Iván Córdoba facts for kids
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Córdoba with Inter Milan in 2009
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Iván Ramiro Córdoba Sepúlveda | |||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 11 August 1976 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Rionegro, Colombia | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Defender | |||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
| –1992 | Deportivo Rionegro | |||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | Deportivo Rionegro | 42 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 1996–1998 | Atlético Nacional | 73 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 1998–2000 | San Lorenzo | 59 | (8) | |||||||||||||
| 2000–2012 | Inter Milan | 324 | (15) | |||||||||||||
| Total | 498 | (25) | ||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | Colombia U20 | 11 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 1996 | Colombia U23 | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 1997–2011 | Colombia | 73 | (5) | |||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2014 | Inter Milan (team manager) | |||||||||||||||
| 2021–2024 | Venezia (advisor of management) | |||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||
Iván Ramiro Córdoba Sepúlveda (born on August 11, 1976) is a former professional footballer from Colombia. He played as a defender, which means his main job was to stop the other team from scoring goals.
Iván Córdoba started his football journey in Colombia. He played for clubs like Deportivo Rionegro and Atlético Nacional. Later, he moved to Argentina to play for San Lorenzo. In 2000, he joined the famous Italian team Inter Milan. He spent most of his career there, playing until he retired in 2012.
He also played for the Colombian national team. He represented his country in big tournaments like the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the Copa América. In 2001, he helped Colombia win the Copa América, even scoring the winning goal in the final match! He was also the vice-captain for Inter Milan and sometimes the captain for his country's team.
Contents
Playing for Clubs
Early Career in Colombia and Argentina
Iván Córdoba began his professional career in 1993 with Deportivo Rionegro in Colombia. His great skills quickly caught attention. In 1996, he moved to a bigger Colombian club, Atlético Nacional.
He then played for San Lorenzo in Argentina starting in 1998. His strong performances there made him a top player.
Time at Inter Milan
In January 2000, Iván Córdoba joined the Italian club Inter Milan. He became a very important part of Inter's defense for many years. He often played alongside another strong defender, Marco Materazzi.
Because he played for Inter for so long and was so reliable, he became the team's vice-captain. The main captain was Javier Zanetti. In 2005, when Zanetti was away, Córdoba had the honor of lifting the Coppa Italia trophy for Inter.
In 2008, he got a serious knee injury during a game. This meant he couldn't play for the rest of that season. Even with his injury, Inter Milan won the league title that year. He signed a new contract with Inter, showing he planned to finish his career with them.
Retirement from Playing
On May 5, 2012, Iván Córdoba announced he would leave Inter Milan at the end of the season. A day later, he played his last game for Inter. It was a special moment for him after 13 years with the club. Before the game, Inter's players wore his number 2 shirt to honor him.
During his time at Inter Milan, he won many important trophies. These include five Serie A championships (the top Italian league title), four Coppa Italia cups, and three Supercoppa Italiana titles. He also won the UEFA Champions League in 2010, which is one of the biggest club competitions in Europe. In the same year, he won the FIFA Club World Cup.
Playing for Colombia
Winning the Copa América
Iván Córdoba was a key player for the Colombian national team. He was the captain when Colombia won the 2001 Copa América. This was a huge achievement for his country. He scored the only goal in the final match, which secured the victory.
He also played for Colombia in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He was part of the team that finished fourth in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. He also played in other Copa América tournaments in 1997, 1999, and 2007.
After Playing Football
After retiring as a player, Iván Córdoba continued to be involved in football. In February 2021, he became the sporting director for an Italian club called Venezia. This means he helped manage the team and make decisions about players.
How He Played
Iván Córdoba was known as a very fast, energetic, and strong defender. Even though he wasn't very tall (173 centimeters), he was excellent at jumping and heading the ball. He often scored goals with his head!
He was great at stopping opposing players and was hard to beat in one-on-one situations. He could also play in different defensive positions, sometimes even on the side of the field. Throughout his career, he was also known for his strong leadership skills on the field.
Honors and Awards
Team Trophies
Atlético Nacional
- Copa Interamericana: 1995
Inter Milan
- Serie A: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Coppa Italia: 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010
- UEFA Champions League: 2010
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2010
Colombia
- Copa América: 2001
Individual Awards
- South American Team of the Year: 1999
- Pirata d'Oro (Inter Milan Player of the Year): 2011
See also
In Spanish: Iván Ramiro Córdoba para niños
