Carlos Valderrama

Valderrama in Tampa in 2010

Carlos Alberto Valderrama Palacio ( born September 2, 1961 in Santa Marta ) is a former Colombian football player, who is regarded as the best Colombian player of all time. Even at times of Maradona and Zico's twice he was South America's Footballer of the Year.

Valderrama - also El Pibe ( " The Boy " ) called - was known striking both for its lemon-yellow hair as well as for his brilliant passing game and its coverage.

3.1 club
3.2 Custom

Career

Association

His career began in 1981 at Carlos Valderrama Unión Magdalena in the first Colombian league. In 1984 he moved for one year to Millonarios, before he moved to league rival Deportivo Cali for the season 1985. In the summer of 1988, the central midfielder dared the step towards Europe. The French club Montpellier Herault SC lured him to France. With Montpellier Valderrama managed in its second year, the finals at the French Football Cup.

In the Parc des Princes could defeat RC Paris 2-1 after extra time. It was Valderrama's first and also the last title success in a European league. For the season 1990/91 he moved to Spanish side Real Valladolid. Reason for this was that Valladolid had previously committed the Colombian coach Francisco Maturana, had already played in the national team under the Valderrama between 1987 and 1990. The time in Spain, however, was not optimal. After ninth place in 1990/91 you could earn only seven victories in the season 1991/92 and dismounted. Valderrama pulled it out again to the home country, where he signed only at Independiente Medellín and Atlético Junior. In junior he was back to its former strength and was elected for the second time after 1987 to South America's Footballer of the Year. In addition, he was able to win with the club in 1993 and 1995, the national championship. It was his first success in Colombia. He spent his last years in the U.S. Major League Soccer at Tampa Bay Mutiny ( 1996-97, 2000-01 ), Miami Fusion ( 1998-99) and Colorado Rapids ( 2001-02), where he ended his active career. In MLS, he was again successful, could win the 1996 MLS Supporters' Shield and was chosen as the best player of the season in the MLS Best XI in the same year.

In February 2004, Valderrama celebrated after a 22 -year career, a farewell game in which with Diego Maradona (but could not actively playing), Enzo Francescoli and José Luis Chilavert some of the most important South American players took part.

National

Valderrama was between 1985 and 1998 a member of the Colombian national football team. He captained the team to the world championships in 1990, 1994 and 1998. During the '90 World Cup Valderrama was on June 9, 1990 from World Cup debut against the choice of the United Arab Emirates. Also 2-0 victory, he scored the second goal for his team. It remained his only at a World Cup finals tournament. After a defeat against Yugoslavia and a draw against Germany, the team moved into the second round. There, you had to go home after the 1-2 defeat against Cameroon. Valderrama missed the tournament no minutes. Four years later in the U.S. and in France in 1998 divided the Colombian team is already out in the first round. Valderrama missed a match.

Private

His distant cousins Nicole Valderrama plays in Germany for the second selection of the VfL Bochum and went through some DFB Jugendsichtungslehrgänge.

Achievements

Association

French Cup with Montpellier HSC: 1990
Colombian champions Atlético Junior with: 1993, 1995
MLS Supporters' Shield with Tampa Bay Mutiny: 1996

Individually

South America's Footballer of the Year: 1987, 1993
Best player of the Copa América: 1987
Most Valuable Player of the MLS: 1996
MLS Best XI: 1996, 1997, 2000
FIFA 100: 2004
MLS All- Time Best XI: 2005

Find out more

Valderrama is the only Colombian who was selected by Pelé in the list of the FIFA 100.
Valderrama is the first MVP of Major League Soccer.

Tampa, Florida

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