Arturo Vidal
Who was Arturo Vidal?
Dynamic midfielder who won over 140 caps for Chile and helped the national team win the Copa América in 2015 and 2016. He played for top European clubs including Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Arturo Vidal (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Arturo Erasmo Vidal Pardo is a Chilean professional footballer, born on May 22, 1987, in Santiago. Known for his aggressive and determined playing style, he has earned the nicknames Il Guerriero (The Warrior), Rey Arturo (King Arthur), and La Piranha during his time playing in Italy. Considered one of the best Chilean players ever, Vidal has played as a midfielder for some of Europe's top clubs and captains the Chile national team.
Vidal started his professional career at Colo-Colo, his childhood club, where he won three Chilean Primera División titles before heading to Europe. In 2007, he joined Bundesliga's Bayer Leverkusen, spending four seasons honing his skills in Germany. His big break came in 2011 when he moved to Juventus, where he became one of the world's top midfielders. During his four years in Turin, Vidal won the Scudetto each year and played a key role in Juventus reaching the UEFA Champions League final in 2015. His outstanding performances earned him a spot on the ten-man shortlist for the 2015 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.
In July 2015, Vidal returned to Germany, signing with Bayern Munich and won three straight Bundesliga titles. His success continued with Barcelona in 2018, adding his eighth consecutive league title. After two seasons in Spain, Vidal went to Inter Milan in 2020, where he won another Serie A title and Coppa Italia. After brief stints with Brazilian clubs Flamengo and Athletico Paranaense, he came back full circle to Colo-Colo in 2024.
Internationally, Vidal has also been successful, earning over 140 caps for Chile since his debut in 2007. He played in several Copa América tournaments, contributing to Chile's historic wins in 2015 and 2016, the country's first major international titles. Vidal also represented Chile in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, becoming a central figure in Chilean football's golden era.
Before Fame
Growing up in Santiago, Vidal joined the youth academy of Colo-Colo, one of Chile's most successful football clubs. His development happened during a time when Chile began investing more in youth development and infrastructure for football. The early 2000s was a turning point for Chilean football, with more professionalization and better scouting helping talented players like Vidal find opportunities in Europe.
Vidal's move to European football was part of a larger trend where South American players sought opportunities abroad. His transfer to Bayer Leverkusen in 2007 came at a time when German clubs were increasingly looking to South America for emerging talent. They offered young players the chance to grow in one of Europe's top leagues while gaining valuable international experience.
Key Achievements
- Won Copa América with Chile in 2015 and 2016, the nation's first major international titles
- Earned over 140 caps for the Chile national team as captain
- Won league titles with four different clubs: Juventus (4), Bayern Munich (3), Barcelona (1), and Inter Milan (1)
- Reached UEFA Champions League final with Juventus in 2015
- Named to UEFA Best Player in Europe Award shortlist in 2015
Did You Know?
- 01.He was nicknamed 'La Piranha' by Italian press due to his aggressive tackling and tenacious playing style during his time at Juventus
- 02.Vidal won league titles in eight consecutive seasons across three different countries (Italy, Germany, and Spain) between 2011 and 2019
- 03.He scored the winning goal in Chile's 2-0 victory over Argentina in the 2015 Copa América final, Chile's first major international title
- 04.Vidal was arrested in 2015 for drunk driving after crashing his Ferrari following Chile's Copa América semifinal victory
- 05.He has a distinctive mohawk hairstyle that became one of his trademark features throughout his career