Carlos Valderrama facts for kids
Valderrama in 2016
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Carlos Alberto Valderrama Palacio | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 2 September 1961 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Santa Marta, Colombia | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||
| Liceo Celedón | |||||||||||||||||||
| Unión Magdalena | |||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1980–1984 | Unión Magdalena | 94 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1984–1985 | Millonarios | 33 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1985–1987 | Deportivo Cali | 131 | (22) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1991 | Montpellier | 77 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1992 | Real Valladolid | 17 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1993 | Independiente Medellín | 10 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | Atlético Junior | 82 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1997 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 43 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1996–1997 | → Deportivo Cali (loan) | 18 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1999 | Miami Fusion | 22 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2001 | Tampa Bay Mutiny | 71 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Colorado Rapids | 39 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 637 | (58) | |||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1985–1998 | Colombia | 111 | (11) | ||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Atlético Junior (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||
Carlos Alberto Valderrama Palacio (born on September 2, 1961) is a famous Colombian former footballer. People also know him as "El Pibe" which means "The Kid". He played as an attacking midfielder and is now a sports commentator. Many consider Valderrama to be one of the best South American players ever.
He was a very creative playmaker on the field. His unique hairstyle and amazing passing skills made him easy to spot. He won the South American Footballer of the Year award twice, in 1987 and 1993. In 2004, the legendary player Pelé included him in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.
Valderrama played for the Colombia national football team from 1985 to 1998. He played in 111 international games and scored 11 goals. He was a key player during Colombia's "golden era" of football in the 1990s. He played in three FIFA World Cups and five Copa América tournaments. Later in his career, he helped make Major League Soccer popular in the United States.
Contents
Club Football Journey
Playing in Colombia and Europe
Carlos Valderrama was born in Santa Marta, Colombia. He started his football career in 1981 with Unión Magdalena. He also played for Millonarios in 1984. In 1985, he joined Deportivo Cali, where he played for many years.
In 1988, Valderrama moved to France to play for Montpellier. It was a bit tough at first because European football was faster. But his amazing passing skills soon made him a key player. He helped his team win the Coupe de France in 1990. In 1991, he played for Real Valladolid in Spain for one season. After that, he returned to Colombia in 1992. He played for Independiente Medellín and then Atlético Junior. With Atlético Junior, he won the Colombian championship in 1993 and 1995.
Playing in Major League Soccer
Valderrama joined Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States in 1996. He played for the Tampa Bay Mutiny in the league's very first season. His team won the first Supporters' Shield for having the best regular season record. Valderrama was also named the league's first Most Valuable Player that year. He had 4 goals and 17 assists.
He stayed with Tampa Bay for the 1997 season. Then he moved to another MLS team, Miami Fusion, in 1998. He played there for two seasons. In 2000, he returned to Tampa Bay Mutiny. In the 2000 MLS season, Valderrama, who was 38 years old, made 26 assists. This is still the record for most assists in a single MLS season!
In 2001, Valderrama joined the Colorado Rapids. He played there until he retired in 2002. His last game was on September 20, 2002, when he was 41 years old. He played in 175 MLS games during his eight years in the league. He didn't score many goals (16) but he is one of the top assist leaders in MLS history with 114 assists. In 2005, he was chosen for the MLS All-Time Best XI team.
International Football Journey
Valderrama played for the Colombia national football team from 1985 to 1998. He played in 111 international games and scored 11 goals. He was the captain of his national team in the 1990, 1994, and 1998 FIFA World Cups. He also played in five Copa América tournaments.
He played his first international game on October 27, 1985. In 1987, he helped Colombia finish third in the Copa América. He was named the best player of that tournament.
Some of his best international moments were during the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. He scored a goal against the UAE. In a crucial game against West Germany, he made a fantastic pass to Freddy Rincón. This led to a goal that helped Colombia tie the game 1-1 and move to the next round. Colombia was later knocked out by Cameroon.
In 1993, Valderrama helped Colombia win a famous 5-0 game against Argentina. This win helped them qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Colombia did not do well in the 1994 World Cup, but Valderrama still led his team. Four years later, he helped Colombia qualify for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. This was his last international appearance.
How He Played Football
Valderrama was known as a "classic number 10 playmaker". This means he was very creative and helped set up goals. He often played deeper in the middle of the field. This allowed him to control the game and pass the ball around. He was a team player who loved to help his teammates score. He was very smart about where he moved on the field.
His most famous features were his big afro-blonde hairstyle and his mustache. But on the field, he was known for his grace and skill with the ball. He was very agile and had quick feet. He could keep the ball even when many opponents were trying to take it from him. Fans loved watching him play because of his exciting skills.
Valderrama had amazing vision and could make perfect passes with his right foot. He was one of the best at giving assists to his teammates. He was also good at taking free kicks. Even though he was very talented, some people thought he was a bit slow and didn't defend much. But he was a disciplined player who became a key creative force for his teams.
After Football
Retirement and Recognition
In February 2004, Carlos Valderrama officially ended his 22-year football career. He had a special tribute match in Barranquilla, Colombia. Many famous football players, like Diego Maradona, came to celebrate with him.
In 2006, a 22-foot bronze statue of Valderrama was put up outside a stadium in his hometown of Santa Marta. This shows how important he is to Colombian football. He was the only Colombian player chosen by Pelé for the FIFA 100 list in 2004.
Media Appearances
Valderrama has been on the cover of video games like International Superstar Soccer Pro 98. In the Nintendo 64 version, he is called by his nickname, El Pibe. He has also been a "Legend" card in the FIFA video game series.
He also works as a color commentator for a radio network called Fútbol de Primera. He helps describe football matches, especially during the FIFA World Cup.
Coaching Career
After retiring, Valderrama became an assistant manager for Atlético Junior. He also coached at a football academy in Florida, USA, called Clearwater Galactics.
Personal Life
Carlos Valderrama is married to Claribeth Galván. They have three children: Alan, Kenny, and Carlos Alberto. He also has twin daughters, Stéphany and Carla, from his second marriage to Elvira Redondo.
Honours
Valderrama won many awards and championships during his career:
Montpellier
- Coupe de France: 1990
Atletico Junior
- Colombian Championship: 1993, 1995
Tampa Bay Mutiny
- MLS Supporters' Shield: 1996
Individual Awards
- Copa América MVP: 1987
- South American Footballer of the Year: 1987, 1993
- South American Team of the Year: 1987, 1993, 1996
- MLS Best XI: 1996, 1997, 2000
- MLS All-Star: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
- Major League Soccer MVP: 1996
- MLS All-Time Best XI: Midfielder
- World Soccer's 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time: 1999
- Colombian Player of the Century: 1999
- MLS Assist leader: 2000 (26 assists – a single season record)
- FIFA 100: 2004
- Copa América Historical Dream Team: 2011
- Golden Foot: 2013, as football legend
See also
In Spanish: Carlos Valderrama para niños
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
