Carlos Valderrama

1981/83 Union Magdalena (COL) 94 matches, 5 goals

1984 Millonarios (COL) 33 matches

1985/87 Deportivo Cali (COL) 146 matches, 24 goals

(Colombian Championship: 131 matches, 22 goals)

(Copa Libertadores: 15 matches, 2 goals)

1988/91 Montpellier (FRA) 91 matches, 5 goals

(French Championship: 77 matches, 4 goals)

(Coupe de France: 9 matches, 1 goal)

(Coupe des Cups: 4 matches)

(UEFA Cup: 1 match)

1991/92 Real Valladolid (ESP) 21 matches, 1 goal

(Spanish Championship: 17 matches, 1 goal)

(Spanish Cup: 4 matches)

1992/93 Independiente Medellin (COL) 10 matches, 1 goal

1993/95 Atlético Junior (COL) 89 matches, 5 goals

(Colombian Championship: 82 matches, 5 goals)

(Copa Libertadores: 7 matches)

1996/97 Tampa Bay Mutiny (USA) 45 matches, 8 goals

(United States Championship: 43 matches, 7 goals)

(US Cup: 2 matches, 1 goal)

1998 Miami Fusion (USA) 23 matches, 7 goals

(United States Championship: 22 matches, 7 goals)

(US Cup: 1 match)

1999/2001 Tampa Bay Mutiny (USA) 77 matches, 5 goals

(United States Championship: 71 matches, 5 goals)

(US Cup: 6 matches)

2001/04 Colorado Rapids (USA) 41 matches, 1 goal

(United States Championship: 39 matches, 1 goal)

(US Cup: 2 matches)

With the National Team :

111 caps, 11 goals

(Friendlies: 40 caps, 5 goals)

(World Cup Qualifier: 30 caps, 3 goals)

(World Cup: 10 caps, 1 goal)

(Copa America: 27 caps, 2 goals)

(US Cup: 2 caps)

(Rous Cup: 2 caps)

1st cap: 27 October 1985 against Paraguay (0-3)

Last cap: 26 June 1998 against England (0-2)

U20 : 4 caps

Carlos Alberto Valderrama Palacio

Born on 2 September 1961 in Santa Marta (COL)

Colombian, midfielder, 1m75, number 10

Nickname: El Pibe

Born in Santa Marta, Colombia on September 2, 1961, the young boy began playing football at a very young age. Nicknamed "El Pibe", he is an elegant and technical player, very technical. However, it is clear that the rigour of today's football would not have suited him. Defend? That word didn't exist for him, yet he wasn't a selfish player, on the contrary, he was a very selfless player in the attacking game. 

Thanks to his dribbling and dribbling, he was able to create space and turn games around. He began his professional career at the age of 20, with the Unión Magdalena club, in the Colombian first division. It was then 1981, and it was not until 1984 that he had desires elsewhere, so he joined the legendary club of the Millionarios, but the experience was not conclusive and he quickly joined Deportivo Cali.

The young player was spotted by the national team before being voted best South American player of the year in 1987. A consecration for the playmaker who finished ahead of the legend... Diego Armando Maradona. Everyone thinks that Colombia is now too small for him, and we see him signing for a big European club... Of course not... It was in Montpellier, in Ligue 1, that he decided to settle down. Discovering the European Cup, it is not a great success for him or for the club. 

The long-awaited transfer gradually turned into a mess, his style of play was not adapted to Europe, slow, he was decried by the supporters of the French club who were expecting a fast and technical player. But the adventure ended well, he brought a trophy to the club from the south of France, the 1990 Coupe de France. However, it would be his only trophy on the old continent. But he also participated in the good run in the 1991 Cup Winners, where he was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Manchester United.

It was time for him to change clubs once again, so he landed at Real Valladolid, a failure. The Spanish club is relegated at the end of the season, it is time for the Colombian to return home, to Colombia. The first year at Deportivo Indepediente Medellin, then the following three at Atletico Junior where he won two Colombian championship titles.

Valderrama then decided to go into early retirement in the USA, so in 1996 he joined the brand new league: Major League Soccer. And it is Tampa Bay Munity, one of the first ten teams which inherits the services of the Colombian legend. There, Valderrama continues to amaze spectators, in 43 matches during his first two seasons, he scored 7 goals, and above all provided 36 assists! There is no debate, Valderrama ends up being selected for the All-Star Game where he will be elected MVP 2 times in a row.

In 1998, he changed clubs to defend the colors of Miami Fusion. But things quickly become complicated internally. Between unexpected coaching changes and disagreement over the management of the club, the player won his case to leave and return to his first American club, Tampa Bay. Three contrasting seasons followed before finishing on the other side of the country with the Colorado Rapids at over 40; this is how his career ends.

- Voted best Colombian player of the 20th century

- Voted best South American player of the year in 1987 and 1993

- Voted best player at the Copa America in 1987

- Voted best player of the year in MLS (USA) in 1996

- Voted best player of the MLS (USA) All-Star game in 1996 and 1997

- Named to the 1996 United States Championship Team of the Year

- Named to the South American Team of the Year in 1987, 1993 and 1996

- Named to the MLS All-Time Greatest XI in 2006

- Named to historic Copa America squad

- Named to the FIFA 100

- Elected sportsman of the year in Colombia in 1993

- Elected among the “legends” of football by Golden Foot in 2013

- Voted best player in Atlético Junior history in 2009

- Received the Order of Merit from the Colombian Football Federation in 2004

- Received the "Latino Sport Awards", in recognition of his football career in 1997

- Received the Gold Medal of the Order of Merit by the Colombian Football Federation in 2004

- Received the honorary title of physical education, leisure and sport from the University of Magdalena

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