Carlos Valderrama Soccer Club Career

Club Facts of Afro Sporting Colombian Football Legend ‘El Pibe’

Jul 8, 2009

Carlos Valderrama is known for his afro hairstyle and ability with a football. Here is a club career breakdown of the Colombian soccer legend and Colombia national hero.

Carlos Alberto Valderrama Palacio was born in Santa Marta, in the north of Colombia, on September 2nd, 1961. Nicknamed ‘El Pibe’ (The Kid), he was internationally recognized both for his outlandish frizzy afro hair-do and for his incredible footballing talent.

A central midfield playmaker of the highest caliber, his lack of pace never held him back. It was not through a lack of fitness or an excess of weight that Carlos Valderrama played at a stroll. He chose to dominate the pitch with sublime first touches, instinctive positional awareness, and a range of passing that allowed him to play delightful killer balls. Valderrama's vision on the pitch did not necessitate physical speed.

While Carlos Valderrama is perhaps more famous for his international appearances in the yellow shirt of Colombia, his greatest successes came from his continent-spanning club career.

Club Career of Carlos ‘El Pibe’ Valderrama – Colombia, France, Spain, USA

Carlos Valderrama From Colombian Clubs to Montpellier and Real Valladolid in Europe

Carlos Valderrama started his professional career at the relatively late age of 20, joining his childhood team Unión Magdalena in Santa Marta in 1981. Staying in Colombia he then moved to Millonarios de Bogota for once season before joining Deportivo Cali.

His performances in the Colombian league and the Copa America caught the eyes of European scouts, and in 1988 he began a stint in Europe when he joined French First Division side Montpellier. In his second season with Montpellier he helped the club win the French Cup in 1990.

‘Complications’ over Valderrama’s tax affairs in France were not resolved with the French government, prompting a move to Real Valladolid in Spain.

The move was not a great success. Arguably the most enduring memory of his time in Spain, for fans at least, is a now infamous incident against Real Madrid. Madrid’s Michel, marking Valderrama for a corner, was caught on camera ‘interfering’ with Valderrama’s private parts. A classic photo of the incident, referred to as the ‘toque-toque’ (touch-touch), shows Valderrama, hands on hips, looking down in dismay as Michel’s wandering hand seeks to gain an advantage.

Colombian Soccer Legend Carlos Valderrama Returns to South America

After only one season in Spain, Carlos Valderrama found himself back in Colombia. He signed for Independiente Medellín in 1992. A year later he moved to Atlético Junior Barranquilla, the greatest rivals of his first ever club, Unión Magdalena. Here he enjoyed much success, winning the Colombian championship in 1993 and ’95.

By the end of his second stint in South America Valderrama had notched up various footballing distinctions. Not only a winner of three major competition trophies ‘El Pibe’ was also three-time Colombian Player of the Year and twice South American Player of the Year (1987 and 1993).

In 1996 Carlos Valderrama, now in his mid-thirties, made a move to the newly formed MLS. Valderrama was a big name addition to the fledgling league. He signed for Tampa Bay Mutiny followed by a one season move to Miami Fusion in 1998 before returning to Tampa Bay. In 2001 Valderrama joined Colorado Rapids, where he would see out the rest of his career.

More awards came his way during his time in the USA. In his first year he was crowned MLS All-Star of the Year as well as Major League Soccer’s MVP. While never a consistent goal scorer (a trait of his entire career) Carlos Valderrama still lies second in the league’s all-time records for assists (114) behind Steve Ralston. Shortly after retiring from the game he was named in the MLS All-Time Best XI.

Maradona and the Stars of South American Football Pay Tribute to Carlos Valderrama

Carlos Valderrama’s natural ability and his reliance on technique and vision rather than pace allowed him to play on into his forties. Such longevity is a remarkable achievement for any outfield player, more so when considering the accolades his final eight years in the MLS had brought him.

In 2004, at the age of 43, he officially hung up his boots after a playing career of 22 years. 56,000 came to watch his tribute match in Barranquilla, where some of the greatest stars of South American football came to honor him, amongst them Argentine legend Diego Maradona.

In 2006 a 22-foot tall bronze statue of Carlos ‘El Pibe’ Valderrama was placed outside the Eduardo Santos Stadium in Santa Marta, Carlos Valderrama’s hometown, where his football career began. He will ever remain a worldwide and Colombian soccer legend.

The copyright of the article Carlos Valderrama Soccer Club Career in Soccer is owned by Tony Dunnell. Permission to republish Carlos Valderrama Soccer Club Career in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.