THREAD ON JULIO RICARDO CRUZ

El Jardinero

He kicked off his career at Temperley but due to bankruptcy he joined Banfield. He became teammates with Zanetti, a player would later share the club dressing room with Inter, 9 years after. At Banfield he earned that nicknamed 'El Jardinero' which translates to 'the Gardener'

At of people often mistake Cruz as someone who worked as a Gardener during his early football days. Truth is, he was never a gardener. He used to play with tractor during his time as a reserve player for Banfield

One day he was asked to help to trimmed the grass since it was his first time training with the senior team. A week after his debut, he scored against Boca and a Journalist who had saw him on the tractor started the rumor. Everyone started calling him El Jardinero

His impressive performances with Banfield earned him a move to Reigning South American champions River Plate. He was signed as a replacement for Crespo. Helped River Plate win the Argentine Primera, finished as club top scorer in Apertura, ahead of Enzo Francescoli & Salas

Feyenoord paid €5.4m for his services in January 97. Julio Cruz burst into global limelight when he scored two goals in Feyenoord 2-0 win over CL finalist Juve in the 97/98 group stage. It was the beginning of a love story between those two

Before then Julio Cruz had debuted for the NT in a high tension WC qualifying match at Bolivia. Argentina lost 2-1 but the incident of Cruz getting punch in the face by a Bolivian staff became the focal point. There were images of Cruz's face covered in blood

He played the 97 Copa America but was dropped for 98 WC because of Crespo. Cruz won the Eredivisie in his second full season, he scored 15 goals, a classic partnership with Jon Dahl Tomasson. He spent three and a half seasons in Holland before joining Bologna for €8.2m

At Holland, Cruz scored 15 goals in each of his full seasons. Averaging more than goal in every two games. When Cruz arrived at Bologna, Francesco Guidolin told him to lose weights because Italian football was much different from the dutch. He managed 7 goals in his first year

He Improved a lot in his second season. An excellent partnership with Beppe Signori & Zauri stirred Bologna to a high 7th place the 01/02 season. 12 goals in all competitions. Cruz was overlooked again in the NT and wasn't included in the 2002 WC list

Cruz style of play was far from being prolific, he was extremely effective in build ups as well as creating chances. There was no one better at holding up balls in Serie A than Cruz. He scored 10 goals the following season and because of financial reasons Bologna had to sell him

Inter deadline day on paid €9 5m, with a three year contract worth €1.5m per season for Cruz, who was again chosen as a replacement for Crespo. He scored a lovely chip in the first CL game for Inter against the Invincible Arsenal which ended 0-3

Cruz time with Inter will always be remembered for his important goals. His brace vs Juve broke a 10 year winless run at Turin. Scored the equalizer in Milan Derby 11secs after coming on + assist Ibra in the winner. 10gls vs Juve (7-Inter). Scored in three straight Milan derbies

Cruz wasn't a type of striker that would guarantee 20 goals a season but when it comes to big matches he was always a difference maker. A big game striker. He was a type of CF that could score with his head, feet or from free kick

Cruz was born in the wrong generation of strikers. At NT he had to compete with Batistuta, Caniggia, Claudio Lopez, Martin Palermo, Crespo, Saviola, Palacio, Milito & a rising Tevez, Aguero & Messi. At Inter he had Adriano, Vieri, Ibra, Martins, Crespo and Recoba during his time

Nevertheless, Cruz still spent 6 years at Inter and joined Lazio on a free transfer in 2009. He retired the following year at aged 35. Cruz has a 20 year old son, Juan Manuel, who plays as a CF for Banfield, also has inherited the nickname el Jardinerito

Julio Cruz has 79 goals in the Nerazzurri colors

He has scored a career 128 goals in 557 games. He has won 13 titles in his 16 professional years

He has never had any problem with his coach. He was a great professional that always put his team ahead of his personal goals