Former Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze was a surprise inclusion when compatriot Carlos Tevez was asked to name the best XI players he shared the pitch with in the course of his illustrious career. Boca Juniors star Carlos Tevezand Gabriel Heinze played for the Argentina senior football team at the same time over a six-year period from 2004 to 2010. Gabriel Heinze was a versatile defender who can play either as a left-back or as a centre back.

Heinze, 42, has ventured into management since his retirement from football six years ago. He has managed three clubs in his native Argentina namely Godoy Cruz, Argentinos Juniors and Velez Sarsfield. He played for eight clubs during his 18-year professional career which started at Newell Old Boys in Argentina. Gabriel Heinze spent two different spells at Newell Old Boys at the start of his career and at the end of his career.

He started his football career at the Argentine club in 1996 before returning to the same team for the last two years of his career till he hung up his boots in 2014. In between the two spells, Gabriel Heinze spent all of his playing career for several European clubs from Real Valladolid in Spain to Sporting Lisbon of Portugal whom he played for on loan.French champions Paris Saint Germain (PSG), Manchester United FC of England, Spanish champions Real Madrid, Marseille FC of France and Italian team AS Roma were the other clubs that Gabriel Heinze played for during his career.

During an interview with Radio La Red in Argentina earlier this year, Carlos Tevez named Gabriel Heinze alongside Patrice Evra, Hugo Ibarra and Rio Ferdinand as the best defenders for his starting XI, while Juventus shot stopper Gianlugi Buffon was selected in goal. Paul Scholes, Paul Pogba and Andrea Pirlo made the midfield, while the trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi were the forwards.