Germán Burgos


Germán Adrián Ramón Burgos, nicknamed El Mono Burgos, is an Argentine retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and a current manager.
During his 15-year senior career, he played for Ferro Carril Oeste, River Plate, Mallorca and Atlético Madrid, the latter two clubs in Spain. He was an Argentine international from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s.
After retiring, Burgos worked as assistant coach at several teams under his compatriot Diego Simeone, most notably Atlético Madrid whom they joined in 2011.

Playing career

Club

Born in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Province, Burgos started playing professionally with Ferro Carril Oeste. In 1994, he signed with Argentine Primera División giants Club Atlético River Plate where he was dubbed Mono because of his height and disheveled appearance, going on to win several titles during his spell, notably the 1994 Apertura where his team did not lose one single match.
Burgos moved abroad in July 1999, joining Spain's RCD Mallorca. During his two-year spell in the Balearic Islands, he played understudy to compatriot Leo Franco; on 27 November 1999, he was suspended for 11 games for punching RCD Espanyol player Manolo Serrano in a match played the previous week, in an action that eluded the referee but was caught on camera.
Burgos signed for Atlético Madrid in the 2001–02 season, with the capital club in Segunda División. He had his best year in the country in an eventual return to La Liga after a two-year absence, but appeared less in the following two campaigns, retiring at the end of 2003–04 aged 35.
Burgos was remembered for his performance in a Madrid derby against Real Madrid in the first season back in the top flight of the Colchoneros, in which he saved Luís Figo's penalty kick with his nose, causing a bloody injury; he played on, and his side eventually scored an equaliser to earn a 2–2 draw.

International

Burgos earned 35 caps for Argentina, over seven years. He was second-choice at both the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups, backing up Carlos Roa in the former tournament and Pablo Cavallero four years later.
Burgos was the starter in the latter half of the qualifying campaign for the 2002 World Cup and it was generally expected that he would be the first choice in the finals, but manager Marcelo Bielsa ultimately chose Cavallero.

Coaching career

In 2010, after working with AD Alcorcón as goalkeepers' coach, Burgos started his managerial career also in Spain, coaching amateurs RCD Carabanchel. In the following years, he worked as assistant to former club and country teammate Diego Simeone at Catania Calcio, Racing Club de Avellaneda and Atlético Madrid.
In April 2014, against Getafe CF, Burgos became the first coach in the world to use Google Glass during a competitive game. After Simeone was sent to the stands by the referee in the first leg of the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League semi-finals against Arsenal, and was therefore suspended for the second leg and the final after Atlético advanced, he took charge of the team as they defeated Olympique de Marseille.
With Simeone still suspended, Burgos took over again when Atlético faced Real Madrid in the 2018 UEFA Super Cup, won 4–2 in Estonia. Unable to reach an agreement with the board, he announced his intention to leave at the end of the 2019–20 season.

Personal life

Outside football, Burgos was also a musician, having started his career while still an active player. He acted as frontman of rock band The Garb.
In 2003, Burgos was successfully treated for cancer.

Honours

River Plate
Atlético Madrid