Sergio_Araujo

Sergio Araujo

Sergio Araujo

Argentine footballer

Sergio Ezequiel Araujo (born 28 January 1992), nicknamed El Chino, is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for Greek Super League club AEK Athens, for which he captains.

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Club career

Boca Juniors

Born in Buenos Aires, Araujo graduated with Boca Juniors' youth setup. He played his first match as a professional on 13 December 2009, coming on as a late substitute for Nicolás Gaitán in a 0–2 home loss against Banfield for the Primera División championship.[1]

Araujo scored his first professional goal on 21 November 2010, netting the first in a 2–1 home win against Arsenal de Sarandí.[2] However, he was mainly used as a backup to Pablo Mouche and Lucas Viatri, appearing sparingly.

On 25 July 2012, Araujo moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing a two-year loan deal with Barcelona and being assigned to the reserves in Segunda División.[3] He made his debut for the club on 17 August, playing the last 36 minutes of the 4–5 home loss against UD Almería.[4]

Araujo scored his first goals for Barça B on 1 December, netting a brace in a 2–1 away win against Lugo.[5] He finished the campaign with seven goals in 34 appearances, but returned to his parent club on 25 June 2013 nonetheless.[6]

On 17 July 2013, Araujo was loaned to Tigre, after being deemed surplus to requirements by manager Carlos Bianchi.[7] He appeared in 19 matches for the club, scoring four goals; he was sent off on 28 September in a 1–0 home win over Colón for an aggression against Maximiliano Caire.[8]

Las Palmas

On 19 July 2014, Araujo returned to Spain, joining Las Palmas in a season-long loan deal.[9] He made his debut for the Canarians on 23 August, starting and scoring the last in a 2–0 home win against UE Llagostera.[10] Las Palmas came fourth and made the play-offs, in which Araujo opened a 1–1 draw at Real Valladolid in the first leg of the semi-finals; he missed a penalty in added time in the goalless second as his team advanced on the away goals rule. On 21 June 2015, in the final second leg against Real Zaragoza at the Estadio Gran Canaria, he scored an 84th-minute goal that made it 2–0 on the night, 3–3 on aggregate, thus sending Los Amarillos into La Liga via the same rule.[11]

Araujo appeared in 43 matches and scored 25 goals over the season for the Canary Islands outfit, being the club's top goalscorer and the second overall. Despite strong links to a move to Celtic[12] and Real Sociedad[13] the club managed to buy him outright, with the player signing a five-year deal.[14]

On 22 August 2015, Araujo made his La Liga debut, starting in a 0–1 away loss against Atlético Madrid.[15] He scored his first goal in the category on 13 September, netting his team's first in a 3–3 draw at Celta de Vigo.[16]

First loan to AEK Athens

On 24 January 2017, Araujo joined AEK Athens on loan until the end of the season with an option to extend for a further year. A week later, he scored twice in his debut, a 6–0 home win over Levadiakos for the Greek Cup. On 6 March 2017 he scored his first Superleague Greece goal in a 1–1 away draw against rivals Panionios, and six days later he scored two of his team's three goals in the "double-headed eagle" derby against PAOK.[17]

On 13 April 2017, he opened the score in a 2–1 away Greek Cup semifinals first leg win against champions Olympiacos.[18] On 31 May, he scored the second goal of a 2–1 away win against Panionios and his team qualified for the UEFA Champions League. At the end of the season he returned to Las Palmas.

Second loan to AEK Athens

On 30 August 2017, Araujo returned to AEK on a season long-loan for a fee of €700,000. He scored nine goals at the domestic competitions during the second part of 2016–17 season.[19] He combined his return with a goal in 4–0 home win against AEL.[20] On 23 November 2017 he scored his first goal in UEFA competitions in a 2–2 home draw against Rijeka.[21] On 14 January he scored a brace in a 3–1 home win against PAS Giannina.[22] On 1 April 2018, Araujo's brace helped AEK to a 3–0 Athens derby win over Panathinaikos.[23] On 5 May 2018, AEK celebrated their first title in 24 years after his goal secured a 1–0 away victory over Apollon Smyrnis at the Georgios Kamaras Stadium.[24]

Las Palmas stated that Araujo would not be sold as his release clause was €60 million.[25]

Third loan to AEK Athens

On 31 January 2020, AEK loaned Araujo from Las Palmas for the remainder of the season for a fee of €500,000. However, there is a reported clause in the deal which means that if AEK didn't decide to purchase Araujo on a permanent basis for €2.7 million after the campaign ends, they will have to pay a hefty compensation fee to Las Palmas.[26] On 9 February 2020, Araujo scored his first goal since rejoining AEK, after eight minutes of a 1–0 win over city rivals Panathinaikos at the Olympic Stadium in the Super League Athenian derby.[27]

AEK Athens

On 16 July 2021, Araujo signed a three-year deal with AEK, that cost AEK nearly €1.5 million, with 20% of the transfer going to Argentinian club Boca Juniors, which held a stake in the Argentine's resale.[28] Araujo has played in 79 matches for the team, and scored 26 goals in all competitions, as a loanee in the previous years. On 22 September, he scored the only goal against Lamia.[29] On 21 November 2021, he scored a brace but he did not avert a 3–2 home loss against rivals Olympiacos.[30] On 6 February 2022, Araujo scored a brace, celebrating his 100th appearance with the club and named MVP in a 3–0 home win game against Apollon Smyrnis.[31] Sergio Araujo is the current AEK captain.

International career

In 2009 Araujo represented Argentina at the South American U-17 Championship. He scored three goals in five appearances as side eventually finished second and qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Araujo also appeared in 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Nigeria, scoring a 59th-minute winner against Honduras in Argentina's opening game,[32] as well as a 58th-minute winner in a 2–1 victory against Germany in Argentina's second game.[33] Argentina progressed to the round of 16, where he scored to put them 2–0 ahead of Colombia. However, Colombia would end up winning the game 3–2.[34]

Araujo represented the Argentina U-23 national team at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. He scored in Argentina's opening 1–1 draw with Brazil, but was sent off in the 85th minute.[35] Argentina reached the final, where they lost 1–0 against hosts Mexico.

Career statistics

As of match played 19 March 2024
More information Club, Season ...
  1. Includes Copa del Rey, Greek Football Cup
  2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  4. Four appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Boca Juniors

AEK Athens

Individual

References

  1. [1]
    Un sueño hecho realidad (A dream come true); ESPN Deportes, 13 December 2009 (in Spanish)
  2. [2]
    Ya sin Borghi, Boca volvió al triunfo frente a Arsenal (Already without Borghi, Boca returned to winning ways against Arsenal); ESPN Deportes, 21 November 2010 (in Spanish)
  3. [3]
    Barça B close two-year loan deal for Sergio Araujo; Barcelona's official website, 25 July 2012
  4. [4]
    Festival goleador para abrir la Liga Adelante (Goalscoring party to kickstart Liga Adelante); Marca, 17 August 2012 (in Spanish)
  5. [5]
    Un doblete de Araujo desmonta la muralla lucense (An Araujo's double dismounts the lucense wall); Marca, 1 December 2012 (in Spanish)
  6. [6]
    FC Barcelona will not renew Sergio Araujo's loan deal, player set to return to Boca Juniors; Barcelona's official website, 25 June 2013
  7. [7]
    Sergio Araujo, cedido a Tigre (Sergio Araujo, loaned to Tigre); Sport, 17 July 2013 (in Spanish)
  8. [8]
    "Tigre superó a Colón con gol de Leone y levanta cabeza en Victoria" [Tigre overcame Colón with a goal from Leone and hold their head high in victory] (in Spanish). La Nación. 29 September 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  9. [9]
    La UD acuerda con Boca Juniors la cesión del delantero Araujo (UD agrees with Boca Juniors the loan of forward Araujo) Archived 2014-07-22 at the Wayback Machine; Las Palmas' official website, 19 July 2014 (in Spanish)
  10. [10]
    Aráujo brilla con un golazo en el estreno de Las Palmas (Araújo shines with a great goal in Las Palmas' debut); Marca, 23 August 2014 (in Spanish)
  11. [11]
    "Las Palmas supera el trauma y vuelve a Primera tras arrollar al Zaragoza" [Las Palmas overcome the trauma and return to Primera after sweeping Zaragoza away] (in Spanish). El Mundo. 28 June 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  12. [12]
    Celtic weigh up summer move for Sergio Araujo; The Scotsman, 17 April 2015
  13. [13]
    La Real Sociedad sigue a Araujo (Real Sociedad tracks Araujo); La Provincia, 18 March 2015 (in Spanish)
  14. [14]
    El presidente confirma el pago a Boca por Araujo (President confirms the payout to Boca for Araujo); Las Palmas' official website, 24 June 2015 (in Spanish)
  15. [15]
    Al Atlético le falta (Atlético lacks something); Marca, 22 August 2015 (in Spanish)
  16. [16]
    Un 10 para Las Palmas (A 10 to Las Palmas); Marca, 13 September 2015 (in Spanish)
  17. [17]
    Μέγας τρι-Αραούχο και θαυμαστά τα έργα του! (in Greek). Retrieved 2017-03-12.
  18. [18]
    Κύπελλο Ελλάδας: Ολυμπιακός - ΑΕΚ 1 - 2 (in Greek). Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  19. [19]
    "Επιστρέφει στην ΑΕΚ ο Αραούχο". www.sport24.gr. 30 August 2017.
  20. [20]
    "AEK beats 10-man Larissa 4-0, joins Olympiakos at the top". Washington Post. Associated Press. 10 September 2017. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  21. [21]
    Έμεινε ζωντανή η ΑΕΚ (in Greek). Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  22. [22]
    "ΑΕΚ - ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα 3-1". www.gazzetta.gr. 14 January 2018.
  23. [23]
    Ερωτευμένη με την κορυφή η ΑΕΚ: 3-0 τον Παναθηναϊκό και άλμα τίτλου! (in Greek). Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  24. [24]
    Απόλλων Σμύρνης-ΑΕΚ 0-1: Φινάλε με νίκη για την πρωταθλήτρια Ένωση (in Greek). Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  25. [25]
    "Araujo vuelve para quedarse" (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  26. [26]
    "Οριστικό: Έρχεται στην ΑΕΚ ο Αραούχο!" (in Greek). Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  27. [27]
    "ΑΕΚ - Παναθηναϊκός 1-0: Ο Αραούχο "κλείδωσε" την 3η θέση για την Ένωση" (in Greek). Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  28. [28]
    "Ο Σέρχιο Αραούχο ξανά στα κιτρινόμαυρα!" (in Greek). AEK F.C. Official Web Site. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  29. [29]
    "AEK-Λαμία: Με γκολάρα Αραούχο το 1-0 - Στο... πόδι το ΟΑΚΑ" (in Greek). www.onsports.gr Web Site. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  30. [30]
    "ΑΕΚ - Ολυμπιακός 2-3" (in Greek). www.gazzetta.gr. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  31. [31]
    "ΑΕΚ: Ο "100άρης" Αραούχο και η ανάρτηση της Ένωσης" (in Greek). www.gazzetta.gr. 6 February 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  32. [32]
    Honduras 0–1 Argentina; FIFA.com. Retrieved on 6 February 2015
  33. [33]
    Argentina 2–1 Germany; FIFA.com. Retrieved on 6 February 2015
  34. [34]
    Argentina 2–3 Colombia; FIFA.com. Retrieved on 6 February 2015
  35. [35]
    Brasil empata com a Argentina na estreia do futebol (Brasil draws with Argentina in the debut of football); Veja, 19 October 2011 (in Portuguese)
  36. [36]
    Sergio Araujo at Soccerway
  37. [37]
    "Interwetten Player of the Club της ΑΕΚ o Σέρχιο Αραούχο". Super League (in Greek). 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  38. [38]
    Team, inAEK gr (2022-06-30). "Superleague: Γκολ της χρονιάς το "ψαλιδάκι" του Αραούχο!". inAEK.com (in Greek). Retrieved 2022-11-24.
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