Luis Antonio Jiménez

Luis Antonio Jiménez Garcés (born 17 June 1984) is a Chilean former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

He started his Italian footballing career in 2002 at Ternana Calcio.

He was also a member of the Chile national team from 2004 to 2021, playing at the Copa América in 2004 and 2011.

Born in Santiago, Chile, Jiménez played youth football for Palestino in Chile, a club mostly made up of players of Palestinian descent.

He made 19 appearances during the 2005–06 season for Fiorentina, scoring 3 goals in the process.

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.

In late June 2006, Ternana purchased back half of the rights to Jiménez from Fiorentina for €3 million.

Since Ternana were to play in the 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 salaries of four of Ternana's players.

The deal fell through and Jiménez remained at Ternana.

The unhappy player stated that he would not play for Ternana again and asked FIFA to intervene and annul his contract with Ternana because of their unfair treatment.

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.

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.

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 on 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.

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 the season, Parma wanted to sign him outright, but the deal fell through after Ternana bought back Jiménez.

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 (amortization approach).

It is because Inter had over-amortized Jiménez's transfer fee (Inter amortized €8.4 million but only cost Inter €6.3 million only, €2.1M exceed) and €3.177 million.

(Inter presented the profit as €2.154 million (market price €3.177 × 2 – contract residual value €4.2M) + €3.123 million financial income (value of Inter unpaid half €6.3 million – actual value €3.177M) ) 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.

On 31 August 2010 he was loaned to newly promoted Serie A team Cesena for €1 million with the option to buy, and was in the starting lineup after the poor form of the original starting lineup.

The coach put Ezequiel Schelotto on the 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.

He gained Palestinian citizenship in June 2013.