Gabriel Iván Heinze (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡaˈβɾjel ˈxeinse]; born19 April 1978) is an Argentine former footballer who operated as either a left-back or a central defender, and is the manager of Vélez Sarsfield.

Team: Manchester United F.C., Olympique de Marseille, Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield.

Born: 19 April 1978, Crespo

Profession: Football player, Coach

Nationality: Argentina, Italian.


Nicknamed Gringo ("Blond" in Argentine–Spanish slang), he made a name for himself at Paris Saint-Germain, moving in 2004 to Manchester United and subsequently to Real Madrid, winning three trophies with the latter two clubs. He started and finished his 18-year professional career with Newell's Old Boys.

Heinze played 72 times with Argentina, representing the nation at two World Cupsand as many Copa América tournaments.


In June 2004, Heinze joined Manchester United for a fee of £6.9 million.He marked his debut on 11 September with a goal in a 2–2 away draw against Bolton Wanderers, and immediately established himself as first-choice left-back, being regularly lauded by fans with the chant of "Ar-gen-tina!" and eventually voted the club's best player for the 2004-2005 season.

Heinze was more regularly used in his second year at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, but the club came out empty in silverware, with the exception of that year's Supercopa de España.


Heinze participated in the 2007 Copa América, scoring with his head from a Juan Román Riquelme free kick in the semifinals against Mexico, a 3–0 win for the eventual runners-up. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup he played in four of Argentina's five matches inSouth Africa, netting the game's only goal – his third international – in a group stage win against Nigeria.

In June 2016, Heinze signed at Argentinos Juniors also as a coach. In July of the following year, after achieving top level promotion, he resigned. On 11 December 2017, in the same capacity, he was appointed at Vélez Sarsfield on 11 December 2017.


Heinze was named in the Panama Papers, a 2016 leak of offshore accounts used for tax evasion. In 2005, he signed an endorsement with Puma AG in which at least a million dollars was paid to him over a period of five years through an account in his mother's name in the British Virgin Islands.