Here's stg abt Figo, which I got it from other sites/forums:
Figo leaves Real for Inter Milan
MADRID (Reuters) -- When Luis Figo controversially joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in July 2000, club president Florentino Perez said it was a marriage made in heaven.
Five years on the Portuguese midfielder's relationship Real has ended in a quickie divorce as he speeds off to Inter Milan to sign a two-year contract with the Serie A side.
Ever since being dropped in order to accommodate both David Beckham and Michael Owen in the starting lineup against Barcelona at the start of April, the relationship between the former World and European Player of the Year and his club had been distinctly sour.
Figo accused coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo of failing to warn him that he was going to be dropped and the two began a round of mutual recriminations about who stopped talking to whom first.
Rather than risk having a potential loose cannon within the camp for another season, Real opted for a clean break and decided to offload the winger to Inter a year before his contract was due to expire.
But the significance of Figo's departure for Italy far exceeds his mere importance as a player.
If it had not been for Figo, Perez might never have become Real president in the first place.
After all, it was the construction magnate's promise to make off with the most prized possession of arch-rivals Barcelona that was largely responsible for his victory in the 2000 club presidential elections.
WORLD RECORD
Perez kept his word and paid a then world record $56 million to buy Figo out of his contract with Barca, a move that provided a world-class addition to the Real squad and at the same time dealt the Catalans a blow from which they took almost five years to recover.
With his move to Real, Figo immediately became a symbol of a new generation of the sport's global superstars whose own interests superseded those of the club they play for - in short he was the first of Real's Galacticos.
Barca spent a combined total of $75 million on new players in an attempt to make up for the loss of Figo, but they were unable to find an adequate replacement for the Portuguese star who underwent an overnight transformation from hero to the vilest of villains in the eyes of their fans.
But Barca's loss was Real's gain, and although the winger never quite reproduced the sparkling form of his days in the blue and scarlet strip, he proved to be a gilt-edged asset to "Los Blancos".
Figo provided a hatful of assists and notched nine goals of his own during Real's procession to the league title in 2001 and although he was overshadowed by new arrival Zinedine Zidane in his second season he still managed to pick up a European Cup winners' medal with Real's victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Glasgow.
The following season he scored a career-high 10 league goals as Real pipped Real Sociedad to the Spanish title.
DROPPED
He was one of the few players who could hold his head up after the club's trophyless campaign in 2004, and up until he was dropped by Luxemburgo in the latter stages of last season he was one of Real's most consistent performers.
Internationally he appeared to be falling out of favour with Portugal's Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari after a more than a decade of service but the two managed to work together well enough to help their team to the final of Euro 2004 on home soil.
Portugal's most-capped player with more than a century of appearances, he retired after that tournament but had a change of heart this year and returned to the national team.
There is little doubt, though, that the 32-year-old's footballing powers are on the wane and although his effort can never be faulted, Luxemburgo quickly came to appreciate that the Figo was not suited to the more rapid counter-attacking game that he wanted his team to play.
In terms of close control, individual skill and versatility Figo is a more complete player than Beckham, but the England captain's passing skills and non-stop running fit more neatly into Luxemburgo's game plan.
Figo did relocate from the right wing to a position behind the two strikers for a short time, but was eventually forced out of the starting XI after Raul was moved into midfield in order to make room for the in-form Owen.
A melancholy figure at the best of times, Figo did not take the demotion well and accused the club of "hurting his pride" by the way in which he had been treated.
Luxemburgo was vindicated by the results, however, as Real won six and drew two of their remaining games while Figo was reduced to the role of a bit-part substitute.
On the pitch Figo is notoriously hot-tempered and argumentative, but it is his fierce competitive spirit and pride that make him the sort of player that cannot accept a supporting role.
The reversal of his decision to retire from international football and his move to Inter make it clear that he still retains a hunger for success.
With the World Cup just a year away he clearly wants to end his career on a high.
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Luis Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo was born November 4, 1972, in Almada, Portugal, near the capital Lisbon. Growing up in a rather poor family, Figo displayed his football (European soccer) skills at a young age as a member of a local soccer team called Uniăo Futebol Clube Os Pastilhas.
By the time he was 10 years old, Figo was honing his skills as a player for Sporting Lisbon (one of Portugal's 3 best teams), where he was already beginning to show his talents on the soccer field. At age 17, he was a European champion (after winning the FIFA World under-16 championship), and a champion yet again at 19, after taking home the FIFA World Under-20 championship.
With a Portuguese Cup under his belt, Figo continued to play with Sporting until 1995-1996, when he was signed to the Barcelona Football Club. Johan Cruyff brought the 22-year-old sought-after player to Barca (for $2 million) with the intention of replacing Michael Laudrup, a tough act to follow.
From the days of his 1995 debut for Barcelona, Figo was gradually giving the nation reason to forget Laudrup. In June of 1996, Figo scored a memorable goal against Portugal, and a year later, Figo helped Barcelona take home the Spanish Cup, the Super Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup.
1998 saw the win of the Spanish League, cup double, and the European Super Cup for Barcelona, as well as the year Figo was named team captain. A year later, Figo scored seven goals in the season, while he was named fifth in the "World Player of the Year" poll, losing to teammate Rivaldo.
But it was in 2000 that Figo's place in football would change. In what became his last season with Barcelona, he capped off his time with the club with 30 goals in 172 games. Undoubtedly one of Europe's best players, he also became the most expensive player in the world, after being transferred for $56 million to Real Madrid.
Real Madrid's midfielder since July 24, 2000, had a memorable year (besides for breaking a world salary record) by scoring a remarkable goal against England during the Euro 2000 Finals.
Figo started off the decade with more honors, including the Golden Ball from France Football and runner-up of Best Player in 2000, as voted by FIFA. The following year, in 2001 he finally wrapped his hands over the coveted FIFA award as well.
In 2002, he won the prestigious Champions League with Real Madrid and followed up with winning the Spanish domestic league, called La Liga in 2003.
Recognized for his passing skills, Figo is revered by fans as one of the world's greatest wingers, and has often being compared to Real Madrid's all-time best player, Di Stefano, for his impact on the team.
When not scoring goals and dribbling on the field, Figo is married and has one child, and enjoys spending time with friends, preferably on the beach.
Avid Spanish football fans voted Figo the best player in Spain for the past 4 years, and he is also known as "The Pride of Portugal". Like Eusebio before, Figo has become Portugal's most recognizable export.
Anyone who sees Figo play will be amazed by his abilities. He can run, kick, pass, and dribble with the best of them. Best of all, he leads by example, always shows up for every game, plays hard, and more often than not, is responsible for all his teams' success.
He is one of the best soccer players in the world, having played for FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Sporting Lisbon. He won the prestigious 2000 European Player of the Year Award, as Europe's top player as selected by France Football. He also won the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year award. He made headlines around the world when he left his beloved FC Barcelona for arch rivals Real Madrid.
When Luis Figo was finally named European Player Of The Year for 2000 and FIFA 2001 Player of the Year, many fans said it was long overdue. Though his exit from FC Barcelona (where he played for years) left a sour taste in the city's mouth, he continued to strive in Real Madrid with the enormous pressure of being the world's most expensive player (since surpassed by Zinedine Zidane), and was the backbone of the Portugal national team for over a decade.
Figo, like David Beckham is a highly criticized, highly talented but always appreciated player. You'd always rather have him on your side than against you. His consistent, electrifying play have the ability to lift every team he plays on, but it also leaves him open to criticism every time his game is sub-par because it has such a noticeable effect on the rest of his team. Figo's coming out party was the 2000 European Championship, where he played brilliantly for Portugal alongside other stars Rui Costa, and Joao Pinto. Figo's command of the team, helped Portugal maintain a fluent attack style reminiscent of Brazil that helped them reach the semi-finals before losing in a controversial penalty kick in overtime to France.
Though Figo had a banner year that year on the pitch, 2000 will be better known for his life off the pitch, when he became the most expensive player in the world (at the time) after leaving FC Barcelona for Real Madrid to the tune of $53 million US. Not only did it set a record, but it spawned a huge controversy.
For those unfamiliar with the saga, here is a short synopsis. Luis Figo, who was among the Top 3 players in the world, wanted to be paid as such during the summer of 2001. Barcelona refused to re-negotiate since they had done so during the summer of 2000.
Real Madrid (the most storied franchise in all of Spain and Europe) was in the middle of presidential elections. One of the candidates Florentino Perez, needed a smart marketing move to win the club's presidency since he was behind in the polls. So as a negotiation tactic, Figo signed an agreement to transfer over to FC Barcelona's bitter, bitter rivals Real Madrid if Florentino Perez won the election.
There was a penalty clause of $28 million US, if ever one side reneged on the deal. Since Perez was such a long shot in the polls, Figo figured that all the contract will do is put pressure on FC Barcelona to renegotiate his contract. Barcelona refused to budge and when Perez announced he had an iron-clad deal to bring Figo to Real Madrid, his popularity soared through the roof.
Perez also promised to refund all season-ticket holders if he failed on his promise. The end result? He won the presidency by a landslide, and Figo, who was loved and adored in Barcelona (and who felt the same way about the city, he planned to retire there after his footballing career ended), was stuck with a choice: Pay $28 million and remain at the same salary at Barcelona thus putting his financial life in ruins, or move to Real Madrid and become one of the top paid players in the world. The choice was obvious although Figo should have read some management books on negotiation because he failed miserably and ended up leaving a team and city where he was a deity.
Still, with the saga of the transfer behind him, Figo has once again elevated his game to make Real Madrid the most powerful soccer club in the world. He was part of the Real Madrid team that won the 2002 Champions League team and 2003 La Liga (Spain's domestic league). Figo also ushered in a new policy at Real Madrid where management would buy one top player every year to add to the squad. Not just any top player, but the best in the world. Real Madrid subsequently added Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, and David Beckham to a squad that already included Raul and Roberto Carlos. The Spanish press dubbed them the "Galaticos," the "Out Of This Galaxy" players. FIFA annually selects among 15,000 professional players playing in the world's top soccer leagues for their annual Player of the Year award, and in 2003 Real Madrid had 6 out of the top 11 on the list including the No.1 Zinedine Zidane and No.3 Ronaldo. That gives you some idea of the calibre of the team.
Figo's talent is unquestionable. He is fast, decisive, and possesses a great right foot kick to go along with his ability to dribble past most opponents at will. Though Figo isn't a prolific scorer, no one in the Spanish League sets up more goals than he does.
The best part of his game? He is consistent and always plays with intensity. One thing teammates can expect from him is a high level of play. On a side note: Figo is now known for his quick release and rapid acceleration from a stop point. But when he was part of the talented Portuguese national squad that won Junior World Cups in 1989 and 1991, he was heavily criticized for being... slow.
Beyond his playing skills, he has great leadership skills that were evident in his first season with Real Madrid, where the club lost whenever he did not suit up for a game.
It also takes a high level of grit and mental toughness to face the crowds of Nou Camp, home of FC Barcelona and 100,000 very passionate fans who consider him a traitor. In his return to Nou Camp, he was pelted with oranges, mobile phones, plastic bottles, coins, pig heads, and other items every time he came close to the outside touchline. For the most part, Figo played his game as usual, showing great class.
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