Iván Hurtado facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Iván Hurtado

Hurtado in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Iván Jacinto Hurtado Angulo
Date of birth	(1974-08-16) 16 August 1974 (age 50)
Place of birth	Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Height	1.80 m
Playing position	Centre back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1992–1996	Emelec	102	(10)
1996–1999	Celaya	89	(2)
1999–2001	Tigres	79	(0)
2001	Emelec	14	(1)
2001–2002	Querétaro	18	(0)
2002–2004	Barcelona SC	57	(2)
2004	Murcia	15	(0)
2004–2005	Pachuca	26	(0)
2005–2006	Al Arabi	13	(3)
2006	Al-Ahly	0	(0)
2007	Atlético Nacional	38	(1)
2008	Barcelona SC	17	(0)
2008–2009	Millonarios	26	(2)
2009–2010	Deportivo Quito	49	(0)
2011	Barcelona SC	41	(0)
2012	Grecia	11	(1)
2015	Deportivo Echeandía
Total		595	(22)
National team
1992–2014	Ecuador	168	(5)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Iván Jacinto Hurtado Angulo, born on August 16, 1974, is a famous Ecuadorian person. He was a professional football player, known for playing as a centre back (a defender who plays in the middle of the field). After his amazing football career, he became a politician.

Iván Hurtado played in many big football tournaments. He was part of six Copa América competitions and two FIFA World Cups. He played for the Ecuador team 168 times between 1992 and 2014. This makes him one of the best Ecuadorian players ever! For a long time, he was the South American male footballer with the most international games played, until Lionel Messi played more during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He is also the 17th most-capped male international footballer in the world.

In 2013, Iván Hurtado started a new career in politics. He was elected to the National Assembly as a member of the PAIS Alliance political party.

Football Journey: Club Career Highlights

Iván Hurtado began his football journey at a young age. When he was just 16, he started playing for a small club in his hometown called Esmeraldas Petrolero.

Early Success in Ecuador

A year later, he joined one of Ecuador's biggest clubs, Emelec, in Guayaquil. He had two fantastic seasons there. During this time, he helped his team win two championships! In one of these wins, he even scored the winning goal from a free kick.

Playing in Mexico and Spain

Because he played so well, Iván moved to the Mexican football leagues. There, he became an even better defender and learned to understand the game deeply. He made a big impact at his first Mexican club, Celaya, helping them reach the Mexican league finals. Later, he played for Tigres. He also played in Spain for Real Murcia in La Liga.

Adventures in Qatar and Colombia

After playing for Pachuca in Mexico, he moved to Al Arabi in Qatar. He impressed many people with his skills there. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, where Hurtado played brilliantly, he moved to Colombia. He joined Atlético Nacional and became the captain of their defense. He helped them win two titles in a row in 2007! In 2009, he returned to Deportivo Quito.

Finishing His Playing Days

In 2011, he played for Barcelona SC for a year. He then finished his amazing football career with Grecia in 2012.

Representing His Country: International Career

Iván Hurtado played his first game for the Ecuadorian national team on May 24, 1992. It was a friendly match against Guatemala. He was only 17 years old, making him the youngest player ever to play for Ecuador at that time!

First World Cup Appearance

Hurtado was a very important player who helped Ecuador reach the FIFA World Cup for the very first time in 2002. He played so well in that tournament that he became the captain of the team. He took over from the famous Ecuadorian star Alex Aguinaga.

Shining in the 2006 World Cup

His best performances came during Ecuador's amazing journey in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. His strong defense made it very hard for star players from other teams to score goals. He played against famous players like Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard from England.

Setting Records for Ecuador

On September 10, 2007, Iván Hurtado played his 143rd international game. This made him the South American footballer with the most international games ever, passing Cafu's record for Brazil! He has also played in more FIFA World Cup qualification matches than any other player in history. While Lionel Messi later broke his record for most overall international caps by a South American player, Hurtado's achievements are still incredible.

Playing Style: How Iván Hurtado Played

Iván Hurtado was known as a top-class defender. He had great technique and could "read" the game very well, meaning he knew what opponents would do next. His fans called him "Bam Bam" because he could kick the ball with great force.

Smart and Clean Tackles

Unlike some defenders who use their size and power, Hurtado was very classy. He often didn't need to make much contact to take the ball from an opponent. He was known for making very clean tackles. He was also excellent at organizing his team's defense. Sometimes, he would even surprise everyone by dashing forward with the ball!

Powerful Kicks and Passes

Iván Hurtado was good at both long and short passes. He also took free kicks very well. Even if he couldn't bend the ball like some other players, he could hit it with such power that goalkeepers found it hard to stop his shots.

Life After Football: Political Career

Hurtado speaking in 2013

In the 2013 Ecuadorian general election, Iván Hurtado was elected as a member of the National Assembly. This is like being a representative in the government. He is a member of the PAIS Alliance political party. Interestingly, two of his former teammates from the national football team, Agustín Delgado and Ulises de la Cruz, also serve in the National Assembly for the same party!

International Goals for Ecuador

Here are some of the goals Iván Hurtado scored for his country:

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	24 May 1992	?, Guatemala City, Guatemala	Guatemala	1–1	Draw	Friendly
2.	24 May 1995	Athletic Recreation Park Stadium, Toyama City, Japan	Scotland	2–1	Lost	1995 Kirin Cup
3.	7 June 1997	Estadio José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela	Venezuela	1–1	Draw	1998 World Cup Q.
4.	12 January 2002	Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo, Guayaquil, Ecuador	Guatemala	1–0	Win	Friendly
5.	9 February 2003	Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo, Guayaquil, Ecuador	Estonia	1–0	Win	Friendly

Trophies and Awards

Iván Hurtado won several important titles during his football career:

With Emelec

• Ecuadorian Serie A: 1993, 1994

With Atlético Nacional

• Primera A: 2007

With Ecuador National Team

• Canada Cup: 1999
• Korea Cup: 1995

See also

In Spanish: Iván Hurtado para niños

• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps