Lucas Licht

Lucas Matías Licht (born 6 April 1981) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata mainly as a left back but also as a left winger.

Football career

Born in Rosario, Santa Fe, Licht grew up in the youth academy of Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, starting as a midfielder and making his professional debuts in 2001. For three years, Israeli club Maccabi Haifa F.C. had him on the club's transfer shortlist due to his Jewish heritage, as he would not count as a foreigner; he eventually joined Maccabi Netanya F.C. for a trial, but they decided not to offer him a contract.

After one more trial in Israel, with Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona FC, Licht returned to Argentina where he played one last season with Gimnasia. In 2006's Clausura, he struck from 40 meters to score the game's only goal away against Club Atlético Independiente.

On 17 July 2006 Licht joined La Liga side Getafe CF, signing a four-year contract. In his first season he only appeared in eight games as a backup to Javier Paredes, but, as the latter signed with Real Zaragoza, he became the undisputed starter; on 22 December 2007 he scored his first goal for the Madrid outskirts team in a 2–0 win at UD Almería, adding eight appearances in the side's quarterfinal run in the UEFA Cup.