Luciano Héctor Becchio (born 28 December 1983) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is the assistant manager of Segunda División B – Group 3 side Atlético Baleares.El Baleares ficha al exjugador Becchio como segundo de Melgarejo‚ diariodemallorca.es, 17 January 2018
Becchio began his career in Buenos Aires at Boca Juniors but moved to Europe aged 20 after failing to make the grade at Los Xeneizes. Through his ancestry, Becchio was able to claim an Italian passport and subsequent citizenship of the European Union, allowing him to sign for Spanish club Mallorca B in 2003. He would go on to play for a variety of other lower league clubs in the country over the next five years, including the Barcelona B team.
After a season at Mérida in the 2007–08 season, Becchio was recommended to Leeds United director of football Gwyn Williams by former Newcastle United midfielder Marcelino. He joined the Yorkshire club on trial during a pre-season tour of Ireland in July 2008. He signed shortly after the club's return to England, having impressed manager Gary McAllister.
Becchio went on to feature in over 200 games and scored over 80 goals at Leeds, achieving promotion from League One in 2010 and playing in the same team that knocked reigning English Champions Manchester United out of the FA Cup in January of the same year. Becchio became a firm fan favourite at Elland Road. Becchio signed for Premier League club Norwich City as part of a swap deal for Welsh striker Steve Morison on 31 January 2013. He was then released in May 2015 following Norwich City's promotion back to the Premier League via the playoffs.
Career
Early life in Argentina Becchio was born in Argentina's second-city of Córdoba located at the foothills of the Punilla Valley in the geographical centre of the country. As a child, he had a keen interest in tennis but football was his main passion; idolising legendary striker Gabriel Batistuta and following Buenos Aires-based Boca Juniors. In 2000, at the age of 16, he made the 425 mile-move south to join the youth ranks at Los Xeneizes where he was joined in his age group by the younger Carlos Tevez who went go on to achieve great success in European club football by winning Premier League titles with Manchester United and Manchester City.
Moving to Spain Real Mallorca offered Becchio the chance to move to the La Liga side in 2003. With opportunities at Boca limited, he agreed to make the move to the Balearic Islands where he was joined by his parents and younger brother Mathias after selling their family restaurant business in Argentina to support their son in Europe. Mallorca coach Héctor Cúper placed Becchio in the 'B' team where he scored five times in 29 appearances. In his second season at the club, he signed for Ciudad Murcia on a loan deal.
After two years at Mallorca, Becchio moved to the Iberian Peninsula when he signed for Catalan club Terrassa where he spent the 2005–06 season before moving fifteen miles across the region to sign for reigning UEFA Champions League winners Barcelona. Becchio admitted that he would never have a chance of featuring for the first team but relished the opportunity to train with world class footballers such as Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi, whilst in the 'B' team he competed with notable young prodigies including Bojan Krkić and Giovani dos Santos for a starting position.https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/castellano/historic_noticies/futbol/07/Gener/n07013120.html&ei=MLDFTPi7FYvQjAfg5ai5BQ&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CDYQ7gEwBjhG&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dluciano%2Bbecchio%2Bbarcelona%2Bb%26start%3D70%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26site%3Dwebhp%26prmd%3Divo A year later, he moved again; heading south-west to join Segunda División B team Mérida.
During the 2007–08 campaign, Becchio finally found regular football with Los Romanos and repaid the faith shown in him by topping the division top scorer charts with twenty-two goals for the season, including a final day hat-trick versus Baza. Mérida finished fourth and qualified for the division play-offs versus Ponferradina but lost on aggregate over two legs. Becchio's performances during the campaign didn't go unnoticed however, as he became the most saleable asset for the debt-stricken club after being monitored by scouts from across Europe.http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.elperiodicoextremadura.com/noticias/noticia.asp%3Fpkid%3D388426&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dluciano%2Bbecchio%2Bboca%2Bjuniors%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26site%3Dwebhp%26prmd%3Divo&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&twu=1&usg=ALkJrhjaUtQFJCEk9ogPHEnG0LAndfZTRQ
Leeds United
2008–09 season In July 2008, Becchio joined League One side Leeds United on trial aiming to impress manager Gary McAllister in pre-season friendlies against Shelbourne and Barnet. He was recommended to Leeds scout Gwyn Williams by former Newcastle defender Marcelino. On 31 July, he signed for Leeds on a three-year contract.
Becchio made his first start for Leeds in their 5–2 win over Chester City in the first round of the League Cup. He was given his first league start against Yeovil Town in a 1–1 draw; in which it took him just 25 seconds to score his first Leeds goal. He scored his second goal for the club in his first start at Elland Road in a 4–0 victory over Crystal Palace in the League Cup. The following week, he came off the bench to head home his third Leeds goal in the 2–1 win over local rivals Bradford City in the Football League Trophy.
During the 2008–09 season, Becchio only missed one match in all competitions, which was due to suspension. In a sequence of appearances which saw him start 24 consecutive matches – including the entire busy Christmas period and while deputising for the injured Jermaine Beckford – he scored nine goals. With the loan signing of Lee Trundle from Bristol City, and the January transfer window signing of Mike Grella, manager Simon Grayson publicly stated that Becchio would be given a short resting period so that he would be ready for the vital last few months of the season. although that never materialised. In the final game of the season he scored his 18th goal of the season in all competitions, which in turn contributed to the relegation of Northampton Town. His 19th of the season came against Millwall in the League One play-off semi-final, in which he rounded off a fine team move started by Ben Parker, with Beckford and Andy Robinson also playing vital roles. He scored 19 goals in his début season in English football at Leeds.
2009–10 season Becchio scored his first goal of the 2009–10 season in the 1–0 league win against Wycombe Wanderers. He had a goal incorrectly ruled out for offside in the League Cup tie against Liverpool. He missed the game against Milton Keynes Dons as his wife was due to give birth. Becchio picked up a serious ankle injury in the game against Charlton Athletic on 9 September, when he stepped on the ball whilst controlling it from a high pass, and had to be substituted. He underwent scans on his ankle to diagnose possible ligament damage. In November Becchio was still sidelined; in his absence Leeds signed Welsh International striker Sam Vokes on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers until 1 January 2010.
On 25 November 2009, Becchio returned from injury and played in Leeds' reserve team game against Lincoln City, to help boost his match fitness. He scored a goal in a 2–1 victory and also managed to play the full 90 minutes. He returned for the first team as a substitute in the FA Cup second round draw with Kettering Town. Two days later, he came on as a substitute against Oldham Athletic and scored his first goal since his long layoff, this his third of the season. He returned to Leeds' starting lineup in the league at the expense of Sam Vokes against Brentford. His fifth goal of the season was a header against Hartlepool United on boxing day, which took a heavy deflection.
Becchio played against Premier League team Manchester United when Leeds won 1–0 away at Old Trafford on 3 January 2010 in the FA Cup third round, but he picked up an injury and was substituted in stoppage time. Becchio struggled for goals for Leeds since returning from injury, with him being asked to play in more of a deeper strikers role to hold the ball up for the midfield. Against Tottenham Hotspur Becchio was dropped to the bench and replaced up front by Robert Snodgrass, although he later came on in the second half after replacing midfielder Michael Doyle as Leeds earned a replay against the Premier League side. Becchio's sixth goal of the season for Leeds came in the FA Cup replay against Tottenham, after Beckford's shot was parried by Heurelho Gomes and it fell into the path of Becchio who slotted it into the back of the net. Goals number seven and eight for Becchio came in the following game against Hartlepool. This was the first double he scored in a competitive match for Leeds.
Becchio scored another two goals against Oldham, taking his tally to ten goals for the season. He continued his fine goal scoring form when he scored his eleventh goal of the season in the Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield Town, with the game finishing 2–2. Goal number 12 of the season came against Tranmere Rovers, with Becchio scoring with a diving header.
Becchio was substituted early on in the first half against Norwich City after being knocked unconscious after a clash of heads with Michael Nelson. His head also landed heavily on the ground which caused him to swallow his tongue. He was substituted by Mike Grella and due to the injury was ruled out against Swindon Town.
Becchio returned from injury for Leeds when he was named on the bench against Southend United and managed to score his 13th goal of the season in the 83rd minute after he replaced Beckford as a substitute in Leeds' 2–0 win. Goals number 14 and 15 came when Becchio scored a brace against Carlisle United. Becchio scored his 16th of the season with a goal against Gillingham in Leeds 3–2 defeat. Becchio's 17th goal came against Milton Keynes Dons in Leeds' 4–1 win. Becchio played an instrumental part as Leeds were promoted to the Football League Championship after finishing in second place in League One and thus earning automatic promotion.
2010–11 season Becchio started the opening game and scored Leeds' first goal of the Championship season against Derby County and slotted in an equaliser after a run by Jonny Howson, however Leeds lost 2–1. Becchio's second goal of the season came in Leeds' second match of the season in the League Cup against Lincoln City. He scored his third goal of the season in the match against Swansea City. Despite being dropped for the game against Doncaster, he returned to the side in the yorkshire derby vs Sheffield United as Leeds ran out 1–0 winners. Becchio scored his fourth goal of the season against Preston North End. Becchio scored his fifth goal of the season with a fine left footed volley and received the man of the match award against Middlesbrough. In the post match on-the-pitch interview with Sky Sports he also famously swore live on air stating that it was a "fucking unbelievable win!"
His sixth goal of the season came in the following game in the 2–1 loss against Leicester City. In November 2010 Becchio entered contract negotiations with Leeds over extending his contract. In the game against Hull City, he suffered a black eye after being elbowed by Ian Ashbee Becchio scored his seventh, eighth and ninth goals of the season with a 17-minute hat-trick against Bristol City after coming on as a second-half substitute