Christian Eduardo Giménez (born 13 November 1974) is an Argentine former footballer who played as a striker. Career Early years Born in Buenos Aires, Giménez started his career as a 17-year-old in the Argentine lower leagues, playing for Club Atlético San Miguel. In 1995, he was signed by the Boca Juniors, but he only played for them for one season before being loaned out to fellow Argentine team Nueva Chicago. Lugano In 1997, Boca Juniors sold Giménez to Swiss team FC Lugano, who in the previous season had suffered relegation. Under new head coach Karl Engel the team achieved immediate promotion. Giménez scored 17 goals in 26 appearances. In the top flight, the striker had a tough time, but in the 2000–01 he achieved the break-through. The team ended the season as runners-up and Giménez with 21 goals became league top goalscorer. Lugano played in the 2001–02 Champions League second qualifying round, but Giménez refused to play, thus forcing a transfer. Basel In July 2001 Giménez was sold to fellow Swiss outfit FC Basel to a reported transfer fee of 3.3 Million Swiss Francs. He joined Basel's first team during their 2001–02 season under head coach Christian Gross. Giménez made his team debut on 18 July 2001 in the 3–3 away draw with St. Gallen. Basel played in the 2001 UIC Cup. Giménez scored his first goal for his new team in the home game in the St. Jakob-Park on 25 July in the semi-final of the competition. In fact he scored twice as Basel won 3–0 against Lausanne-Sport. Basel advanced to the final but were defeated by Aston Villa. He scored his first domestic league goal with the team during the 3–1 home win against the Young Boys on 11 August. Giménez was to end the qualifying round as the league’s top scorer with 19 goals in 20 appearances and Basel ended the qualification as league leaders. In the home game on 27 October he scored four goals as Basel won 5–1 against Xamax Basel started well into the second part of the season and during this period FCB played their best football, pulling away at the top of the table and subsequently achieved the championship title prematurely. Basel won the last game of the season, on 8 May 2002, and became champions ten points clear at the top of the table. Just four days later they played in