Andrés Escobar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Andrés Escobar

Escobar at the 1994 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name	Andrés Escobar Saldarriaga
Date of birth	(1967-03-13)13 March 1967
Place of birth	Medellín, Colombia
Date of death	2 July 1994(1994-07-02) (aged 27)
Place of death	Medellín, Colombia
Height	1.84m
Playing position	Centre back
Youth career
1985–1986	Atlético Nacional
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1986–1989	Atlético Nacional	78	(0)
1989–1990	Young Boys	8	(0)
1990–1994	Atlético Nacional	144	(0)
Total		230	(0)
National team
1988–1994	Colombia	51	(1)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Andrés Escobar Saldarriaga (born March 13, 1967 – died July 2, 1994) was a Colombian footballer. He played as a defender. He was known for his calm and fair style of play. People called him The Gentleman.

Andrés played for Atlético Nacional in Colombia. He also played for BSC Young Boys in Switzerland. He was a key player for the Colombian national team.

Sadly, Andrés Escobar died on July 2, 1994. This happened after the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He had accidentally scored an own goal during a match. This own goal meant his team was eliminated from the tournament. His death made Colombia's image look bad to the world. But Andrés himself had worked to show a good side of his country.

His former coach, Francisco Maturana, said that Andrés's death was not about football. He believed it was because Andrés was "in the wrong place at the wrong time." This was during a difficult time in Colombia's history. Colombian fans still remember Andrés Escobar with great respect. Fans of Atlético Nacional especially miss him.

Early Life of Andrés Escobar

Andrés Escobar Saldarriaga was born in Medellín, Colombia. His birthday was March 13, 1967. He grew up in a regular family. He went to Colegio Calasanz and Instituto Conrado González. He played football for his school teams. Later, he became a professional player.

His father, Darío Escobar, was a banker. He started a group to help young people. This group gave kids a chance to play football. It helped them stay off the streets. Andrés's brother, Santiago, also played football. He played with Andrés at Atlético Nacional. Santiago later became a football manager.

Andrés Escobar's Football Career

Andrés Escobar played as a defender his whole career. His jersey number was 2. People called him "El Caballero del Fútbol" (The Gentleman of Football). They also called him "The Immortal Number 2."

He played for Atlético Nacional in Colombia. He also played for BSC Young Boys in Switzerland. He helped Nacional win the 1989 Copa Libertadores. This was a very important tournament. Before the 1994 World Cup, A.C. Milan reportedly offered him a contract.

Playing for Colombia

Andrés first played for the Colombian national team on March 30, 1988. They won 3–0 against Canada. He scored his only goal for Colombia in 1988. It was in a game against England. The score was 1–1.

He played in the 1989 Copa América when he was 22. His team was out in the first round. That same year, he played in the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Colombia won their group. They then won a play-off game. This meant they qualified for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Andrés played in all the World Cup matches. Colombia reached the Round of 16. They lost 2–1 to Cameroon.

Andrés was also part of the 1991 Copa América team. He played seven games there. He did not play in the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. But he was chosen for the World Cup team.

The Own Goal and What Happened Next

Andrés Escobar's own goal happened in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. It was Colombia's second group match. They were playing against the United States. Andrés tried to block a pass from an American player. But he accidentally kicked the ball into his own team's net. The United States took a 1–0 lead. They ended up winning the game 2–1.

After the World Cup, Andrés decided to go back to Colombia. He did not visit relatives in Las Vegas. On the night of July 1, 1994, Andrés went out with friends. They went to a bar and then a nightclub in Medellín. Around 3:00 AM, Andrés was alone in the parking lot. Three men came up to him. They started arguing. Two of the men had guns. Andrés was shot six times. It was said that the shooter shouted "¡Gol!" ("Goal!") after each shot. The group then drove away. Andrés was taken to the hospital. He died 45 minutes later.

Many people believed his death was because of the own goal. In the UK, a TV commentator made a comment. He said a player "warrants shooting for a mistake like that." This was said the day after Andrés died. The TV company later apologized.

More than 120,000 people went to Andrés Escobar's funeral. Every year, fans honor him. They bring his pictures to matches. In July 2002, Medellín put up a statue to remember him.

A man named Humberto Castro was found responsible for Andrés's death. He was sentenced to prison. He was later released early for good behavior. There were also claims that others were involved. But there was not enough proof to convict them. Andrés Escobar's girlfriend, Pamela Cascardo, believed that powerful people were involved. She felt that Castro's short prison time supported this idea.

In 2013, coach Francisco Maturana again said that Andrés's death was not about football. He said it was because Andrés was in a dangerous place at a dangerous time in Colombia.

Andrés Escobar's Legacy

Andrés Escobar's death made Colombia look bad to the world. But Andrés himself had worked to show a good side of his country. He was admired in Colombia.

Colombian fans still hold Andrés in high regard. Fans of Atlético Nacional especially remember him. Before he died, he wrote in a newspaper column. He said, "It’s been a most amazing and rare experience. We’ll see each other again soon because life does not end here."

After Andrés died, his family started the Andrés Escobar Project. This project helps children who are not as lucky. It teaches them to play football. Before the 2001 Copa América in Colombia, Medellín put up a statue of Andrés.

Personal Life

Andrés Escobar was engaged to his girlfriend, Pamela Cascardo. She was a dentist. They had been together for five years. They were going to get married later in 1994.

Andrés was a very religious person. He was a Catholic. He went to Mass every day with his mother. This was until her death when she was 52.

Career Statistics

Club

This table is incomplete, so some numbers might not be exact.

International

International appearances

International goals

International goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	24 May 1988	Wembley Stadium, London, England	England	1–1	1–1	1988 Rous Cup

Honours

Atlético Nacional

• Primera A: 1991; runner-up: 1988, 1990, 1992
• Copa Interamericana: 1989
• Copa Libertadores: 1989
• Intercontinental Cup: runner-up: 1989

Images for kids

• 

  Escobar in 1990

See also

In Spanish: Andrés Escobar para niños