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Name: Asier del Horno Cosgaya
Birth Date: 19 January 1981
Birth Place: Barakaldo, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain
Nationality: Spanish
Height: 1.83 m (6'0'')
Weight: 72 kg (159 lbs)
Position: Left Back
Current Club: Levante UD (One year loan, no option to buy)
Contract Expires: 30 June 2012
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Athletic Bilbao
Del Horno began his career at Athletic Bilbao in 1999, where his combative tackling and strength in the air saw him rise through the ranks as a stout left footed center back. However, his pace and ability to contribute to the attack led to his being switched to left back by the time he had arrived in the seniors for both club and country. Del Horno scored 13 goals in 108 league appearances for Athletic.
Chelsea FC
In June 2005, Del Horno moved to Chelsea for a fee of ¤12 million. He won the first league championship of his career at Chelsea, as part of the squad that conquered the 2005/2006 English Premier League. He played 34 matches overall for Chelsea, scoring 1 goal, against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
Valencia CF
On 21 June 2006 Del Horno returned to Spain to sign for Valencia on a six year deal, for a fee of ¤8 million, seen as a natural replacement for Amedeo Carboni, who had retired. Athletic Bilbao had expressed interest, but withdrew from further negotiations, forfeiting any further financial advantage. Following surgery on his injured Achilles heel, which kept him off the pitch for most of the season, Del Horno made his debut for his new club on 3 March 2007, in a 1-0 league win over Celta Vigo.
Del Horno was placed on the transfer list by then-Valencia manager Quique Sánchez Flores, as the coach announced that the defender would not retain his position in the team for the 2007/2008 season. In the last day of the transfer window, Del Horno agreed to join his former team Athletic Bilbao on a one year loan deal.
Athletic Bilbao
Del Horno made the return to his hometown club, but after only 16 appearances for the entire season, he was not signed permanently by Athletic.
Valencia CF
Del Horno would stay with VCF for the next year and a half, but due to countless injuries and lack of match fitness, his time training and playing with the team was extremely limited.
Real Valladolid
Del Horno spent the second half of the 2009/2010 season on loan at Valladolid. Del Horno had a decent run with Valladolid, including a 13 game streak where he played every minute of every match.
Levante UD
On 21 August 2010, del Horno was once again loaned out, this time to city rival Levante UD.
International Career
Del Horno made his Spain debut against Scotland in September 2004. He scored the winner in a friendly against England played in Madrid two months later.
An ankle injury forced Del Horno to withdraw from the 23-man team named by Luis Aragonés for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Medical staff in the RFEF alleged that Chelsea had prior knowledge of Del Horno's injury, but allowed him to continue playing. Del Horno's vacant position was controversially filled in by naturalised Argentinian Mariano Pernía, of Getafe CF.
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