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GABRIËL FRANCISCO SCHÜRRER PERALTA
Date of Birth: 16 August, 1971
Nationality: Argentina (international)
Period at Deportivo: 1998 - 2000
Transfer: ca. €4 million (1998, Racing de Santander)
Clubs: Real Sociedad, Las Palmas (2000-2002), Deportivo (1998-2000), Racing de Santander (1996-1998), Lanús (1989-1995), Atlético Rafaela
Sold: ca. €3,6 million (2000, to Las Palmas)
Height: 184 cm
Weight: 78 kg
Position: Defender (left/central)
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SCHÜRRER was one of those relatively unknown, but pleasant, surprises coming out of Argentina when he joined Racing de Santander in 1996. The tough defender had just turned 25 when the Spanish season began, and played his first match in the Primera División on 1 September, 1996 as a substitute. It concerned a 3-2 home win against Valencia, with the likes of Vlaovic and Romario.
Being 19-years old back then he already had acquired a starting placed at his former club Lanús (and once had Héctor Cúper as his coach), and within a week he would do the same at the club which took him to Europe. Schürrer participated in thirty-three matches that campaign and scored three goals: during the 2-2 draw against Real Madrid, against Zaragoza (2-0) and a late equalizer at Valencia (1-1).
Strong Schürrer dominated in the air and his precise passes created a lot of danger to opposing sides. It was rumoured that Inter Milan and Real Madrid were after him, while River Plate and Boca Juniors wanted to take him back to Argentina. Racing finished thirteenth that season and ended up one place lower in 1998. The Argentinean defender played firty-five matches that campaign, but was sent off on three occasions. Despite another sending off in the year before, his performances had been convincing and Deportivo negotiated his transfer.
At Deportivo he signed a contract running until 2003, being 27-years old. He made his Liga debut on 30 August, 1998 when he replaced Naybet in the derby match against Celta de Vigo. Soon he would become an important defender at the club, although he suffered an injury in November of that year.
Schürrer reached playing twenty-eighth Liga matches in his first campaign and had won the confidence of new coach Irureta. He scored three goals that season, among which a winner against his favourite rival Valencia (1-0). But again the referees didn’t spare him when it concerned being sent-off. He experienced it twice, of which his second one (at Real Madrid) after twenty-five minutes might have cost the team a place in the Champions League (3-1 loss).
But Deportivo qualified for UEFA Cup football after finishing sixth, although the club signed young defender César Martín that summer. It made life difficult for Schürrer, although the injury of the Asturian defender gave him new possibilities to play. But Naybet and Donato formed the defensive pair in the season, when Deportivo clinched their first ever Liga title, and Schürrer filled in a gap when needed. He was present at nineteen matches that campaign, and played sixteen of them from finish to start. As usual he suffered a sending-off that season: an expensive one as it cost Deportivo a 0-2 lead at Mallorca (2-2).
In 2000 the competition was mounting though as Hélder returned from a loan deal while Naybet and Donato had formed a secure duo. Besides, César Martín had recovered from his injury while Ramis still was there. Despite being an Argentinean international player (he made his international debut in 1995 at the age of 23), there was no room anymore for Schürrer at the club.
In fact, island club Las Palmas had big plans that year and were prepared to spent about €3,6 million on him. Lendoiro didn’t think twice and he was sold to the Primera División new boys. Schürrer continued as usual because soon he became he starter there, playing sixty-four Liga matches in two campaigns and was sent off on three occasions.
His club couldn’t afford anymore when they got relegated in 2002, and he went on a free transfer to Real Sociedad. Apprentices at Las Palmas started a petition to keep the popular player, but sadly for them, he left weeks later. Real Sociedad would be his fourth club in Spain, and he finished second with them during the season 2002/2003. The Basques were the surprise of the season, and Schürrer provided security at the back.
His two seasons at the club made him play fifty-six Liga matches in total for them and he experienced playing Champions League football there. But representing Argentina at the 1995 Copa América was the highlight of an international career, which had yielded fourteen caps ahead of the 2003/04 season.
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