Gerard Piqué

He was born as Gerard Piqué Bernabeu on 2 February 1987, in Barcelona, Spain, to Joan Piqué and Montserrat Bernabeu. His father is a business man while his mother is the director of a prestigious spinal injuries hospital in Barcelona. He has one brother.

He developed an interest in football early on and began his youth career in 1997 when he entered the FC Barcelona academy as a ten year old and joined the youngest boys' team at the club at that time (Alevín B). He was among the main defenders of his team and practiced in the academy for several years, passing through the various youth levels and age categories (Alevín A, Infantil B and A, Cadete B and A and Juvenil B and A). A talented and hard working youngster, he won numerous titles along the way.

During his time at the academy, he blossomed into a skilled player who displayed a great ability to adapt to different positions on the field. He also became popular for scoring goals despite his defensive position. He left FC Barcelona at the end of the 2003–04 season.

Gerard Pique made his debut for Manchester United in October 2004 as a replacement for John O'Shea as a centre-back in a Carling Cup match against Crewe Alexandra which his team won.

In March 2006, he made his full debut for the team in a Premier League match against West Ham United at Old Trafford, playing at right-back. This time he was a replacement for Gary Neville who was nursing an injury.

Manchester United loaned him to La Liga side Real Zaragoza for the 2006–07 season. He got the chance to play 22 matches alongside Argentine Gabriel Milito, either as a stopper or a holding midfielder. However, he also spent much of his time on the bench.

Gerard Pique returned to Manchester United in 2007–08 and had a memorable season in the Champions League. He scored the first of Manchester United's four goals in the 4–0 home win against Dynamo Kyiv on 7 November 2007 and scored his second goal in an away match against Roma on 12 December 2007.

He signed a four-year contract with Barcelona, with a €5 million buy-out clause in May 2008. In his first season with Barcelona he made 45 appearances, and not only became the team’s first choice centre back but also scored three goals.

He was named La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2009.

In 2011, he was decorated with the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit.