Did Juan Sebastien Veron fulfill his potential?

We begin this article with an answer and a question. The answer is that Juan Veron will be remembered as one of the most talented Argentine midfielders for many a year. But the question is whether he should have achieved more?

The bald magician, or little witch, as he was known, was famed for his quick passing, vision, long balls and set pieces. Yet his time in English football at least failed to live up to the hype. 

Before we get there, we should take a look at his early career, how he made his name and where he enjoyed most of his European success.

He made his name as a teenager for hometown club Estudiantes- where his father once played, winning the second division title back in 1995, before signing with Boca Juniors to play alongside the great Diego Maradona.

Serie A, in the mid-90s considered the greatest league in the world, came calling. First Sampdoria, then Parma, then Lazio. Sven Goran Eriksson built a side around Veron at Lazio which accomplished great success. He was the creative hub of the side, with fellow Argentine Diego Simeone doing the less glamorous work.

In the 1999-2000 season Veron scored 10 goals, the best tally of his career, leading the side to the Scudetto and Coppa Italia.

It wasn't long before the glamour of the Premier League came calling, in Manchester United, who bought him for a club record £28 million. He began well, but midway through his opening season it became clear he was struggling to exert the same dominance he had enjoyed in Serie A, in the pacier Premier League.

Alongside the spiky Roy Keane in midfield he never gelled, and it was ironic his best performances for the club came alongside utility man Phil Neville in midfield, with the 2-0 victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford in 2002 sticking out. The snappy passing he was capable of was seen on occasion, but not as frequently as he would have liked.

 

When David Beckham left in the summer of 2003, it was considered that Veron would take on his creative responsibility, and showed promising signs in pre-season of that year. Suddenly a Roman Abramovich revolution at Chelsea offered United £16 million for him at the club decided to take the money and run.

At Chelsea he started well, scoring on his debut, but injury saw him restricted to just 14 games in 2003-04, which would transpire to be his one and only season at Stamford Bridge. The Blues loaned him to Inter Milan, but by this point his confidence was diminished, and the control he exerted over games in Serie A five years earlier was not as influential.

By 2006 Veron decided he seen enough of Europe, and signed with Estudiantes back in Argentina. His second spell at the club would span six seasons, and more than 200 games, and he hit rich form which saw him recalled to Argentina's national team.

For Argentina he regularly flattered to deceive. A central member of the side at the 1998, 2002, and 2010 World Cups, Argentina failed on each occasion. The blame can't be solely pinpointed on Veron, but he did not do himself justice at either tournament.

At Estudiantes, he helped the club win the league in their first season, and won several individual honours, but his crowning moment came in 2009 when he helped the club win the Copa Libertadores. 

Last month he retired, to great acclaim from fans around Argentina, and the world. Estudiantes fans paid great tribute to him during his final ever home game, in which he fittingly provided a winning assist.

Did he fulfill his potential? In England, the answer would be no, not quite, not nearly, and on the national stage, he underachieved. But in his hometown, he is a hero, leading unfancied Estudiantes to league title and South America's answer to the Champions League.

The man himself would simply point to his medal collection; Two Serie A winners medals, four Coppa Italias, One Premier League medal, two Argentine league titles, and a Libertadores title. Not bad at all.

It is only considered that he could have been better, because his potential was up there to be one of his generation's best, but taking a look at his whole career, he really was. 

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