Claudio Husaín

Argentine footballer

Claudio Daniel Husaín (born 20 November 1974) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Husaín played for Vélez Sársfield and River Plate in Argentina, Italian S. S. C. Napoli and Mexican Tigres de la UANL before returning to Argentina to Newell's Old Boys.

In 2000, Husaín was signed by Parma, with Mayer Candelo going the other way. But the club had unpaid debt of Hernán Crespo's transfer fees to River Plate (the 10% clause of future transfer revenue), he was loaned to River Plate along with Ariel Ortega, who was sold outright for 11 billion lire. On 27 October 2000, he moved back to Italy to play for Napoli, which was later revealed to be a temporary deal. Despite Napoli's relegation, in June 2001 Parma sold him for 21.9 billion lire (around €11.3 million). Husaín remained at Naples but in January 2002 left for River Plate on loan. He played another half Serie B season at Napoli before returned to River Plate again in January 2003. It was reported that Napoli had a debt of US$1.2million to River Plate, and allowed Husaín to join River Plate for US$300,000 to compensate the debt and to save salary cost. He was injured in June 2003.

In July 2004, he left for Mexican side Tigres UANL.

Husaín joined Newell's Old Boys in July 2004. After a half season at San Lorenzo, Husaín returned to Newell's Old Boys again on one year loan in January 2007.

In August 2009, he was signed by Uruguayan side Defensor Sporting.

In January 2010 Husaín signed for Chilean club Audax Italiano, but after the February 27 earthquake he decided to leave the team, which effectively put an end to his career.

Husaín represented Argentina at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He also played at the 1997 Copa América and the 1999 Copa América.

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 15 November 2000 Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile 2–0 Win 2002 World Cup qualification

His brother Darío Husaín is also a professional football player. He was nicknamed El Turco ("The Turk") because of his Lebanese and Syrian descent. In South America, people of Arab descent are traditionally called "Turks" since their ancestors came to the continent with Ottoman documents in the 1900s.

Husaín has won six Primera Division Argentina titles, three with Vélez and another three with River Plate. He has also won five international titles (although four of them were from one off games).