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Map showing the Cape Peninsula, illustrating the positions of the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point.

Map of the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Agulhas the southernmost point of Africa.

The Cape of Good Hope (Afrikaans: die Kaap van Goeie Hoop, Dutch:  Kaap de Goede Hoop (help·info), Portuguese: Cabo da Boa Esperança) is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.

There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the southernmost point is Cape Agulhas, about 150 kilometres (90 mi) to the east-southeast. The currents of the two oceans meet at the point where the warm-water Agulhas current meets the cold water Benguela current and turns back on itself—a point that fluctuates between Cape Agulhas and Cape Point.

When following the western side of the African coastline from the equator, however, the Cape of Good Hope marks the point where a ship begins to travel more eastward than southward. Thus, the first modern rounding of the cape in 1488 by Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias was a milestone in the attempts by the Portuguese to establish direct trade relations with the Far East (although in his histories Herodotus proves, disbelievingly, that some Phoenicians had done so far earlier than this).^{[citation needed]} Dias called the cape Cabo das Tormentas. "Cape of Storms" was the original name of the "Cape of Good Hope".^[1]

As one of the great capes of the South Atlantic Ocean, the Cape of Good Hope has been of special significance to sailors for many years and is widely referred to by them simply as "the Cape."^[2] It is a waypoint on the clipper route followed by clipper ships to the Far East and Australia, and still followed by several offshore yacht races.

The term Cape of Good Hope is also used in three other ways:

• It is a section of the Table Mountain National Park, within which the cape of the same name, as well as Cape Point, falls. Prior to its incorporation into the national park this section constituted the Cape Point Nature Reserve;^[3]
• It was the name of the early Cape Colony established in 1652, in the vicinity of the Cape Peninsula.
• Just prior to the formation of the Union of South Africa, the term referred to the entire region that in 1910 was to become the Cape of Good Hope Province (usually shortened to the Cape Province).

History[link]

Reproduction of the Cross of Vasco da Gama at the Cape of Good Hope.

The first European to reach the cape was the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias in 1488, who named it the "Cape of Storms" (Cabo das Tormentas). It was later renamed by John II of Portugal as "Cape of Good Hope" (Cabo da Boa Esperança) because of the great optimism engendered by the opening of a sea route to India and the East.

The land around the cape was home to the Khoikhoi people when the Dutch first settled there in 1652. The Khoikhoi had arrived in these parts about fifteen hundred years before.^{[citation needed]} They were called Hottentots by the Dutch, a term that has now come to be regarded as pejorative.

Dutch colonial administrator Jan van Riebeeck established a resupply camp for the Dutch East India Company some 50 km north of the cape in Table Bay on 6 April 1652 and this eventually developed into Cape Town. Supplies of fresh food were vital on the long journey around Africa and Cape Town became known as "The Tavern of the Seas".

On 31 December 1687 a community of Huguenots arrived at the Cape from the Netherlands. They had escaped to the Netherlands from France in order to flee religious persecution there; examples of these are Pierre Joubert who came from La Motte-d'Aigues for religious reasons. The Dutch East India Company needed skilled farmers at the Cape of Good Hope and the Dutch Government saw opportunities for the Huguenots at the Cape and sent them over. The colony gradually grew over the next 150 years or so until it stretched for hundreds of kilometres to the north and north-east.

When the Dutch Republic, during the Napoleonic Wars, was occupied by the French in 1795, henceforth becoming their vassal and enemy of the British, the United Kingdom invaded and occupied the Cape Colony that same year; relinquished control of the territory in 1803; only to return and reoccupy the Cape on 19 January 1806. The territory was ceded to the British in the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814 and was thereafter administered as the Cape Colony. It remained a British colony until being incorporated into the independent Union of South Africa in 1910 (now known as the Republic of South Africa).

The Portuguese government erected two navigational beacons, Dias Cross and Da Gama Cross, to commemorate Vasco da Gama and Bartolomeu Dias as explorers who as mentioned were the first explorers to reach the cape. When lined up, the crosses point to Whittle Rock (34°14.8′S 18°33.6′E / 34.2467°S 18.56°E / -34.2467; 18.56), a large, permanently submerged shipping hazard in False Bay. Two other beacons in Simonstown provide the intersection.

Geography[link]

The Cape of Good Hope; looking towards the west, from the coastal cliffs above Cape Point.

The Cape of Good Hope is at the south-west corner of the Cape Peninsula, about 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi) west and a little south of Cape Point on the south-east corner. Cape Town is about 50 kilometres to the north of the Cape, in Table Bay at the north end of the peninsula. The peninsula forms the western boundary of False Bay. Geologically, the rocks found at the two capes, and indeed over much of the peninsula, are part of the Table Mountain Group, and are formed of the same type of sandstones as Table Mountain itself. Both the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point offer spectacular scenery, the whole of the southernmost portion of the Cape Peninsula is a wild, rugged, scenic, and generally unspoiled national park.

The term the Cape has also been used in a wider sense, to indicate the area of the European colony centred on Cape Town, and the later South African province. Since 1994, it has been broken up into three smaller provinces: the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, plus parts of the province were absorbed into the North West.

Fauna[link]

Wild ostriches at the Cape of Good Hope

With its diverse habitat, ranging from rocky mountain tops to beaches and open sea, the Cape of Good Hope is home to at least 250 species of birds including one of the two mainland colonies of African penguins.

"Bush birds" tend to be rather scarce because of the coarse, scrubby nature of fynbos vegetation. When flowering, however, proteas and ericas attract sunbirds, sugarbirds, and other species in search of nectar. For most of the year, there are more small birds in coastal thicket than in fynbos.

The Cape of Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park is home to several species of antelope. Bontebok and Eland are easily seen, and Red Hartebeest can be seen in the grazing lawns in Smitswinkel Flats. Grey Rhebok are less commonly seen and are scarce, but may be observed along the beach hills at Olifantsbos. Most visitors are unlikely to ever see either Cape Grysbok or Klipspringer.

The Cape of Good Hope section is home to four Cape Mountain Zebra. They might be seen by the attentive or lucky visitor, usually in Smitswinkel Flats.

There are a wealth of small animals such as lizards, snakes, tortoises and insects. Small mammals include rock hyrax (dassie), striped mouse, water mongoose, Cape clawless otter and white deer.

The area offers excellent vantage points for whale watching. The Southern right whale is the species most likely to be seen in False Bay between June and November. Other species are the Humpback whale and Bryde's whale. Seals and Dusky Dolphins or Orca, the Killer Whales may also be seen.

The strategic position of the Cape of Good Hope between two major ocean currents, ensures a rich diversity of marine life. There is a difference between the sea life west of Cape Point and that to the east due to the markedly differing sea temperatures.

The South African Marine Living Resources Act is strictly enforced throughout the Table Mountain National Park, and especially in marine protected areas. Disturbance or removal of any marine organisms is strictly prohibited between Schusters Bay and Hoek van Bobbejaan, but is allowed in other areas during season and with relevant permits.

Chacma Baboons[link]

Chacma Baboons (Papio ursinus) are the mammal most intimately associated with the Cape of Good Hope. Baboons inside the Cape of Good Hope section of the park are a major tourist attraction. They have lived on the Cape Peninsula for approximately one million years and continue to this day. There are 11 troops consisting of about 375 individuals throughout the entire Cape Peninsula. Six of these 11 troops either live entirely within the Cape of Good Hope section of the park, or use the section as part of their range. The Cape Point, Kanonkop, Klein Olifantsbos, and Buffels Bay troops live entirely inside the Cape of Good Hope section of the Park. The Groot Olifantsbos and Plateau Road troops range into the park.

Chacma Baboons are widely distributed across southern Africa and are classified as "least concern" in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, the South African Parks Department states in its publication Mountains in the Sea that the baboon population on the Cape is "critically endangered." This is due to habitat loss, genetic isolation, and conflicts with humans. Cape baboons have been eliminated from the majority of their range across the Cape Peninsula, and the Cape of Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park provides a sanctuary for the troops that live within its boundaries. It provides relative safety from nearby towns, where people have killed many baboons after the baboons raid their houses looking for food. Baboons are also frequently injured or killed outside of the park by cars and by electrocution on power lines. Inside the park, some management policies such as allowing barbecues and picnics in the baboon home ranges cause detriment to the troops, as they become embroiled in conflicts with guests to the park.

Flora[link]

The Cape of Good Hope is an integral part of the Cape Floristic Kingdom, the smallest but richest of the world's six floral kingdoms. This comprises a treasure trove of 1100 species of indigenous plants, of which a number are endemic (occur naturally nowhere else on earth). The main type of fynbos ("fine bush") vegetation at the Cape of Good Hope is Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos, an endangered vegetation type that is endemic to the Cape Peninsula. Coastal Hangklip Sand Fynbos grows on low-lying alkaline sands and, right by the sea, small patches of Cape Flats Dune Strandveld can be found.^[4][5]

Characteristic fynbos plants include proteas, ericas (heath), and restios (reeds). Some of the most striking and well-known members belong to the Proteacae family, of which up to 24 species occur. These include King Protea, Sugarbush, Tree Pincushion and Golden Cone Bush.

Many popular horticultural plants like pelargoniums, freesias, daisies, lilies and irises also have their origins in fynbos.

Legends[link]

The Cape of Good Hope is the legendary home of The Flying Dutchman. Crewed by tormented and damned ghostly sailors, it is doomed forever to beat its way through the adjacent waters without ever succeeding in rounding the headland.

Adamastor is a Greek-type mythological character invented by the Portuguese poet Luís de Camões in his epic poem Os Lusíadas (first printed in 1572), as a symbol of the forces of nature Portuguese navigators had to overcome during their discoveries, and more specifically of the dangers Portuguese sailors faced when trying to round the Cape of Storms.

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cape of Good Hope

• Cape Horn, its South American counterpart
• Western Cape
• History of Cape Colony
• Simon's Town

References[link]

External links[link]

• Cape of Good Hope, Panoramic view

Coordinates: 34°21′29″S 018°28′19″E / 34.35806°S 18.47194°E / -34.35806; 18.47194

Dame Ellen MacArthur
Ellen MacArthur in 2010
Born	(1976-07-08) 8 July 1976 (age 35) Whatstandwell near Matlock, Derbyshire, England.
Occupation	Campaigner
Known for	Previous holder of fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe in a yacht
Title	Dame
Website
Official Website of Ellen Macarthur

Dame Ellen Patricia MacArthur, DBE (born 8 July 1976) is an English sailor, up until 2009, from Whatstandwell near Matlock in Derbyshire, now based in West Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. She is best known as a solo long-distance yachtswoman. On 7 February 2005 she broke the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe, a feat which gained her international renown.^[1] Francis Joyon, the Frenchman who had held the record before MacArthur, recovered the record again in early 2008, besting MacArthur's record by nearly two weeks.^[2] Following her retirement from professional sailing on 2 September 2010, Ellen announced the launch of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a charity set up to inspire people to re-think, re-design and build a sustainable future.

Early life[link]

Ellen MacArthur was born in Derbyshire where she lived with her parents who were both teachers and two brothers, Fergus and Lewis. She acquired her early interest in sailing, firstly by her desire to emulate her idol at the time, Sophie Burke and, secondly by reading Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series of books. She has since become the Patron of the Nancy Blackett Trust^[3] which owns and operates Ransome's yacht, Nancy Blackett. Her first experience of sailing was on a boat owned by her Aunt Thea MacArthur on the east coast of England. She saved her school dinner money for eight years in order to buy her first boat, an eight foot dinghy, which she named Threp'ny Bit even though decimalisation had taken place before she was born. She sellotaped a real Threp'ny Bit onto the bow. MacArthur attended Wirksworth County Infants and Junior Schools and the Anthony Gell Community School and also worked at a sailing school in Hull.^[4] When she was 17, MacArthur bought a Corribee named Iduna, she described the first moment she saw it as "love at first sight". In 1995 she sailed Iduna single-handed on a circumnavigation of Great Britain.

In 1997 she finished 17th in the Mini Transat solo transatlantic race after fitting out her 21 ft (6.4 m) yacht Le Poisson herself while living in a French boatyard.

She was named 1998 British Telecom/Royal Yachting Association "Yachtsman of The Year" in the UK and "Sailing's Young Hope" in France.

Asteroid 20043 EllenMacArthur is named after her.^[5]

Racing career[link]

She first came to general prominence in 2001 when she came second in the Vendée Globe solo round-the-world sailing race in her Owen Clarke/Rob Humphreys designed Kingfisher (named after her sponsors, Kingfisher plc), and subsequently MacArthur was appointed MBE for services to sport.

In 2003 she captained a round-the-world record attempt for a crewed yacht in Kingfisher 2 (a catamaran formerly owned by Bruno Peyron and known as Orange), but was thwarted by a broken mast in the Southern Ocean.

Ellen MacArthur on her arrival in 2005.

A trimaran named B&Q/Castorama (after two companies in the Kingfisher group) unveiled in January 2004, was specially designed by Nigel Irens and Benoit Cabaret for her to break solo records. The 75-foot (23 m) trimaran was built in Australia, with many of the components specifically arranged to take into account MacArthur's 5 foot 2 inch (1.57 m) height.^{[citation needed]}

Using the yacht, her first significant record attempt in 2004 to break the west–east transatlantic crossing time failed by around one and a quarter hours, after over seven days of sailing.

She began her attempt to break the solo record for sailing non-stop around the world on 28 November 2004. During her circumnavigation, she set records for the fastest solo voyage to the equator, past the Cape of Good Hope, past Cape Horn and back to the equator again. She crossed the finishing line near the French coast at Ushant at 22:29 UTC on 7 February 2005 beating the previous record set by French sailor Francis Joyon by 1 day, 8 hours, 35 minutes, 49 seconds. Her time of 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes 33 seconds is world record for the 27,354 nautical miles (50,660 km) covered. This is an average speed of 15.9 knots (29.4 km/h).

On 8 February 2005, following her return to England, it was announced that she was to be appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her achievement.^[6] It is believed that she is the youngest ever recipient of this honour. Coming immediately after the event being recognised, rather than appearing in due course in the New Year's or Birthday honours lists, this recognition was reminiscent of the knighthoods conferred upon Francis Drake and Francis Chichester upon arrival home after their respective circumnavigations in 1580 and 1967. MacArthur was also made an honorary Lieutenant Commander of the Royal Naval Reserve on the same day.

In recognition of her achievement she was awarded the French Légion d'Honneur Knight by Nicolas Sarkozy in March 2008. She is a fluent French speaker.^[7]

In 2007 MacArthur headed up BT Team Ellen, a three-person sailing team which includes Australian Nick Moloney and Frenchman Sébastien Josse.^[8]

In October 2009 MacArthur announced her intention to retire from competitive racing to concentrate on sustainability.^[9][10]

On 2 September 2010, she launched the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a charity focusing on providing a positive framework for sustainable innovation using insights from living systems to re-think the future. The Foundation works primarily in Education for 14–19 years and Higher Education and investigates the opportunities for young people in a future sustainable economy.

Records[link]

In June 2000, MacArthur sailed the monohull Kingfisher from Plymouth, UK to Newport, Rhode Island, USA in 14 days, 23 hours, 11 minutes. This is the current record for a single-handed monohull east-to-west passage, and also the record for a single-handed woman in any vessel.^[11]

MacArthur's second place in the 2000-2001 edition of the Vendée Globe, with a time of 94 days, 4 hours and 25 minutes, is the world record for a single-handed, non-stop, monohull circumnavigation by a woman.^[12]

In June 2004, MacArthur sailed her trimaran B&Q/Castorama from Ambrose Light, Lower New York Bay, USA to Lizard Point, Cornwall, UK in 7 days, 3 hours, 50 minutes. This set a new world record for a transatlantic crossing by women, beating the previous crewed record as well as the singlehanded version.^[13]

In 2005, MacArthur beat Francis Joyon's existing world record for a single-handed non-stop circumnavigation. MacArthur in the trimaran B&Q/Castorama sailed 27,354 nautical miles (50,660 km) at an average speed of 15.9 knots.^[14] Her time of 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes 33 seconds beat Joyon's then world record time by 1 day, 8 hours, 35 minutes and 49 seconds. Ellen had no more than 20 minutes' sleep at a time, having to be on constant lookout day and night. On 23 November 2007 Joyon set off in IDEC II in an attempt to beat MacArthur's current world record for a single handed circumnavigation. He achieved his goal in 57 days, 13 hours 34 minutes and 6 seconds.^[2]

Critics of MacArthur's voyage emphasise the differences in the technological capabilities of present-day sailing vessels against those used by previous record holders.^[15]

Satire[link]

MacArthur's tearful video diaries recording the sailing adversities she faced inspired the caricature of her on the BBC satirical comedy show Dead Ringers. In Episode 5 of Series 1 of a BBC Sci-fi sitcom, Hyperdrive, a MacArthur-like character, Clare Winchester, a round-the-galaxy solo spacewoman played by Sally Phillips, is parodied with references to video diaries, a diminishing grip on reality and friendlessness.

Popular culture[link]

MacArthur was also the last record holder on Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car on the BBC's Top Gear television driving programme until the eighth series, when the car and rules were changed, and previous records were removed.^[16] The competition was a timed lap of a racetrack in a Suzuki Liana. She completed the lap in 1 minute 46.7 seconds, beating Jimmy Carr by 0.2 seconds.

She also took part in 2011 TV series Jamie's Dream School.

Books by Ellen MacArthur[link]

In 2002, Dame Ellen released her first autobiography entitled Taking on the World. This detailed her life and journey up until the printing date. The Observer describes the book as "The first true heroine of the twenty-first century."

In September 2010, Dame Ellen published a second autobiography entitled Full Circle. This also details her life and journey up until the printing date.

Dame Ellen's Charities[link]

Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust[link]

In 2003, MacArthur set up the Ellen MacArthur Trust (now The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust), a registered charity,^[17] to take young people, aged between 8 and 24 inclusive, sailing to help them regain their confidence on their way to recovery from cancer, leukaemia and other serious illnesses. In Ellen’s words:

"These are really special kids. In many ways they are just the same as everyone else, they are interested in the same things as kids their age, they have the same goals in life, but the difference is that they do this with a huge challenge ahead of them. I face challenges out on the water, but these are challenges that I choose to do. They on the other hand don't have this luxury. They battle against something harder than many of us could ever imagine and they do it with the biggest smiles on their faces. To me they are truly inspirational and if the Ellen MacArthur Trust can help them in their battle in any way then that is a fantastic achievement."

In 2008 MacArthur joined forces with other sports celebrities to launch an appeal to raise £4 million for the Rainbows children's hospice. The aim is to give terminally ill young people their own customised sleeping unit to enable children in separate age groups to have their families stay with them.^[18]

Ellen MacArthur Foundation[link]

After retiring from sailing, MacArthur founded the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in order to promote sustainability. One of the Foundation's ventures was launching a programme called Project ReDesign where students from school are asked to redesign some aspects of the future.^[19]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ellen MacArthur

• Official website of Dame Ellen MacArthur
• Official website of The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust
• Official website of The Ellen MacArthur Foundation
• Nancy Blackett Trust Website
• Biography on BBC site
• BBC News article: MacArthur sails into record books

References[link]

1. ^ Our Amazing Planet Staff (30 April 2012). "8 Unsung Women Explorers". http://news.yahoo.com/8-unsung-women-explorers-180658286.html. Retrieved 30 April 2012. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "report of MacArthur congratulating Joyon on beating her record". BBC News. 2008-01-20. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/sailing/7198647.stm. Retrieved 2009-10-28. 
3. ^ "The Nancy Blackett Trust — Arthur Ransome's Nancy Blackett". Nancyblackett.org. http://www.nancyblackett.org/. Retrieved 2009-10-28. 
4. ^ Daily Mail Weekend Interview. 20 May 2012, p6
5. ^ http://www.ipa.nw.ru/PAGE/DEPFUND/LSBSS/ALF/21.htm
6. ^ London Gazette: no. 57557. p. 1713. 2005-02-11. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
7. ^ Samuel, Henry (2008-03-18). "Nicolas Sarkozy to honour Ellen MacArthur". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/18/wfra118.xml. Retrieved 2010-05-01. 
8. ^ "Team Ellen". Team Ellen. http://www.teamellen.com/. Retrieved 2009-10-28. 
9. ^ "UK | Yachtswoman Dame Ellen to retire". BBC News. 2009-10-04. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8289226.stm. Retrieved 2009-10-28. 
10. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00mz6jq/Desert_Island_Discs_Dame_Ellen_MacArthur/
11. ^ WSSRC Ratified Passage Records — "Transatlantic E to W, Plymouth – Newport, monohull and woman any vessel", from the World Sailing Speed Record Council
12. ^ WSSRC Ratified Passage Records — "Round the World, non stop, singlehanded, woman, Vendée Globe", from the World Sailing Speed Record Council
13. ^ WSSRC Ratified Passage Records — "Transatlantic W to E outright women, and singlehanded woman", from the World Sailing Speed Record Council
14. ^ WSSRC Ratified Passage Records — "Round the World, non stop, singlehanded", from the World Sailing Speed Record Council
15. ^ "Britain welcomes Dame Ellen home". BBC News. 2005-02-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/sailing/4245577.stm. Retrieved 2009-10-28. 
16. ^ "''Old Top Gear Celebrity Laps''". Bbc.co.uk. 2008-10-20. http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/show/liana_laps.shtml. Retrieved 2009-10-28. 
17. ^ The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, Registered Charity no. 1096491 at the Charity Commission
18. ^ "Ellen MacArthur in Charity Appeal", Charities Aid Foundation, 2008-02-07. Retrieved on 2005-02-11.
19. ^ "Ellen MacArthur Foundation Website". http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/education/project-re-design. Retrieved 2011-07-27. 

Ariel Ortega

Personal information
Full name	Ariel Ortega
Date of birth	(1974-03-04) 4 March 1974 (age 38)
Place of birth	Ledesma, Jujuy, Argentina
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder / Forward
Club information
Current club	Defensores de Belgrano
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1991–1996	River Plate	134	(30)
1997–1998	Valencia	29	(9)
1998–1999	Sampdoria	27	(8)
1999–2000	Parma	18	(3)
2000–2002	River Plate	56	(23)
2002–2003	Fenerbahçe	14	(5)
2004–2006	Newell's Old Boys	53	(11)
2006–2011	River Plate	82	(12)
2008–2009	→ Independiente (RIV) (loan)	25	(4)
2011	→ All Boys (loan)	12	(0)
2011–	Defensores de Belgrano	27	(4)
National team‡
1993–2010	Argentina	87	(17)
Honours Competitor for  Argentina Men's Football Olympic Games Silver 1996 Atlanta Team Competition Pan American Games Gold 1995 Mar del Plata Team Competition
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:01, 20 July 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12:29, 15 December 2010 (UTC)

Arnaldo Ariel Ortega (born 4 March 1974) is an Argentine football attacking midfielder. His nickname is "El Burrito" ("The Little Donkey"), thus he is called "Burrito Ortega".

Ortega's previous clubs include Fenerbahçe, Parma, Sampdoria, Valencia, and Newell's Old Boys. Ortega played for his country in the 1994, 1998, and 2002 World Cups. He was also a member of the team that won the silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Biography[link]

He is well known for his pace, ability and skills from dead ball situations, ball trickery, clever body feints and lobbed shots. At his prime he was one of the best dribblers in the world. Along with his skills, Ortega is infamously temperamental.

Europe[link]

Ortega left Argentina in 1996. He played 1½ seasons for Valencia CF before being signed by Sampdoria in 1998 for 23 billion Italian lire (£8 million),^[1] replacing Juan Sebastián Verón. After the club was relegated to Serie B, Ortega joined Parma AC, rejoining national and former club team-mate Hernán Crespo, replacing Verón again who left for Lazio. Parma paid Sampdoria 28 billion lire (£9.4 million).^[2] However, in the following season he returned to Argentina with River Plate, to compensate unpaid 12 billion lire transfer fees of Crespo. (The 10% of the transfer fees to Lazio) Claudio Husaín also joined the club.^[3] River Plate acquired 50% registration rights of Ortega for 5.5 million dollars.^[4]

Fenerbahçe and ban[link]

In May 2002, Fenerbahçe signed Ortega from River Plate for a fee of USD 7,500,000 (USD 2,500,000 of which was paid to Parma). Fenerbahçe also bought his image rights for a further USD 1,500,000. Ortega signed a 4-year contract.^[5] He was one of the key players of the team, scoring 5 goals in 14 matches.

Fenerbahçe were forced to file a complaint to FIFA in April 2003 as Ortega had failed to return from international duty since 12 February 2003.^[5] In June 2003 the FIFA Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) ordered Ortega to pay Fenerbahçe USD 11,000,000 as compensation for breach of an employment contract and suspended him until 30 December 2003.^[5] Ortega appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in July 2003 but the case was dismissed on 5 November.^[5] Ortega served a 4 month suspension from that day.^[5] After the ban he was without a club..

Return to Argentina[link]

In 2004, when he could finally come back to football, he joined Newell's Old Boys after he was called by his friend Américo Gallego, who at the time was Newell's' coach. Newell paid an unknown sum to Fenerbahçe as part compensation for what Ortega owed the club. They won the Apertura 2004.

In June 2006, he went back to his first team River Plate, where he played for about half of the Apertura 2006,^[6] before he stopped to begin treatment for alcoholism. On January 2007, during River's pre-season in Mar del Plata, and one day after playing an excellent game in which he scored, he surprised everyone with another alcoholic episode, after which River Plate's doctors suggested to the coach that Ortega should go back to Buenos Aires to resume treatment for his problem.

Coach Daniel Passarella later brought Ortega back, stating he was ready for a comeback. On March 15, 2007, in a Copa Libertadores 2007 match against LDU Quito, Ortega formed part of River's bench but was not given a chance to play. However, three days later, in a league match versus Quilmes, he came on during the second half to help break the opposing team's defense in a tight 0-0 up to that point. Ortega scored a controversial goal with his hand, in the 93rd minute, to give River the victory and himself a great comeback.

Upon the arrival of Diego Simeone as head coach of River, Ortega allegedly lost some "protections" he was rumoured to have and, despite being an important part of the team that achieved the Clausura 2008 title, Simeone left him out of the squad for the upcoming season, reasoning his decision on Ortega having several times not come to train as well as some episodes of alcoholism.^[7][8][9] After some controversy ^[10] and rumours ^[11][12] in the winter window of Argentine market, he was loaned to Nacional B side Independiente Rivadavia,^[13] signing a one year contract where a twice a week trip to a Chilean Special Treatment Center for alcoholics ^[14] is one of the clauses. On 1 May 2009 the player has been let go by Independiente officials. The club decided to terminate his contract in advance. Ortega was on loan from River Plate. On his first game back in River Plate, 25 July 2009, he scored an outstanding chip shot goal to give River a 1-0 victory over Everton F.C. of England in Edmonton, Canada during the preseason. In the 2009 Apertura, Ortega scored a wonder lobbed goal against Chacarita Juniors to give River Plate a 4-3 victory. Later in the tournament, he scored a last minute equalizer against Estudiantes.

In the 2010 Clausura, Ortega started River's first two matches, but suffered another alcoholic relapse and missed the next ten games before returning against Newell's Old Boys in the 13th round of matches.

In 2011, he was loaned to Defensores de Belgrano.

On 8 April 2012, Fox Sports Argentina journlist Juan José Buscalia, confirmed that Ortega would join Chilean Primera División club Unión San Felipe in June 2012.

International[link]

Ortega was included in the squad for the 1994 World Cup. His debut in the starting eleven occurred on 3 July 1994 when Argentina was knocked-out of the competition by Romania.

Ortega was handed the coveted #10 shirt for the 1998 FIFA World Cup where he was expected to carry the mantle of the team's playmaker. Despite impressing in the early rounds Ortega's first World Cup as an established star was most notable for his sending off in the quarter-finals against the Netherlands. Ortega received a straight red card for headbutting Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar when van der Sar confronted him after a dive in the penalty area, for which Ortega was just getting his first yellow card. Shortly after Ortega's sending off, Dennis Bergkamp scored the winning goal to make it 2-1, eliminating Argentina.

Ortega was also a member of the squad for the 2002 World Cup. Ortega missed a penalty in the last match against Sweden, where Argentina were surprisingly knocked-out in the first round.

On September 24, 2009 he was surprisingly recalled to the Argentina national first team squad,^[15] but a couple of days later, it was announced that Ariel Ortega will miss the friendly match against Ghana due to a injury he picked up during the weekend in the Argentine Domestic League.^[16]

In April 2010, 17 years after his Argentina debut, Ortega received a call-up again, this time against Haiti.^[17] All the players in Diego Maradona's squad were from the Primera División Argentina. He played the match as starting XI on 5 May.^[18]

Career statistics[link]

Club[link]

National team statistics[link]

^[23]

International[link]

International appearances and goals
#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result	Goal	Competition
1993–94
1.	15 December 1993	Miami, United States	Germany	2–1	0	Friendly
2.	23 March 1994	Recife, Brazil	Brazil	0–2	0[24]
3.	20 April 1994	Salta, Argentina	Morocco	3–1	0 [25]
4.	31 May 1994	Tel Aviv, Israel	Israel	3–0	0[26]
5.	4 June 1994	Zagreb, Croatia	Croatia	0–0	0[26]
6.	21 June 1994	Boston, United States	Greece	4–0	0	1994 FIFA World Cup
7.	30 June 1994	Dallas, United States	Bulgaria	0–2	0
8.	3 July 1994	Los Angeles, United States	Romania	2–3	0
1994–95
9.	16 November 1994	Santiago, Chile	Chile	3–0	0[27]	Friendly
10.	21 December 1994	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Romanian League	1–0	0[28]
11.	27 December 1994	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Yugoslavia	1–0	0[29]
12.	8 January 1995	Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	Japan	5–1	1	1995 King Fahd Cup
13.	10 January 1995		Nigeria	0–0	0
14.	13 January 1995		Denmark	0–2	0
15.	14 February 1995	Mendoza, Argentina	Bulgaria	4–1	0[30]	Friendly
16.	13 May 1995	Johannesburg, South Africa	South Africa	1–1	0[31]
17.	31 May 1995	La Plata, Argentina	Peru	1–0	0
18.	22 June 1995	Mendoza, Argentina	Slovakia	6–0	0[31]
19.	30 June 1995	Quilmes, Argentina	Australia	2–0	0[31]
20.	8 July 1995	Paysandú, Uruguay	Bolivia	2–1	0	1995 Copa América
21.	11 July 1995		Chile	4–0	0
22.	14 July 1995		United States	0–3	0
23.	17 July 1995	Rivera, Uruguay	Brazil	2-2 (2–4 PSO)	0
1995–96
24.	20 September 1995	Madrid, Spain	Spain	1–2	1[32]	Friendly
25.	11 October 1995	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Colombia	0–0	0[33]
26.	8 November 1995	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Brazil	0–1	0[34]
27.	21 December 1995	Mendoza, Argentina	Venezuela	6–0	0[33]
28.	24 April 1996	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Bolivia	3–1	2	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
29.	2 June 1996	Quito, Ecuador	Ecuador	0–2	0
30.	7 July 1996	Lima, Peru	Peru	0–0	0
	20 July 1996	Birmingham, Alabama, United States	United States	3–1	0	1996 Olympics (Argentina U23)
	22 July 1996	Washington, D.C., United States	Portugal	1–1	1
	24 July 1996	Birmingham, Alabama, United States	Tunisia	1–1	1
	27 July 1996		Spain	4–0	0
	30 July 1996	Athens, Georgia, United States	Portugal	2–0	0
	3 August 1996		Nigeria	2–3	0
1996–97
31.	1 September 1996	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Paraguay	1–1	0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
32.	9 October 1996	San Cristóbal, Venezuela	Venezuela	5–2	1
33.	15 December 1996	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Chile	1–1	0
34.	28 December 1996	Mar del Plata, Argentina	Yugoslavia	2–3	0	Friendly[35]
35.	12 January 1997	Montevideo, Uruguay	Uruguay	0–0	0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
36.	12 February 1997	Barranquilla, Colombia	Colombia	1–0	0
37.	2 April 1997	La Paz, Bolivia	Bolivia	2–1	0
38.	30 April 1997	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Ecuador	2–1	1
39.	8 June 1997		Peru	2–0	0
40.	20 July 1997	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Venezuela	2–0	0
1997–98
41.	10 September 1997	Santiago, Chile	Chile	2–1	0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
42.	12 October 1997	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Uruguay	0–0	0
43.	16 November 1997		Colombia	1–1	0
44.	19 February 1998	Mendoza, Argentina	Romanian League	2–1	0[36]	Friendly
45.	24 February 1998	Mar del Plata, Argentina	Yugoslavia	3–1	0[37]
46.	15 April 1998	Jerusalem, Israel	Israel	1–2	0[36]
47.	22 April 1998	Dublin, Republic of Ireland	Republic of Ireland	2–1	1[36]
48.	29 April 1998	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Brazil	1–0	0[38]
49.	14 May 1998	La Plata, Argentina	Bosnia and Herzegovina	5–0	1 [39]
50.	19 May 1998	Mendoza, Argentina	Chile	1–0	0
51.	25 May 1998	Buenos Aires, Argentina	South Africa	2–0	1[40]
52.	14 June 1998	Toulouse, France	Japan	1–0	0	1998 FIFA World Cup
53.	21 June 1998	Paris, France	Jamaica	5–0	2
54.	26 June 1998	Bordeaux, France	Croatia	1–0	0
55.	30 June 1998	Saint-Étienne, France	England	2–2 (AET) 4–3 (PSO)	0
56.	4 July 1998	Marseilles, France	Netherlands	1–2	0
1998–99
57.	31 March 1999	Amsterdam, The Netherlands	Netherlands	1–1	0	Friendly[41]
58.	26 June 1999	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Lithuania	0–0	0
59.	11 July 1999	Ciudad del Este, Paraguay	Brazil	1–2	0	1999 Copa América
1999–2000
60.	4 September 1999	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Brazil	2–0	0[42]	Friendly
61.	7 September 1999	Porto Alegre, Brazil	Brazil	2–4	1[43]
62.	13 October 1999	La Plata, Argentina	Colombia	2–1	1[44]
63.	17 November 1999	Seville, Spain	Spain	2–0	0
64.	23 February 2000	London, England, United Kingdom	England	0–0	0[45]
65.	29 March 2000	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Chile	4–1	0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
66.	26 April 2000	Maracaibo, Venezuela	Venezuela	4–0	2
67.	4 June 2000	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Bolivia	1–0	0
68.	29 June 2000	Bogotá, Colombia	Colombia	3–1	0
69.	19 July 2000	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Ecuador	2–0	0
70.	26 July 2000	São Paulo, Brazil	Brazil	1–3	0
2000–01
71.	16 August 2000	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Paraguay	1–1	0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
72.	3 September 2000	Lima, Peru	Peru	2–1	0
73.	15 November 2000	Santiago, Chile	Chile	2–0	1
74.	20 December 2000	Los Angeles, United States	Mexico	2–0	0	Friendly
75.	28 March 2001	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Venezuela	5–0	0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
76.	25 April 2001	La Paz, Bolivia	Bolivia	3–3	0
2001–02
77.	15 August 2001	Quito, Ecuador	Ecuador	2–0	0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
78.	5 September 2001	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Brazil	2–1	0
79.	7 October 2001	Asunción, Paraguay	Paraguay	2–2	0
80.	8 November 2001	Buenos Aires, Argentina	Peru	2–0	0
81.	14 November 2001	Montevideo, Uruguay	Uruguay	1–1	0
82.	2 June 2002	Ibaraki, Japan	Nigeria	1–0	0	2002 FIFA World Cup
83.	7 June 2002	Sapporo, Japan	England	0–1	0
84.	12 June 2002	Rifu, Miyagi, Japan	Sweden	1–1	0
2002–03
85.	20 November 2002	Saitama, Japan	Japan	2–0	0[46]	Friendly
86.	12 February 2003	Amsterdam, The Netherlands	Netherlands	0–1	0
2009–10
87.	5 May 2010	Cutral Có, Argentina	Haiti	4–0	0	Friendly

Achievements[link]

Club[link]

River Plate

• Primera División: 5

1991 Apertura, 1993 Apertura, 1994 Apertura, 2002 Clausura, 2008 Clausura

• Copa Libertadores: 1

1996

Parma

• Supercoppa Italiana: 1

1999

Newell's Old Boys

• Primera División: 1

2004 Apertura

National team[link]

Argentina U-23

• Pan American Games Gold Medal: 1

1995

• Summer Olympics Silver Medal: 1

1996

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ariel Ortega – FIFA competition record
• Ariel Ortega at National-Football-Teams.com
• (Spanish) Argentine Primera statistics
• (Spanish) River Plate player profile