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Paulo Gazzaniga
Paulo Gazzaniga - Audi-quattro-Cup (2015).jpg
Gazzaniga playing for Southampton in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1992-01-02) 2 January 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Murphy, Argentina
Height 1.96 m
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club Girona
Number 13
Youth career
Unión y Cultura
2007–2011 Valencia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Gillingham 20 (0)
2012–2017 Southampton 21 (0)
2016–2017 Rayo Vallecano (loan) 32 (0)
2017–2021 Tottenham Hotspur 22 (0)
2021 → Elche (loan) 8 (0)
2021–2023 Fulham 13 (0)
2022–2023 → Girona (loan) 28 (0)
2023– Girona 38 (0)
National team
2018 Argentina 1 (0)
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 May 2024.
† Appearances (Goals).

Paulo Dino Gazzaniga Farías (born 2 January 1992) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for La Liga club Girona.

Early life

Gazzaniga was born in Murphy, Santa Fe, the same small town in Argentina where his future Southampton and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was also born. His father is Daniel Gazzaniga, a footballer, as is his brother Gianfranco who plays as a goalkeeper for Racing de Ferrol. Gazzaniga studied in the only public school and a secondary college in Murphy. He played for the football team of Centro Recreativo Unión y Cultura in Murphy as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Early career

In 2007, when he was 15, Gazzaniga left his hometown side Unión y Cultura with his brother and father for Spain, where he joined the Spanish club Valencia's youth setup. However, he failed to make a first team appearance for the club, and was subsequently released in May 2011.

In July 2011, Gazzaniga signed a two-year contract with League Two club Gillingham, to challenge Ross Flitney for the number one spot. Gazzaniga was recommended to Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler by Gary Penrice, Wigan Athletic's European scout, following his release from Valencia. He made his professional debut for the club on 4 October, in a 3–1 home defeat to Barnet in the Football League Trophy.

Southampton

On 20 July 2012, Gazzaniga signed a four-year deal with newly promoted Premier League side Southampton, with Tommy Forecast going to Gillingham on loan as part of the deal. He described it as "a crazy situation" but said it was like "a dream".

Gazzaniga made his debut on 28 August in a 4–1 victory against Stevenage in the second round of the League Cup. He made his league debut almost a month later, on 22 September in a 4–1 win against Aston Villa.

Gazzaniga was used as cover for first choice keepers Kelvin Davis, Artur Boruc and Fraser Forster, making only two appearances in 2014–15.

He made two Premier League appearances in the 2015–16 season, in the 1–0 defeat away to Crystal Palace and a home 2–0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, both in December 2015. He signed a new four-year deal with Southampton on 11 September 2015.

On 29 July 2016, Gazzaniga joined Segunda División club Rayo Vallecano on loan for the 2016–17 season.

Tottenham Hotspur

On 23 August 2017, Gazzaniga signed for fellow Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur on a five-year contract. He reunited with his compatriot and former Southampton manager, Mauricio Pochettino. He made his Premier League debut for the club on 5 November 2017, playing in a 1–0 victory against Crystal Palace. Pochettino said that Gazzaniga performed "fantastically well" on his debut.

In 2018–19 after starting for Tottenham in the Premier League against Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town, in the EFL Cup against Watford and West Ham United and in the UEFA Champions League home fixture against PSV, he earned his first Argentina national team call-up. He became effectively the number two goalkeeper for Tottenham this season, having started in more games than Michel Vorm when Hugo Lloris was not available.

In the 2019–20 season, following Lloris' elbow injury in the opening ten minutes of a loss at Brighton & Hove Albion on 5 October 2019, Gazzaniga enjoyed an extended run as Spurs' first-choice goalkeeper.

On 1 February 2021, Gazzaniga joined Spanish side Elche on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.

On 27 May 2021, Tottenham announced the departure of Gazzaniga at the end of the campaign following the conclusion of his contract.

Fulham

On 24 July 2021, Gazzaniga joined EFL Championship club Fulham on a two-year contract. A backup to Marek Rodák during his first year, he was pushed to third choice keeper with the arrival of Bernd Leno in August 2022. He was released by the London club at the conclusion of 2022–23 season.

Girona

On 1 September 2022, Gazzaniga joined Girona on loan for the 2022–23 season. On 6 June 2023, he signed a permanent two-year contract with the club.

International career

Gazzaniga made his first international appearance on 20 November 2018, coming off the bench to replace Gerónimo Rulli in the 59th minute in a friendly match against Mexico, and helped keep a clean sheet in a 2–0 win for Argentina.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Gillingham 2011–12 League Two 20 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 22 0
Southampton 2012–13 Premier League 9 0 0 0 2 0 11 0
2013–14 Premier League 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
2014–15 Premier League 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2015–16 Premier League 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2017–18 Premier League 0 0 0 0
Total 21 0 0 0 2 0 23 0
Rayo Vallecano (loan) 2016–17 Segunda División 32 0 2 0 34 0
Tottenham Hotspur 2017–18 Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2018–19 Premier League 3 0 2 0 5 0 1 0 11 0
2019–20 Premier League 18 0 2 0 1 0 4 0 25 0
2020–21 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 22 0 4 0 6 0 5 0 37 0
Elche (loan) 2020–21 La Liga 8 0 8 0
Fulham 2021–22 Championship 13 0 2 0 0 0 15 0
Girona (loan) 2022–23 La Liga 28 0 28 0
Girona 2023–24 La Liga 38 0 0 0 38 0
Career total 171 0 9 0 8 0 6 0 194 0

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Argentina 2018 1 0
Total 1 0

Honours

Southampton

  • U21 Premier League Cup: 2014–15

Tottenham Hotspur

Fulham

Individual

  • Gillingham Young Player of the Season: 2011–12

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Paulo Gazzaniga para niños

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