Faustino Asprilla

Faustino Asprilla is undoubtedly one of the greatest legends in the history of Colombian football. He has also scored some beautiful goals throughout his career.

Trophies

155

Goals

465

Games

1988/89 Cúcuta Deportivo (COL) 36 games, 17 goals

1989/92 Atlético Nacional (COL) 89 games, 35 goals

(Colombia Championship: 75 games, 32 goals)

(South American Cups: 14 games, 3 goals)

1992/95 Parma AC (ITA) 130 games, 40 goals

(Italian Championship: 84 games, 25 goals)

(Italian Cup: 22 games, 5 goals)

(Cup Winners' Cup: 16 games, 6 goals)

(UEFA Cup: 8 games, 4 goals)

1995/98 Newcastle United (ENG) 61 games, 18 goals

(English Championship: 48 matches, 9 goals)

(FA Cup: 2 matches)

(Champions League: 5 matches, 4 goals)

(UEFA Cup: 6 matches, 5 goals)

1998/99 Parma AC (ITA) 20 matches, 3 goals

(Italian Championship: 12 matches, 1 goal)

(Italian Cup: 3 matches, 2 goals)

(UEFA Cup: 5 matches)

1999/2000 Palmeiras (BRE) 21 matches, 3 goals

(Brazilian Championship: 12 matches, 2 goals)

(Copa Libertadores: 9 matches, 1 goal)

2000/01 Fluminense (BRE) 12 matches, 8 goals

2001/02 Atlante (MEX) 12 matches, 3 goals

2002 Atlético Nacional (COL) 11 matches, 3 goals

2003 Universidad de Chile (CHL) 13 games, 5 goals

2003/04 Estudiantes (ARG) 2 matches

2004 Cortuluá (COL) 1 match

With the National Team :

57 caps, 20 goals

(Friendly matches: 14 caps, 8 goals)

(World Cup qualifiers: 23 caps, 9 goals)

(World Cup: 4 caps)

(Copa America: 9 caps, 2 goals)

(Gold Cup: 5 caps, 1 goal)

(US Cup: 2 caps)

1st cap: June 6, 1993 against Chile (1-0)

Last cap: November 14, 2001 against Paraguay (4-0)

Faustino Hernán Asprilla Hinestroza

Born November 10, 1969 in Tuluá (COL)

Colombian, Forward, 1m76

Nicknames: Tino, The Octopus, Fausto

From Colombia to one of the best Italian clubs

Faustino Asprilla was born on November 10, 1969 in Tuluá, Colombia. He became a professional footballer at the age of 18 in the Cúcuta Deportivo club. He quickly proved himself to be one of the most talented players of his generation in his country. Nicknamed "The Octopus" because of his incredible ability to keep the ball, he was part of the Colombian golden generation of the early 90s.

It was finally on June 6, 1993 that he played his first match for Colombia against Chile. He rubbed shoulders with living legends of his country and became one himself. In 1992, he had also joined Europe and in particular Italy with the Parma AC club, a great club of the 90s, one of the best of that time.

A decisive player in important matches

Arriving at this club when it was in full swing, his first season was complicated, only 7 goals scored, but it must be said that it was the entire team that struggled to score with only 32 goals scored during that season in the championship. But from this first season, he became the hero of his club since he allowed his club to win its semi-final of the Cup Winners' Cup against Atlético Madrid, scoring a double. 4 goals in 6 games in the competition and already a continental trophy for the striker.

A little less brilliant in the league than in the cups, he will repeat good performances, this time in the Europa League during the 1994/95 season, scoring 4 goals in 8 games, including a hat-trick in the semi-final against Bayer Leverkusen. He already won his second continental trophy in Europe. However, as said previously, the player shines more by moments of genius than by his consistency and he gradually loses his starting place.

This is how he joined Newcastle United in 1996 in order to relaunch his career, but it will be a failure, only 18 goals scored for the English club in 61 games, but once again, flashes of genius in the Champions League (4 goals in 5 games during the 1997/98 season and 5 goals in 6 Europa League games during the 1996/97 season).

Huge talent but disappointing career

Returning to Parma during the 1998/99 season, he was only a shadow of himself and even if he won a second Europa League, he played very little. He then decided to leave Europe, at almost 30 years old. But even in America, the player struggled to establish himself in the different clubs he spent time in, he finally ended his career in 2004, then aged 35.

However, it is obvious that the striker, who could play almost anywhere on the attacking front, had immense talent. He was also part of the superb Colombia team that humiliated Argentina 5-0 in 1993 in Buenos Aires, scoring twice in this match. With all the same 20 goals scored in 57 matches played for Colombia, he never managed to raise his level in international competitions with stakes.