Óscar Pareja
Encyclopedia
Óscar Pareja was a Colombia
n football
midfielder
and who served as an assistant coach with United States U-17 men's national soccer team
at the IMG Soccer Academy
in Bradenton, FL.
; however, he began his professional career in 1987, debuting for renowned club Independiente Medellín
, and assisted on the winning goal in a 1-0 victory on his debut. He played eight years with Independient Medellín, from 1987 to 1995, helping them to be runners-up in 1993, and leading them to a respectable performance in the 1994 Copa Libertadores. In 1995, Deportivo Cali
purchased Pareja from Independiente Medellín; Pareja paid immediate dividends, helping Cali to a championship in the 1995-1996 season, their first in 22 years. He would stay with them four years, before signing with Major League Soccer
of the United States
.
He was allocated to the New England Revolution
on May 26, 1998, but was soon traded to the Dallas Burn, now FC Dallas
, for Damián Ariel Álvarez
. This proved to be one of several poor trades that the Revolution would make at this time, as Pareja would go on to become a fixture in Dallas' midfield for years to come, and Damian would only play two games with the Revs before leaving the league. Although Pareja played little for Dallas in 1998, he earned himself a place at the center of Dallas's midfield for the 1999 season, playing 27 games and scoring four goals and six assists, while coordinating the Burn attack. Pareja remained in this position for eight years, playing in 189 regular season games for Dallas, while scoring 13 goals and 52 assists, and was named to the MLS Best XI
in 2002. Pareja announced he would retire following the 2005 MLS season and took a job as an assistant coach with FC Dallas
.
, playing 11 games and scoring three goals, and playing in the . Pareja is nicknamed El Generalito, the Little General
, but is now called Papi.
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 football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
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...
and who served as an assistant coach with United States U-17 men's national soccer team
United States U-17 men's national soccer team
The United States U-17 men's national soccer team is the national under-17 association football team of the United States and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation...
at the IMG Soccer Academy
IMG Soccer Academy
The IMG Soccer Academy is part of the IMG Academies located in Bradenton, Florida. It is U.S. Soccer's full-time residency program for the United States' U-17 and U-16 mens national teams. Started in 1999, it has become integral in developing the United States' top youth soccer prospects...
in Bradenton, FL.
Professional
Pareja came up through the youth system of Atlético NacionalAtlético Nacional
Corporación Deportiva Atlético Nacional is a Colombian football team based in Medellín. They play their home games at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot stadium which also serves as home to Deportivo Independiente Medellín...
; however, he began his professional career in 1987, debuting for renowned club Independiente Medellín
Independiente Medellín
Corporación Deportiva Independiente Medellín is a professional Colombian football team competing in Fútbol Profesional Colombiano, the Colombian first division. The club is based in the city of Medellín and founded in 1913. It has won the league's national tournament known as Copa Mustang five...
, and assisted on the winning goal in a 1-0 victory on his debut. He played eight years with Independient Medellín, from 1987 to 1995, helping them to be runners-up in 1993, and leading them to a respectable performance in the 1994 Copa Libertadores. In 1995, Deportivo Cali
Deportivo Cali
Asociación Deportivo Cali is a Colombian sports club based in Cali, Colombia. Mostly known for its football team, it also sponsors basketball, volleyball and swimming...
purchased Pareja from Independiente Medellín; Pareja paid immediate dividends, helping Cali to a championship in the 1995-1996 season, their first in 22 years. He would stay with them four years, before signing with 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...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He was allocated to the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
on May 26, 1998, but was soon traded to the Dallas Burn, now FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
, for Damián Ariel Álvarez
Damian Ariel Álvarez
Damián Ariel Álvarez "La Chilindrina" "El bendito demonio" is an Argentine Attacking Midfielder, who currently plays for Tigres UANL of the Primera División de México....
. This proved to be one of several poor trades that the Revolution would make at this time, as Pareja would go on to become a fixture in Dallas' midfield for years to come, and Damian would only play two games with the Revs before leaving the league. Although Pareja played little for Dallas in 1998, he earned himself a place at the center of Dallas's midfield for the 1999 season, playing 27 games and scoring four goals and six assists, while coordinating the Burn attack. Pareja remained in this position for eight years, playing in 189 regular season games for Dallas, while scoring 13 goals and 52 assists, and was named to the MLS Best XI
MLS Best XI
The MLS Best XI is an acknowledgement of the best eleven players in the league in a given season for Major League Soccer in Canada and the United States.-Winners:*Players in bold text also won the Major League Soccer MVP Award award for that season....
in 2002. Pareja announced he would retire following the 2005 MLS season and took a job as an assistant coach with FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
.
International
Pareja also played for the Colombia national football teamColombia 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...
, playing 11 games and scoring three goals, and playing in the . Pareja is nicknamed El Generalito, the Little General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
, but is now called Papi.