Carlos Valderrama (soccer player)

Carlos Valderrama

Valderrama in 2016.
Personal information
Full name	Carlos Alberto Valderrama Palacio
Date of birth	(1961-09-02) 2 September 1961 (age 55)
Place of birth	Santa Marta, Colombia
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1981–1984	Unión Magdalena	94	(5)
1984	Millonarios	33	(0)
1985–1988	Deportivo Cali	131	(22)
1988–1991	Montpellier	77	(4)
1991–1992	Real Valladolid	17	(1)
1992–1993	Independiente Medellín	10	(1)
1993–1995	Junior	82	(5)
1996–1997	Tampa Bay Mutiny	43	(7)
1996–1997	→ Deportivo Cali (loan)	19	(4)
1997–1999	Miami Fusion	24	(3)
1999–2001	Tampa Bay Mutiny	71	(5)
2001–2002	Colorado Rapids	39	(1)
Total		619	(54)
National team
1985–1998	Colombia	111	(11)
Teams managed
2007	Junior (assistant manager)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Carlos Alberto Valderrama Palacio (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkarlos alˈberto βaldeˈrama paˈlasjo]; born 2 September 1961 in Santa Marta, Colombia), also known as El Pibe ("The Kid"), is a Colombian former footballer who played as a midfielder. A creative playmaker, known for his precise passing, technical skills, and elegance on the ball, he is regarded as one of the best Colombian and South American footballers of all time, and by some as Colombia's greatest player ever; his distinctive hairstyle, as well as talent and skilful playing style made him one of South America's elite and most recognisable footballers in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He won the South American Footballer of the Year award in 1987 and 1993, and in 1999, he was also named one of the top 100 players of the 20th century by World Soccer. In 2004, he was included in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 "greatest living footballers" chosen by Pelé to celebrate the 100th anniversary of FIFA.

Valderrama was a member of the Colombia national football team from 1985 until 1998. He represented Colombia in 111 full internationals and scored 11 times, making him the most capped player in the country's history. He played a major role during the golden era of Colombian football in the 1990s, representing his national side in three FIFA World Cups and five Copa América tournaments.

After spending most of his career playing club football in South America and Europe, towards the end of his career Valderrama played in Major League Soccer, joining the league in its first season. One of the most recognisable players in the league at the time of its inception, he helped popularise the league during the second half of the 1990s. To this day, he is an icon and is considered one of the most decorated players to ever play in MLS; in 2005, he was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI.