Luis Antonio Jiménez


Luis Antonio Jiménez Garcés is a Chilean footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder.
He was also a member of the Chilean national team, and scored 2 goals in 26 appearances for them, playing at the Copa América in 2004 and 2011.

Club career

Early career

Born in Santiago, Chile, Jiménez played youth football for Palestino in Chile, a club mostly made up of players of Palestinian descent. He gained Palestinian citizenship in June 2013. He started his Italian footballing career in 2002 at Ternana Calcio. During the January 2006 transfer window, Jimenez moved to Serie A side ACF Fiorentina while remaining under joint ownership with his former club, for €3 million. For Fiorentina, he generally played as a right sided winger, striker or occasionally a centre forward. His right foot is his strongest but he can also make good use of his left. He made 19 appearances during the 2005–06 season for Fiorentina, scoring 3 goals in the process.
In late June 2006, Ternana purchased back half of the rights to Jiménez from Fiorentina for €3 million. Since Ternana were to play in Italian Serie C1 in the 2006–07 season, it was highly unlikely that Jimenez would remain with them. However, although a loan deal was reached with Serie A Lazio, with an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the loan, Ternana changed the terms and made extortionate demands, which included Lazio paying the salary for four of Ternana's players. The deal fell through and Jiménez remained in Ternana. The unhappy player stated that he would not play for Ternana again and has asked FIFA to intervene and annul his contract with Ternana because of their unfair treatment.

Lazio

On 15 January 2007, Lazio finally agreed a move for Jiménez with the first season on loan, for €311,000 and on 27 January he played his first match for Lazio against Palermo.

Internazionale

On 15 July 2007, Internazionale signed him on loan from Ternana, for €1 million.
He scored his first Inter goal in extra time in the Champions League against Fenerbahce. He was rewarded with his first Inter start on 2 December against Fiorentina, where he scored the opening goal. He also started the subsequent match against Lazio on 5 December, where he set up Maicon's goal.
At the end of the 2007–08 season, Inter officially signed him on a co-ownership deal, for €6.3 million on a 3-year contract. Under coach Jose Mourinho, he played his first game against A.S. Roma coming on as a second-half substitute and scored a penalty in Inter's Italian Supercup win. Jiménez played his first game of the 2008–09 Serie A year against Sampdoria on 30 August 2008, but unfortunately picked up an injury later in a practice session. He returned from injury on 30 November 2008 when he was subbed in Inter Milan's Serie A game against Napoli. A subsequent long-term injury limited Jiménez to a total of 6 appearances for the 2008-09 Serie A season.
The co-ownership deal with Ternana was renewed on 23 June 2009.

West Ham United

Jiménez signed for West Ham United on 23 June 2009. Although a work permit had been granted a couple of weeks before, the deal was only announced after personal terms were agreed. West Ham signed Jiménez for a one-year loan initially, with an option to purchase at the end of the loan period. He made his full debut for West Ham in their 2–0 away win against Wolves on 15 August 2009. He scored his only goal for West Ham, a penalty and West Ham's fifth, in a 5–3 home win against Burnley on 28 November 2009.

Parma

On 1 February 2010, Parma signed the Chilean attacking midfielder on loan from Internazionale until June, his previous loan with West Ham United having ended prematurely. He signed as part of the deal which saw McDonald Mariga move to Internazionale. Jiménez has been sent off three times since signing for Parma. At the end of season, Parma wanted to signed him outright, but collapsed after Ternana bought back Jiménez.

Ternana

On 26 June 2010, after Inter failed to agree a price with Ternana for the remain 50% registration rights, the rights went to auction and Ternana won, for €3.177 million. made Inter profited €5.277 million in accounting. It is because Inter had over-amortized Jiménez's transfer fee and €3.177 million. + €3.123 million financial income Since Ternana would play at 2010–11 Lega Pro Prima Divisione, he did not attend the training of Ternana and Ternana sought a new buyer to sign him.

Cesena

On 31 August 2010 he was loaned to newly promoted Serie A team Cesena for €1 million with option to buy, and entered the starting line-up after the poor form of the original starting lineup. The coach put Ezequiel Schelotto into bench and Jiménez became the new second striker in the 4–3–3 formation, partnered with central forward Erjon Bogdani and wing forward Emanuele Giaccherini.

Al-Ahli Dubai

On 29 June 2011, Al-Ahli Dubai announced that Jiménez had joined the club in four-year contract.
He had a successful first season, scoring 13 goals and featuring in most of it. In the 2012–2013 season, he won the Presidents Cup with Al Ahli.

International career

He made his international debut on 28 April 2004, in a match against Peru.
On 4 June 2005, Jiménez assisted Marcelo Salas' historic 35th goal with the national team, which made Salas Chile's top scorer ever. The goal came in a qualifying match against Bolivia which Chile went on to win 3–1. Four days later, he scored twice against Venezuela in another qualification match.
Jiménez became captain of Chile during 2006 and also won the 2005–06 Chile Player of the Year award. However, he saw little national team activity under the direction of Marcelo Bielsa. On 19 June 2011, he returned in an international friendly against Estonia and was subsequently included by Claudio Borghi in the squad for 2011 Copa America. He has not been called up since moving to Al Ahli.

International goals

NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.7 June 2005Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile1–02–12006 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.7 June 2005Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile2–02–12006 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Club

;Internazionale
;Al Ahli
;Palestino
Jiménez married Chilean model María López in 2006. They have triplets together, all girls, Rebeca, Isidora and Rafaela, born on 15 June 2010.