Adolfo Valencia
Encyclopedia
Adolfo José Valencia Mosquera (born 6 February 1968 in Buenaventura
, Valle del Cauca
) is a retired Colombia
n footballer who played as a striker.
Nicknamed El tren (train
) due to his powerful physique, he played in seven different countries – having one-year spells in Germany
and Spain
's topflights – and represented Colombia at two World Cups
.
's FC Bayern Munich
; in his sole season (although he still played the first game of 1994–95), he was instrumental in helping the Bavaria
ns clinch the league title, and finished as the club's top scorer (alongside Mehmet Scholl
, with 11 goals).
Valencia also played one season in Spain
, with Atlético de Madrid, where he was involved in a serious incident with irascible club president Jesús Gil
, while vastly underperforming overall: after a match at CD Logroñés
, Gil said that "The black guy needs to have his throat cut". He subsequently went on to represent, without settling at any club, A.C. Reggiana 1919
, PAOK FC, MetroStars, Independiente Santa Fe, Zhejiang Lucheng (two spells) and Unión Atlético Maracaibo
.
In his first season in Major League Soccer
, he set a MetroStars team record by scoring 16 league goals (21 in all competitions). While at Zhejiang, Valencia led the Chinese second division in scoring during the 2003 season. Valencia retired from football in 2004.
on 31 July 1992, in a match against the United States
in the Memorial Coliseum
, and proceeded to represent the nation at the 1994
and 1998
FIFA World Cup
s. In the former edition he scored two goals, in group stage defeats against Romania
and the United States.
Alongside midfielder
Bernardo Redín
, Valencia was Colombia's all-time topscorer in the World Cup.
, is also a footballer and a striker. He played mostly for Independiente Santa Fe, and represented Colombia at under-20 level
.
Buenaventura, Colombia
Buenaventura is a port city and municipality located in the department of Valle del Cauca, Colombia . Buenaventura is the main port of Colombia in the Pacific Ocean....
, Valle del Cauca
Valle del Cauca Department
Valle del Cauca is a department of Colombia. It is in the western side of the country, facing the Pacific Ocean, and it is considered one of the most important departments in the Republic of Colombia. Its capital is Santiago de Cali...
) is a retired Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n footballer who played as a striker.
Nicknamed El tren (train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
) due to his powerful physique, he played in seven different countries – having one-year spells in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
's topflights – and represented Colombia at two World Cups
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
.
Club career
Valencia started playing with Independiente Santa Fe, where his stellar performances earned him a transfer to GermanyFußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
's FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
; in his sole season (although he still played the first game of 1994–95), he was instrumental in helping the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
ns clinch the league title, and finished as the club's top scorer (alongside Mehmet Scholl
Mehmet Scholl
Mehmet Scholl is a former German football player with Turkish-German ancestry. He played most of his career as an attacking midfielder for Bayern Munich...
, with 11 goals).
Valencia also played one season in Spain
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, with Atlético de Madrid, where he was involved in a serious incident with irascible club president Jesús Gil
Jesús Gil
Gregorio Jesús Gil y Gil was a Spanish businessman and politician. He served as Mayor of Marbella, between 1996 and 2002, and was also known for his 16-year stint as president of Spanish football club Atlético Madrid....
, while vastly underperforming overall: after a match at CD Logroñés
CD Logroñés
Club Deportivo Logroñés, S.A.D. was a Spanish football team based in Logroño, in the autonomous community of La Rioja. Founded in 1940, it last played in Regional Preferente de La Rioja....
, Gil said that "The black guy needs to have his throat cut". He subsequently went on to represent, without settling at any club, A.C. Reggiana 1919
A.C. Reggiana 1919
Associazione Calcio Reggiana 1919 is an Italian association football club, based in Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna. The club was founded in 1919 as A.C. Reggiana and refounded in July 2005 as Reggio Emilia F.C., but it was renamed A.C. Reggiana 1919 soon after the start of the 2005–06 season. The...
, PAOK FC, MetroStars, Independiente Santa Fe, Zhejiang Lucheng (two spells) and Unión Atlético Maracaibo
Unión Atlético Maracaibo
Club Unión Atlético Maracaibo is a professional club founded on 2001 and the club has one First Division titles in the professional era. The club is based in Maracaibo.-National:...
.
In his first season in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, he set a MetroStars team record by scoring 16 league goals (21 in all competitions). While at Zhejiang, Valencia led the Chinese second division in scoring during the 2003 season. Valencia retired from football in 2004.
International career
Valencia made his debut for ColombiaColombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
on 31 July 1992, in a match against the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in the Memorial Coliseum
Memorial Coliseum
Memorial Coliseum is an indoor arena located in the oldest part of, what is now known as the Rose Quarter area, within Portland, Oregon, United States....
, and proceeded to represent the nation at the 1994
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
and 1998
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
s. In the former edition he scored two goals, in group stage defeats against Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
and the United States.
Alongside midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
Bernardo Redín
Bernardo Redín
Bernardo Redín Valverde is a former Colombian football player. During the 1980s Bernardo Redin was part of Deportivo Cali's Dinamic Duo with famous football player Carlos "El Pibe" Valderrama...
, Valencia was Colombia's all-time topscorer in the World Cup.
Club
- Bayern MunichFC Bayern MunichFC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
:- German LeagueFußball-BundesligaThe Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
: 1993–94
- German League
- América de CaliAmérica de CaliCorporación Deportiva América, commonly known as América de Cali or simply América is a Colombian football club based in Cali. They currently play in the Categoría Primera A, the top-flight professional league in the country....
:- Colombian League: 1997
- UA MaracaiboUnión Atlético MaracaiboClub Unión Atlético Maracaibo is a professional club founded on 2001 and the club has one First Division titles in the professional era. The club is based in Maracaibo.-National:...
:- Venezuelan League: 2003
Personal life
Valencia's son, José AdolfoJosé Adolfo Valencia
José Adolfo Valencia Arrechea is a Colombian footballer who plays for Santa Fe of Colombian First Division as a striker.He is the new promises of Colombian football, he has good ball possession and a good shot...
, is also a footballer and a striker. He played mostly for Independiente Santa Fe, and represented Colombia at under-20 level
Colombia national under-20 football team
The Colombia national under-20 football team, is controlled by the Federación Colombiana de Fútbol and represents Colombia in international under-20 football competitions.-Current squad:The following players are participating in the 2011 U-20 FIFA World Cup....
.