Julio Ricardo Cruz is an Argentine international footballer who currently features for the Italian giants Inter Milan. Cruz plays as a striker and is considered as one of the most clinical poachers in world football.
Julio Cruz came into football quite by chance. He was working as a gardener for local team Banfield, cutting the grass and looking after the pitch, and when coach Oscar López called him to play to fill in for a missing player. Cruz’s talent was revealed and Banfield quickly signed him. He has been known as “the Gardener” (Spanish:El Jardinero) ever since.
That was in 1993 but Cruz signed for River Plate in 1996 and one year later in 1997 he was signed by Dutch giants Feyenoord and scored 44 goals in 86 matches. In 2000 Cruz moved to the Serie A to play for Bologna and in 2003 he left for Inter Milan.
Position | Forward |
Born | 10 Oct 1974 |
Nationality | Argentina |
Team History | |
Lazio | 2009 - 2010 |
Inter Milan | 2003 - 2009 |
Bologna | 2000 - 2003 |
Feyenoord | 1997 - 2000 |
Club Atletico River Plate | 1996 - 1997 |
Club Atletico Banfield | 1993 - 1996 |
At Inter Milan, julio Cruz was never given enough playing time and was played mostly as a substiture. But he always scored goals and played well whenever he was called up for action. So far he has scored 47 goals in 110 appearances for Inter.
Although Cruz has been an Argentine international since 1997, he has played in just 18 matches for his nation, scoring 3 goals. He played for Argentina in the 2006 Germany World Cup.