Newcastle's purchase of this Argentine international was the flagship signing of the summer of 2008.
Well known for his mane of bouncing curls, Coloccini arrived in European football as a 17-year old with AC Milan.
His early promise at Boca Juniors alerted him to the Italian giants, who, via a drawn-out legal process which saw them having to pay compensation to Boca, signed him in 1999.
Despite being on the Rossoneri books for five years he played just one first-team game for Milan and spent loan spells at San Lorenzo, back in Argentina and Alaves, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal in the Spanish league.
He eventually settled on a permanent move to Deportivo La Coruna in 2004, where he spent four seasons in a somewhat declining force.
Coloccini is best known for his exploits for his country. As a youth player he marshalled the defence as Argentina lifted the World Youth Championship in 2001 and also won Olympic gold at Athens 2004.
At senior level he has found it harder to become first-choice and his appearances at the 2006 World Cup both came as a substitute.
He joined Newcastle for a fee that may reach £10.3m.
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