Luciano Becchio

Luciano Héctor Becchio (born 28 December 1983) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a striker.

He is the assistant manager of Segunda División B – Group 3 side CD Atlético Baleares.

Becchio began his career in Buenos Aires at Boca Juniors but moved to Europe aged 20 after failing to make the grade at Los Xeneizes.

In 2000 aged 16, he made the 425 mile-move south to join the youth ranks at Los Xeneizes where he was joined in his age group by the younger Carlos Tevez who went go on to achieve great success in European club football by winning Premier League titles with Manchester United and Manchester City.

Through his ancestry, Becchio was able to claim an Italian passport and subsequent citizenship of the European Union, allowing him to sign for Spanish club Mallorca B in 2003.

He would go on to play for a variety of other lower league clubs in the country over the next five years, including the Barcelona B team.

Real Mallorca offered Becchio the chance to move to the La Liga side in 2003.

With opportunities at Boca limited, he agreed to make the move to the Balearic Islands where he was joined by his parents and younger brother Mathias after selling their family restaurant business in Argentina to support their son in Europe.

Mallorca coach Héctor Cúper placed Becchio in the 'B' team where he scored five times in 29 appearances.

In his second season at the club, he signed for Ciudad de Murcia on a loan deal.

After two years at Mallorca, Becchio moved to the Iberian Peninsula when he signed for Catalan club Terrassa FC where he spent the 2005–06 season before moving fifteen miles across the region to sign for reigning UEFA Champions League winners FC Barcelona.

Becchio admitted that he would never have a chance of featuring for the first team but relished the opportunity to train with world class footballers such as Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi, whilst in the 'B' team he competed with notable young prodigies including Bojan Krkić and Giovani dos Santos for a starting position.

A year later, he moved again; heading south-west to join Segunda División B team Mérida UD.

After an impressive season at Mérida in the 2007–08 season, Becchio was recommended to Leeds United director of football Gwyn Williams by former Newcastle United midfielder Marcelino.

During the 2007–08 campaign, Becchio finally found regular football with Los Romanos and repaid the faith shown in him by topping the division top scorer charts with twenty-two goals for the season, including a final day hat-trick versus CD Baza.

Mérida finished fourth and qualified for the division play-offs versus Ponferradina but lost on aggregate over two legs.

Becchio's performances during the campaign didn't go unnoticed however, as he became the most saleable asset for the debt-stricken club after being monitored by scouts from across Europe.

He joined the Yorkshire club on trial during a pre-season tour of Ireland in July 2008.

He signed shortly after the club's return to England, having impressed manager Gary McAllister.

In July 2008, Becchio joined League One side Leeds United on trial aiming to impress manager Gary McAllister in pre-season friendlies against Shelbourne and Barnet.

He was recommended to Leeds scout Gwyn Williams by former Spanish Newcastle defender Marcelino.

On 31 July, he signed for Leeds on a three-year contract.

Becchio made his first start for Leeds in their 5–2 win over Chester City in the first round of the League Cup.

He was given his first league start against Yeovil Town in a 1–1 draw; in which it took him just 25 seconds to score his first Leeds goal.

He scored his second goal for the club in his first start at Elland Road in a 4–0 victory over Crystal Palace in the League Cup.

The following week, he came off the bench to head home his third Leeds goal in the 2–1 win over local rivals Bradford City in the Football League Trophy.

During the 2008–09 season, Becchio only missed one match in all competitions, which was due to suspension.

In a sequence of appearances which saw him start 24 consecutive matches – including the entire busy Christmas period and while deputising for the injured Jermaine Beckford – he scored nine goals.

With the loan signing of Lee Trundle from Bristol City, and the January transfer window signing of Mike Grella, manager Simon Grayson publicly stated that Becchio would be given a short resting period so that he would be ready for the vital last few months of the season, although that never materialised as Becchio was insistent on retaining his place in the team.

Grayson frequently referred to Becchio as Lazarus due to various points in the season where he would be injured but would make a remarkable recovery to be fit and ready for the next match.

Becchio scored his first goal of the 2009–10 season in the 1–0 league win against Wycombe Wanderers.

The Argentine went on to feature in over 200 games and scored over 80 goals at Leeds, achieving promotion from League One in 2010 and playing in the same team that knocked reigning English Champions Manchester United out of the FA Cup in January of the same year.

Becchio became a firm fans' favourite at Elland Road.

Becchio signed for Premier League club Norwich City as part of a swap deal for Welsh striker Steve Morison on 31 January 2013.

He was then released in May 2015 following Norwich City's promotion back to the Premier League via the playoffs.

Becchio was born in Argentina's second-city of Córdoba located at the foothills of the Punilla Valley in the geographical centre of the country.

As a child, he had a keen interest in tennis but football was his main passion; idolising legendary striker Gabriel Batistuta and following Buenos Aires-based Boca Juniors.

In the final game of the season he scored his 18th goal of the season in all competitions, which in turn contributed to the relegation of Northampton Town.

His 19th of the season came against Millwall in the League One play-off semi-final, in which he rounded off a fine team move started by Ben Parker, with Beckford and Andy Robinson also playing vital roles.

He scored 19 goals in his début season in English football at Leeds.