Sergio Kun Agüero

Sergio Leonel "Kun" Agüero del Castillo (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈseɾxjo aˈɣweɾo]; born 2 June 1988) is an Argentine footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester City in England's Premier League and the Argentine national team.

On 5 July 2003 he became the youngest player to debut in the Argentine First Division at 15 years and 35 days, breaking the record previously established by Diego Maradona in 1976, who is Agüero's father-in-law by virtue of Agüero's marriage to Maradona's daughter, Giannina.

At international level, Agüero represented the Argentina under-20 team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2005 and in 2007 winning both tournaments. Agüero played at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he scored two goals in the 3-0 semi-final win against Brazil as Argentina went on to win the gold medal. Agüero was selected to represent Argentina in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2011 Copa América.

Club Atlético de Madrid, S.A.D

In 2006, Agüero moved to Europe to play for La Liga side Atletico Madrid for a fee of €23m from Independiente. Here he made a name for himself, attracting attention from Europe's top clubs by scoring 101 goals in 234 appearances while winning the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Supercup in 2010. Agüero moved to Premier League club Manchester City in July 2011 for an undisclosed fee in the region of £35m.

In May 2006, Agüero joined Spanish club Atlético Madrid for fee reported to be around €23 million, breaking the club's previous transfer record. He caused controversy early in his Atlético career by using his hands to score the winning goal against Recreativo Huelva on 14 October 2006, only his second goal for the club, with the first coming in a 4–1 away win against Athletic Bilbao on September 17. In the 2007–08 season, Agüero finished third highest scorer in La Liga, behind Dani Güiza and Luís Fabiano, with 19 goals, and was runner up in the Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano award. Agüero won many plaudits for his man of the match display against Barcelona in March 2008, scoring twice, assisting a goal, and winning a penalty for Atlético in a 4–2 win. He also scored important goals against the likes of Real Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla and Villarreal to help Atlético finish fourth and qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over ten years.

Agüero was once again a regular goalscorer for Atlético in the 2008–09 season, forming a partnership with Uruguayan striker Diego Forlán, also a former Independiente striker. On 16 September, he scored his first Champions League goals in a 3–0 away win at PSV Eindhoven. In March 2009, the duo of Forlán and Agüero scored a brace each in a 4–3 win over league leaders Barcelona. Agüero finished in the top ten contenders for the Pichichi Trophy which was won by his teammate Forlán. Atlético finished fourth in the league, qualifying for the following season's Champions League.

Despite not being as prolific in front of goal, Agüero had another good season in 2009–10, and was praised for his influential performances as Atlético enjoyed their most successful season in over a decade. On 3 November 2009, he scored twice against Chelsea during a 2–2 draw in the Champions League at the Vicente Calderón. Atlético were knocked out of the competition, but went on to reach the final of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League, where Agüero assisted both goals in a 2–1 extra time win against English club Fulham. He also helped Atlético reach the final of the Spanish Cup, although this time they were not victorious, losing to Sevilla in the Camp Nou on May 19. On 27 August 2010, Atlético Madrid captured the UEFA Super Cup by beating favorites Inter Milan 2–0. Agüero provided the assist for José Antonio Reyes's opening goal and then secured the win by scoring the second. On 4 January 2011, Atlético Madrid confirmed via their official website that Agüero had signed a new contract with the club, keeping him at the Vicente Calderón until 2014. The following day he was named as the new vice-captain of Atlético, along with strike partner Diego Forlán.

Manchester City

On 28 July 2011 Manchester City confirmed that Agüero had signed a five-year contract with the club.The fee was reported to be in the region of £35 million (€41million) Agüero was given the number 16 shirt for his first season at City and wears the shirt name Kun Agüero. He was an unused substitute in the Dublin Super Cup match against Inter Milan and the 2011 FA Community Shield against Manchester United with manager Roberto Mancini believing Agüero was not yet fit. Agüero made his debut for Manchester City on 15 August 2011 in a 4–0 Premier League victory over Swansea City - Despite suggestions within the British media that he would find it hard to adapt to English football, he started the season in incredible form and has since established himself as one of the leading goalscorers in the Premier League. Agüero came on as a substitute in the 59th minute scoring his first goal for the club within 9 minutes after a tap in from a cross from full back Micah Richards. He then turned provider with an assist after chipping over the oncoming goalkeeper before flicking the ball back into the penalty box and into the path of David Silva to score. Agüero rounded off his debut by scoring again in injury time with a 30 yard strike. His 30 minute debut gained rave reviews among football journalists, with some suggesting it was one of the best in English football.

City continued their strong start winning 3-2 away at Bolton Wanderers with Agüero missing two chances in the penalty box. On 28 August, Agüero scored his third league goal in Manchester City's 5-1 rout of Tottenham Hotspur. On his third start for the club, he scored his first hat-trick in English football, against Wigan. On 18 September, he scored twice at Craven Cottage against Fulham but Manchester City were held to a 2-2 draw. Having been substituted off of the field after just 28 minutes due to an injury against Blackburn Rovers on 1 October, Aguero returned to action in a 2011-12 UEFA Champions League group stage fixture, where he came on for Nigel de Jong on 62 minutes and scored a 93rd minute winner in his side's 2-1 victory against Villareal CF on 18 October. On 1 November, Aguero was shortlisted for the prestigious FIFA Ballon d'Or.

Style Of Play

Aguero is a striker and is regarded as an all out centre forward, but can also play as a second striker off another striker, which he often did at Atlético Madrid with Diego Forlán.

Agüero is a diminutive figure with a stocky build, which has led to comparisons with fellow Manchester City striker, Carlos Tevez and past strikers such as Romario and Maradona. Some pundits go as far to say Agüero is Tevez's heir apparent at City and is superior to Tevez. His manager at Manchester City, Roberto Mancini has compared Agüero to former Brazilian striker, Romario.

Agüero is characterised by agility, acceleration and strength, being described as "sharp and clever" by former Argentine player Ossie Ardiles. A view which is shared by Lionel Messi who believes Agüero possesses "immense power, strength and an ­incredible work ethic." Combined with his close control and strength to keep the ball, he is described as a menace in the box.