- Title: COLOMBIA: SOCCER STAR CARLOS "EL PIBE" PREPARES TO PLAY HIS LAST MATCH
- Date: 30th January 2004
- Summary: BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA (RECENT) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 1. BARRANQUILLA STADIUM WHERE GAME WILL BE PLAYED 2. VARIOUS OF KIDS PLAYING SOCCER BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA (RECENT) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL) 3. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CARLOS "EL PIBE" VALDERRAMA , EX-FOOTBALL STAR, SAYING, "Like everyone else, since I was a kid I started played i
- Embargoed: 14th February 2004 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BARANQUILLA, COLOMBIA
- Country: Colombia
- Reuters ID: LVA6BJMNNS9OEX94RRWZB36X5N8B
- Story Text: Soccer legend Carlos "El Pibe" will play his
farewell match on February 1 in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Colombian midfielder and former national team
captain Carlos 'El Pibe' Valderrama will play his farewell
match on Saturday (February 1) in Barranquilla.
A group of at least international players were invited
for the testimonial,
including past and present South American and Europeans,
including French midfielder Eric Cantona, Paraguayan
goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert and veteran strikers Ivan
Zamorano of Chile and Enzo Francescolli from Uruuguay.
Valderrama is a two-time World Cup veteran and was in
the team that performed so poorly in the 1994 finals in the
United States where his team mate Andres Escobar made his
ill-fated own-goal.
"The death of Andres," said Valderrama, " it was really
hard for us, our team, because we knew him, that was the
hardest moment of my career."
Valderrama began his playing career in 1981 with Union
Magdalena and also played with Millionarios and Deportivo
Cali of Colombia before signing for French first division
team Montpellier in 1988.
In 1990, he moved to Spanish club Real Valladolid before
returning to Colombia in 1992 to play for Deportivo
Independiente Medellin, followed by Atletico Juniors in
1993. He remained there until joining the Mutiny in 1996.
He played in the United States for five years where he
was the MLS league MVP in 1996 and is a three-time MLS
Allstar.
"I thank you for all the support you gave me during my
sports career," said Valderrama. "The only thing I can say
is thank you for all the support, 22 years of my sports
career, through good and bad, I think it was a satisfactory
romance with Colombia fans, also international fans. I am
so thankful for my career."
Valderrama announced his retirement last April and says
that he wants to begin a coaching career.
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