Ariel Arnaldo Ortega

Ariel Arnaldo Ortega, born on March 4, 1974, is an Argentine former professional footballer renowned for his role as an attacking midfielder. His affectionate nickname is "El Burrito," translating to "The Little Donkey," and he is commonly referred to as "Burrito Ortega."

Ortega's career spans various clubs and international tournaments:

Club Career:

• Ariel Ortega began his professional career with Club Atlético River Plate on December 14, 1991. He played for River Plate until 1996 and made subsequent returns to the club in 2000–02, 2006–08, and 2009–11.
• Beyond River Plate, Ortega also had stints with several international clubs, including Spanish club Valencia, Turkish club Fenerbahçe, and Italian clubs Parma and Sampdoria.
• Notably, he played against KRC Harelbeke during the Intertoto Cup in 1998.

International Career:

• Ariel Ortega represented Argentina at the international level, participating in the FIFA World Cups of 1994, 1998, and 2002.
• He was a part of the Argentine team that won the silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Ariel Ortega's career reflects his contributions to both domestic and international football, showcasing his talent and skill as an attacking midfielder.

Club Career:

Beginnings in Argentina:

• Ariel Ortega initiated his professional football journey in 1991 with the Argentine club River Plate.
• With River Plate, he achieved success, winning the Primera División in 1991, 1993, 1994, and 1996, along with the Copa Libertadores in 1996.
• Unfortunately, River Plate lost the 1996 Intercontinental Cup final to Juventus.

Europe:

• Ortega ventured to Europe in 1996, playing 1.5 seasons for Valencia CF before joining Sampdoria in 1998.
• After Sampdoria's relegation to Serie B, Ortega moved to Parma AC, rejoining Hernán Crespo. He then returned to River Plate in the following season.
• He also had a brief stint with Fenerbahçe, facing controversies leading to a ban imposed by FIFA.

Return to Argentina:

• In 2004, Ortega joined Newell's Old Boys, contributing to their victory in the Apertura 2004.
• He returned to River Plate in 2006 but faced challenges with alcoholism, prompting intermittent breaks and treatments.
• Despite these struggles, Ortega made impactful comebacks with significant goals, such as the controversial handball goal against Quilmes.

Loan Spells and Later Career:

• Loaned to Independiente Rivadavia in Nacional B after disputes and controversies.
• Ortega returned to River Plate in 2009, showcasing his skills with remarkable goals.
• Subsequent loans to Defensores de Belgrano in 2011 and Unión San Felipe in Chile in 2012 marked later stages of his career.

International Career:

• Represented Argentina in the 1994, 1998, and 2002 FIFA World Cups.
• Notable incidents include his sending-off against the Netherlands in the 1998 World Cup quarter-finals.
• Despite struggles, Ortega was recalled to the national team in 2009 and 2010, demonstrating his enduring presence.

Style of Play:

• Ortega was a highly creative player known for excellent technical ability, pace, mobility, and dribbling skills.
• He excelled as an attacking midfielder, possessing vision and passing ability, earning comparisons with Maradona during his youth.
• Ortega's skill set included ball trickery, body feints, and proficiency in dead ball situations.
• Despite his talent, he faced criticism for perceived temperamental issues and challenges in fully realizing his potential.

References;

1. "Ariel Ortega". Club Atlético River Plate. Archived from the original on 24 January 2007.
2. "Ortega said: Gracias a la camiseta de River y a los hinchas" (in Spanish). Olé.
3. es:Ariel Ortega#Inicios
4. Bartolozzi, Bruno (29 July 1998). "Ortega alla Samp per 23 miliardi, il Betis sonda Cesare Maldini". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 4 May 2010.
5. Monti, Fabio (4 July 1999). "Ortega, un affare da 28 miliardi". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 4 May 2010.
6. Laudisa, Carlo (10 August 2000). "Ortega dà l' addio al Parma Torna al River con Husain". La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
7. "Ariel Ortega vuelve a River". La Nación (in Spanish). 9 August 2000. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
8. AC Parma SpA Report and Accounts on 30 June 2011 (in Italian), CCIAA Archive (require login and purchase)
9. "Arbitration CAS 2003/O/482 Ariel Ortega v/ Fenerbahçe & Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), award of 5 November 2002" (PDF). The Court of Arbitration for Sport. 5 November 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
10. "Tactical Formation". Football-Lineups.com. Retrieved 26 January 2007.
11. "Ortega said: I will leave River" (in Spanish). Clarín. 23 June 2008.
12. "Aguilar forced Ortega and Simeone to an agreement" (in Spanish). Clarín. 5 July 2008.
13. "Ortega is left out of River squad" (in Spanish). Clarín. August 2008.
14. "New scandal by Ariel Ortega" (in Spanish). La Nueva. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011.