off competition from Newcastle United and Leeds United. He was an immediate success, scoring on his debut at the Stadium of Light against West Ham United. Peter Reid spotted him in an Under 21s match playing against England at Craven Cottage and tracked him until completing the signing in July 2000.

Arca played for his previous club and national team at left back, but was successfully converted to left midfield by Reid. Arca was Reid's most expensive signing of that summer and was then second only behind Stefan Schwarz as the club's record buy. The youngster was tipped for the brightest of futures and full international honours in the near future.Vorlage:Citation needed

Arca scored three times for the Black Cats in his first season in the Premiership. However, like so many Sunderland players, Arca's 2001–02 campaign was disappointing as he was troubled by a series of niggling injuries. He did not manage to rediscover his form of the previous season, and was out of action from February.

At the start of the 2002–03 campaign, Arca, who had then played 54 games for the club, stated his determination to get back to his best – both in fitness and form.Vorlage:Citation needed He became a regular once again after Sunderland's relegation that season, and was arguably their best player as they returned to the Premiership under manager Mick McCarthy, winning the Football League Championship in 2004–05.

Sunderland was relegated in the 2005–06 season. As a result of relegation, Arca moved back to the Premiership joining North-East rivals Middlesbrough as a replacement for Franck Queudrue who moved to Fulham

Middlesbrough

Arca was Gareth Southgate's first senior player signing in the dawn of the 2006–07 season on a five-year deal for a reported fee of £1,750,000. Arca had scored the previous season against Middlesbrough in a 2–0 win for Sunderland with a superb free kick, their first win of a disastrous season for the black cats.

Arca had a terrible debut for Middlesbrough, breaking his toe early in the match. However, since then he has proved a revelation. With the progress of Andrew Taylor at left-back, Arca has been utilised as central attacking midfielder. His performances have earned rave reviews with many suggesting an international call-up would be just rewards.Vorlage:Citation needed He scored his first goal for the club against Charlton in December 2006..

Since then, Arca has established himself in the centre of the midfield. Some excellent performances, most notably in the 2–2 draw with Manchester United F.C. in the FA Cup, have led to speculation by the English press, that he could soon be awarded full international honours with Argentina.

He is still liked strongly by most Sunderland fans despite moving to their local rivals, and in the 2007 Tees-Wear derby at the Riverside when he went off injured after scoring against them, he was cheered by the visiting Sunderland supporters. Unfortunately, following this injury Arca struggled to regain his excellent form in the months prior to it.

In January 2008, Arca was named the new Middlesbrough captain by manager Gareth Southgate, replacing fellow midfielder George Boateng as skipper. His first game as captain was against Blackburn Rovers F.C. in the Premier League, the match ended 1–1. After only a few games leading the team he was replaced by Austrian left back Emanuel Pogatetz.

Arca regained fine form towards the end of 2010, scoring in Middlesbrough's 2-0 win over Chesterfield in the Carling Cup and scoring his first league goal for over three years from a rare penalty kick, to give Middlesbrough a 1-0 victory over Cardiff.

Honors and awards

• FIFA World Youth Championship winner: 2001
• Football League Championship winner: 2005

External links

• Julio Arca in der Datenbank von soccerbase.com (englisch)