Mauro Formica

Mauro Formica
Formica with Blackburn Rovers in 2011
Personal information
Full name Mauro Abel Formica[1]
Date of birth (1988-04-04) 4 April 1988 (age 36)[2]
Place of birth Rosario, Argentina
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
Newell's Old Boys
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2011 Newell's Old Boys 76 (17)
2011–2013 Blackburn Rovers 49 (5)
2013 → Palermo (loan) 8 (1)
2013–2017 Cruz Azul 55 (8)
2015–2017 → Newell's Old Boys (loan) 44 (7)
2017–2018 UNAM 21 (0)
2018–2021 Newell's Old Boys 53 (6)
2021–2022 Colón 18 (0)
2023 Defensores de Belgrano 11 (0)
International career
2005–2006 Argentina U17 4 (2)
2011 Argentina 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mauro Abel Formica (born 4 April 1988) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He is nicknamed El Gato (The Cat).

Club career

Newell's Old Boys

Having signed a professional contract, Formica made his professional debut for Newell's Old Boys on 29 September 2006 at the age of 18, in a match against Club Atlético Colón, as the teams drew 1–1. After two-years since professional at Newell's Old Boys, Formica soon established himself in the first team in 2008–09 and in Torneo Apertura on 13 December 2008, Formica scored his first goal in a 3–0 win over Racing Club. Soon after, on the opening game of the season, Formica scored his first goal (and scored another) and set up a goal for Leandro Armani in a 3–0 win over Gimnasia. Soon in mid-May, Formica scored three goals in three consecutive games, against River Plate, Arsenal de Sarandí and Rosario Central. After the end of the season, Formica made sixteen appearances (having missed four appearances due to slight injury) and scoring seven.

The following season, Formica continued to retain his first team and in Torneo Inicial, Formica scored four goals in nineteen appearances. Shortly after the end of Torneo Inicial, Formica played his first game of Copa Libertadores in a 0–0 draw against Emelec in the first leg but the club was eliminated in the second leg, with a 2–1 score for Emelec. On the final game of the season of Torneo Final, Formica scored twice and set up a goal for Lucas Bernardi in a 6–1 win over Gimnasia, the team which he scored his first goal.

His good performance attracted attention from Europe with the likes of Ajax, AS Monaco,[3] Galatasaray and Arsenal. Russian side Rubin Kazan made a bid for Formica but the offer was rejected. Soon after rival River Plate tried to sign him but the offer was also rejected[citation needed].

Though rebuffing offers from Europe, Formica playing time was reduced under new manager Roberto Sensini. Though fallen out, Formica continued his form in Copa Sudamericana, scoring three goals, against Estudiantes and a brace against Club San Jose.

After leaving Newell's Old Boys, Formica played a total of 84 games scoring 22 goals for the club over 5 years. While at Newell's Old Boys, Formica is known for his technique, dribbling and speed. He is also known for his great shot from half-distance.

Blackburn Rovers

On the last day of the transfer window, Formica signed for Blackburn Rovers – on a four-year deal – reported to be worth around £4 million.[4] Then-manager Steve Kean described Formica as a young Gabriel Batistuta, believing he's best prospects in Argentine football.[5] However, Formica did not break into the squad, appearing instead for Blackburn reserves, often due to a lack of match fitness.

Kean tipped Formica as a future star going into his second season with Rovers,[6] and on 13 August 2011, Formica scored on his Premier League debut for Rovers against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 2–1 defeat at Ewood Park.[7] On 20 August 2011, he came on for Jason Roberts on 75 minutes in a 3–1 defeat against Aston Villa at Villa Park. Four days later, Formica started and played the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Ewood Park in the second round of the League Cup. On 27 August 2011, Formica won two penalties in a home league game against Everton. He missed one and so did Junior Hoilett, the match ended with Everton winning 1–0. In the January transfer window, Formica was expected to leave Blackburn, having been named one of Blackburn's player to leave the club, reportedly for personal reasons.[8] Several days later, Formica revealed the club rejected a move back to his former club, with Blackburn want to sell for €5million.[9] In mid-January, Formica was also linked with a move to Greek side Olympiacos, where he would join his brother, playing for a different Greek club.[10] His brother told Sport24 that Mauro want to leave Blackburn, insisting the talk is ongoing[11] However, the move to Greece fell through, as the club were unable to meet Blackburn's asking price.[12] Later in the season, Formica would score three more goals against Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Norwich City. However, at the end of the season, Blackburn were relegated to the Championship.

Formica was in and out of the first team, due to change of management. On 17 November 2012, Formica scored his first goal of the season in a 4–1 win over Peterborough United and several weeks on, Formica made his last appearance in a 4–1 loss against Cardiff City. Formica hadn't played since throughout December and January, due to injury on the knee.[13]

Palermo

On 23 January 2013, Serie A strugglers Palermo announced on their website to have signed Formica on loan until the end of the season, with an option to make the move permanent during the period of the loan spell.[14] He made his debut four days later, as a second-half substitute for Josip Iličić in a 1–1 draw at Cagliari. In the next match in a 2–1 loss against Atalanta, Formica provided assist for Nélson Marcos from a cross, with Nélson scoring from a backheel.

Cruz Azul

On 13 August 2013, Cruz Azul announced on their website that they had signed Mauro Formica.

Defensores de Belgrano

On 30 January 2023, Formica was announced as a new reinforcement for Club Atlético Defensores de Belgrano.[15]

Retirement

After playing against San Telmo, with a 2–0 victory for the locals, on 18 June 2023, he announced his final retirement from professional soccer, after almost 18 years in the discipline.[16]

International career

Formica played his first cap, coming on for Ariel Cabral, in a 2–1 loss against Poland on 5 June 2011.

Personal life

Mauro is the younger brother of fellow professional player Lautaro Formica.[17]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental[a] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Newell's Old Boys 2007–08 4 0 – – 0 0 4 0
2008–09 19 7 – – 0 0 19 7
2009–10 36 8 – – 2 0 38 8
2010–11 17 2 – – 6 3 23 5
2015 3 0 – – 0 0 3 0
2016 14 0 2 0 – 0 0 16 0
2016–17 9 4 – – 0 0 9 4
Total 102 21 2 0 0 0 8 3 112 24
Blackburn Rovers 2011–12 34 4 1 0 4 0 – 39 4
2012–13 15 1 0 0 1 0 – 16 1
Total 49 5 2 0 4 0 0 0 55 5
Palermo 2012–13 8 1 – – – 8 1
Cruz Azul 2013–14 29 7 – – 9 1 38 8
2014–15 29 1 – – 7 1 36 2
Total 58 8 0 0 0 0 16 2 74 10
Career total 219 35 3 0 5 0 24 5 251 40
  1. ^ Includes Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.

Honours

Cruz Azul

References

  1. ^ "Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists" (PDF). The Football Association. 2 February 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  2. ^ "FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 15 December 2014. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 July 2015.
  3. ^ "The Blackburn Rovers guide to Mauro Formica". 30 January 2011.
  4. ^ "Blackburn sign striker Rochina and midfielder Formica". BBC Sport. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  5. ^ "Steve Kean cools Blackburn 'marquee' signing talk". BBC Sport. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  6. ^ "Kean backs Formica to shine for Blackburn Rovers next term". Lancashire Telegraph. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Formica goal on debut". BBC Sport. 13 August 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  8. ^ "N'Zonzi could lead exits". Sky Sports. 30 November 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  9. ^ "Rovers reject Formica approach". Sky Sports. 4 January 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  10. ^ "Greeks eye Formica deal". Sky Sports. 22 January 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  11. ^ "Formica's brother insists Mauro wants to move to Greece". Lancashire Telegraph. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  12. ^ "Olsson set to sign as Rovers prepare for busy day". Lancashire Telegraph. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  13. ^ "Berg: I make the decisions at Blackburn Rovers". Lancashire Telegraph. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  14. ^ "ACCORDO CON IL BLACKBURN ROVERS FORMICA E' DEL PALERMO" [AGREEMENT WITH BLACKBURN ROVERS, FORMICA IS A PALERMO PLAYER] (in Italian). U.S. Città di Palermo. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  15. ^ "El Gato Formica es nuevo jugador del Dragón". Olé. 30 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Mauro Formica, de Defensores de Belgrano, anunció su retiro del fútbol profesional" (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 18 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Argentina happiness and heartbreak in Libertadores". mundoalbiceleste.com. 5 May 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2011.