Gary Medel: a view from the Chilean terraces

Gary Medel’s tenacity and aggression have already won him many admirers at Cardiff City Stadium, but we cannot truly understand “El Pitbul” without digging into his past in the slums of Santiago, the capital city of Chile.

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Street football and escaping poverty

Medel was born in a low-income neighbourhood in Santiago, called La Palmilla, part of the district of Conchalí.

“It is one of the most underprivileged areas in Santiago, with issues with drugs and delinquency,” says Andres Saez, a student from Santiago and a supporter of Medel’s first club, Universidad Católica.

“I have seen an interview with him that he was playing once when there were lots of drug dealers around with guns – that was the atmosphere in which he was raised,” he explains.

Three years ago, Medel said “if it hadn’t been for football, I would be stealing or trafficking drugs.”

Although he now confesses that was just a joke, there’s no doubt Medel had a tough upbringing in the barrios of Santiago.

By his own admission, he was often fighting and his family had no money to entertain him otherwise.

He learned how to handle himself by playing football in the street against older kids for his neighbourhood team Sabino Aguad.

His physicality and toughness belied his years, catching the attention of the Universidad Católica scouts.

Becoming a Chilean idol

Universidad Católica are one of the three main teams in Chile, alongside Colo Colo and Universidad de Chile.

“These teams have very different cultural backgrounds and so too their supporters,” says Guillermo Garcia Moscoso, also from Santiago.

“Colo Colo is the working-class team, Universidad Católica is the posh team, and Universidad de Chile is in the middle,” he explains.

Universidad Católica had traditionally handpicked their youngsters from the more affluent districts of Santiago, but in the late 1990s they realised there was a wealth of talent available to them in the poorer neighbourhoods.

Medel and Jean Beausejour, now of Wigan Athletic, were brought in under this shift in policy.

“They have a strong recruitment system there in which they usually go to several marginal slums in Santiago and they just recruit good youngsters who would probably fit into their team,” says Andres.

“To see Medel at Universidad Católica was strange because they’re supposed to be the posh team,” says Guillermo.

“Medel left behind that stereotype,” he explains.

The Bluebirds’ midfielder is a symbol of social inclusion in Chile and has become an inspiration to disadvantaged kids in Santiago.

“If you go to the stadium to support the Chilean team you will see lots of guys with the number seventeen on the back, which is Gary’s number,” says Andres.

“He really inspires young children,” he explains.

In 2006, Medel made his professional debut against Universidad de Chile and quickly became popular with the fans.

“Right at the beginning he had this nickname of “Pitbul” because he was really aggressive,” says Andres.

“He was raised in Universidad Católica so he was a fan of the team,” he adds.

“When he wasn’t playing he was in the stadium singing and talking with all the other supporters… He is an idol for his team,” says Guillermo.

Indeed, Medel has stayed loyal to the club that brought him off the streets.

“Whenever he comes back to Chile he usually goes to the stadium and he doesn’t sit in the posh areas, but among the supporters,” says Andres.

“People there love him,” he enthuses.

Learning a new language

Medel gained international recognition when he starred for Chile in the Under-20 World Cup in Canada in 2007, where his side finished third.

“That was a landmark in Gary’s life,” says Andres.

“He showed that he was one of the best defenders at that World Cup and he was [recruited] by Boca Juniors [in 2009],” he explains.

Medel had a successful spell in Argentina, most notably scoring twice to defeat fierce rivals River Plate and thus gaining the adoration of the Boca fans.

The Chilean moved to Sevilla in 2011, where he was sent off seven times in 90 appearances.

But the twenty-six-year-old has made a relatively clean start to his career at Cardiff City, so is he maturing?

“I think he has changed, definitely,” says Guillermo.

“His red cards were not for tackling, but for his reactions, and I think he is improving his reactions.”

“I think English football is much better for his play because in Spain they play a different sort of football, it is less physical,” he adds.

Andres is not so sure.

“He doesn’t understand English at all so he doesn’t understand when opponents are trying to wind him up.”

“I’m sure if he understood more he would definitely challenge them back,” he explains.

Either way, Chilean football fans are keeping a close eye on Medel’s progress in Wales.

“Cardiff are definitely my team now,” says Andres.

“Cardiff is a team which I have special affection for because they are a new team in the Premier League…and they are playing really well,” Guillermo adds.

“I always look for the Cardiff results,” he concludes.

 

Cheers Owen, a good read.

 

Try growing up in Splott , now thats hard

 

Thanks! Much appreciated. He's an interesting character is old Gary. Medel was pretty much the first name on the teamsheet under Malky. But will he be an automatic choice under OGS too? Solskjaer is talking about introducing a quite different brand of football...

 

Says someone from Bonymaen - home to the Swansea Yoof firm made famous on Soccers Hardest away days.

 

Bonny could not join, he didn't have a Burberry cap.

 

When playing in Spain, Medel was more forward orientated and has been known to score a goal or two. It might be that OGS unshackles him.

 

I think Medel will be one of the first names on OGS teamsheet as he is very versatile and i think OGS will see him as a Scholes type of player/enforcer.

 

I think even if we turn into a more attacking team, we'll need to leave at least one midfielder back sitting in front of the defence. The great thing about Medel is his passing is excellent so collecting from the CBs and playing it forward would suit the system. It would also allow his CM partner(s) to push on, knowing he'll always be there to mop up.

 

Good read Owen,Thanks

 

He frees Caulker to bring the ball forward by immediately filling the gap at centre half which works well too.

 

I think Gazza is a bluebirds legend in the making. I read somewhere that the reason he's not picked up many cards thus far is because he doesn't understand enough English to know when players are abusing him. Sounds lame I know but watch the cards fly when he learns English

 

It's what we missed in the first game of the season against WH. Caulker went forward and we were ripped open when we lost the ball. Medel has a good engine and a good brain. He could become the mainstay of our midfield.

 

A little bit of lip reading shows he has learned 2 very important, single syllable words asking some opponents to "move away".

 

I'd like to see Medel push more up the field and get the odd shot on goal. he was unable to do that playing the role MM had for him but maybe OGS can adapt him. He is one of our few true PL/international quality players.