Sergio Agüero
Who was Sergio Agüero?
Argentine striker who became Manchester City's all-time leading goalscorer and won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2014-15.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Sergio Agüero (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Sergio Leonel Agüero del Castillo, widely known as Kun Agüero, was born on June 2, 1988, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He became one of modern football's top strikers, known for his goal-scoring abilities in three different leagues throughout his career. The nickname 'Kun' came from his grandfather, who thought he looked like a Japanese cartoon character named Kum Kum when he was a child.
Agüero started his professional career at Independiente in Argentina, where he set a record by debuting in the Argentine Primera División at just 15 years and 35 days old in 2003. This achievement broke a 27-year record held by Diego Maradona, who later became his father-in-law through Agüero's marriage to Gianinna Maradona. His impressive skills at a young age caught international attention, leading to his 2006 transfer to Atlético Madrid for €23 million, where he became one of Europe's top strikers.
The highlight of Agüero's career was his move to Manchester City in 2011 for £35 million. Over ten seasons, he became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and a significant figure in the Premier League. His most unforgettable moment was in May 2012, when he scored a dramatic last-minute goal against Queens Park Rangers to win Manchester City's first league title in 44 years, a goal considered one of the most important in Premier League history. During his time at City, he won five Premier League titles, six EFL Cups, and one FA Cup and was the Premier League's top scorer in 2015.
In 2021, Agüero's career took an unexpected turn when he moved to Barcelona on a free transfer, realizing his childhood dream of playing for the club. However, heart problems forced him to retire from football at age 33. After retiring, he started new ventures like online streaming and business projects, staying in the public eye beyond football. He ended his career as the sixth all-time Premier League goalscorer with 184 goals and set a record for the most Premier League hat-tricks with 12, securing his place as one of his generation's greatest strikers.
Before Fame
Growing up in Buenos Aires, Agüero was raised in a working-class family in the Quilmes area. His father, Leonel del Castillo, was a taxi driver, and his mother, Adriana Agüero, was a housewife. From an early age, Agüero showed exceptional football talent, joining local youth teams until he was discovered by scouts from Independiente. He quickly moved up through the youth ranks, and his early professional debut at Independiente happened when Argentine football was producing a standout generation of attacking players.
The early 2000s was a time when South American football looked more and more to European leagues for top talent development. Agüero's rise coincided with a wave of young Argentine players being scouted by European clubs, following successful transitions of players like Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano. His record-breaking debut and subsequent performances made him the next big Argentine player set for European football.
Key Achievements
- Manchester City's all-time leading goalscorer with 260 goals in 390 appearances
- Won five Premier League titles and six EFL Cups with Manchester City
- Premier League Golden Boot winner in 2014-15 season with 26 goals
- Holds the record for most Premier League hat-tricks with 12
- Inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2022
Did You Know?
- 01.He scored Manchester City's first-ever goal at their new Etihad Stadium during a friendly match in 2003 when he was playing for Independiente
- 02.Agüero holds the record for the most Premier League goals scored in a single match with five goals against Newcastle United in October 2015
- 03.His grandfather gave him the nickname 'Kun' after the Japanese cartoon character Kum Kum, which stuck throughout his career
- 04.He was the youngest foreign player to reach 100 goals in Premier League history at age 27
- 05.After retirement, he became a popular Twitch streamer, often playing FIFA and interacting with fans in both Spanish and English
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Premier League Golden Boot | 2015 | — |
| Premier League Hall of Fame | 2022 | — |