Freddy Rincón 9781422292037, 1422292037

Table of contents :
Cover
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1: An Unforgettable Goal
2: América’s Giant
3: Hero of Colombian Soccer History
4: Between EuropeanCold and Tropical Heat
5: The Final Stretch
Freddy Rincónby the Numbers
GLOSSARY
FURTHER READING
INTERNET RESOURCES
INDEX

Citation preview

SUPERSTARS

OF

SOCCER

FREDDY RINCÓN TO THE TOP! 2012 Freddy Rincón expresses his support for José Pekerman, new national team coach, on March 3. 2011 Works as assistant coach in Flamengo. 2009 Coaches youth divisions of the Corinthians. 2006 Starts his career as a coach in Brazil. 2000 Wins the FIFA Club World Cup with the Corinthians, in January. 1997 Starts playing for the Corinthians. 1996 Signs up for Brazilian team Palmeiras, at the end of the year. 1995 Signs contract with Real Madrid and moves to Spain on August 14. 1994 Starts playing for Napoli in Italy. 1993 Scores two goals in the historic match where Colombia hammered Argentina in Buenos Aires on September 5. 1992 América reaches Copa Libertadores semifinal. He is the captain of América, which wins the Mustang Cup thanks to his goal. 1990 Plays for América de Cali and wins the Mustang Cup. Wears the national team shirt for the first time on February 2. Scores his first goal with the national team, on May 26. Scores his most famous goal, against Germany, on June 19. 1989 Makes his official debut in Independiente Santa Fe. 1966 Is born in Buenaventura, Colombia, on August 14.

© 2013 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher. ISBN-13: 978-1-4222-2662-9 (hc) — 978-1-4222-9203-7 (ebook) Printing (last digit) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed and bound in the United States of America. CPSIA Compliance Information: Batch #S2013. For further information, contact Mason Crest at 1-866-MCP-Book. About the Author: Rodolfo Iguarán Castillo (Medellín, 1981) is a researcher, writer, and editor. He has collaborated with many Latin American publications, including Filibustrino, La galletica, and La revista del Ceilah. He considers himself passionate about soccer. Photo credits: EFE: 12, 17, 22; EFE/Agustín Cacho: 16; EFE/Paco Campos: 1; EFE/Sebastiao Moreira: 27; EFE/Leonardo Muñoz: 2; EFE/Kote Rodrigo: 28; Getty Images: 4, 14, 26; AFP/Getty Images: 19, 20; Bob Thomas/Getty Images: 6, 10; Wikimedia: 7, 8.

TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. An Unforgettable Goal

5

CHAPTER 2. América’s Giant

11

CHAPTER 3. Hero of Colombian Soccer History

15

CHAPTER 4. Between European Cold and Tropical Heat

21

CHAPTER 5. The Final Stretch

25

FREDDY RINCÓN BY THE NUMBERS

29

GLOSSARY

30

FURTHER READING / INTERNET RESOURCES

31

INDEX

32

Freddy Rincón seeks a goal for the coffee growers, the national team of Colombia.

CHAPTER 1

An Unforgettable Goal ON JUNE 19, 1990, Freddy Rincón scored one of the most memorable goals in Colombian soccer history. In the group stage of the World Cup, the Colombian squad needed to beat or tie a favored West German team in order to advance to the next round. The Colombian national team had never before reached that final level of the World Cup. The game was played in the city of Milan, Italy. As the decade of the 1990s unerringly passed the ball to one dawned,

Colombian

soccer

was another and finally gave it to the

experiencing a successful period. The team’s leading player—Carlos “El match with West Germany had been a Pibe” (The Kid) Valderrama. With his scoreless tie until the 89th minute, characteristic skill, El Pibe organized when the West German forward Pierre a counterattack, escaping toward the Littbarski scored for a 1-0 lead. At middle of the field on the German that point, many Colombian fans side, pursued by rival defenders. thought the match was over. But that Raising his head, Pibe saw Rincón, was the moment when Freddy Rincón who reached for glory. Having

frustrated

a

German

offensive move, Colombian defenders

5

was

moving

into

position,

6

Freddy Rincón

Freddy celebrates after scoring the late goal against West Germany, 19 June 1990. The 1-1 tie allowed Colombia to advance from the group stage to the knockout stage in the World Cup tournament.

running along the right wing. In that watching anxiously—resolutely struck the fraction of a second, Valderrama kicked ball. It slipped between the legs of the the ball straight between two German goalkeeper, who was unable to do a thing. defenders, and Freddy was free to receive When the ball hit the net, Rincón was it, face to face with Bodo Illgner, the West already running joyfully towards the German goalkeeper. Rincón dashed into corner flag. His teammates joined him the penalty area with the ball, reduced his within

moments,

and

in

euphoria

speed and—with millions of Colombians celebrated the dream that had just come

An Unforgettable Goal

7

true. It was the third minute of extra (Wonder)

Gamboa,

outstanding

time. The game ended soon afterward in members of the first Colombian national a 1-1 tie, which enabled Colombia to team that played in a FIFA World Cup, move from the group stage to the directed by Adolfo Pedernera, also come knockout stage for the first time in the from

that

port

city.

Since

that

international baptism of fire in Chile

national team’s history.

Buenaventura: Fertile Soil for “La Espiga” (The Spike)

(1962),

Buenaventura’s

name

has

remained associated with good soccer, and the city became a reference point for

But the road to that moment was a long any Colombian soccer player with big one. This story begins on August 14, aspirations. In the same generation as 1996, when Freddy Eusebio Rincón Freddy, Adolfo José Valencia, better Valencia

was

born

in

the

city

of known as “El Tren” (The Train), also grew

Buenaventura. He was in the middle of a up in a Buenaventura neighborhood. Full family of eight; his parents were José of dreams, neither of them even imagined Rafael Rincón and Rufina Valencia. The how close they were to the one who warmth of that full and humble home would be his teammate in the most made little Freddy’s dreams grow. Marino Kilinger and Delio “Maravilla”

glorious moments of the tricolor team. Freddy took his first soccer steps at a

Buenaventura is Colombia’s most important port city on the Pacific Ocean. There, in the city where Freddy was born, there is a mural with his face, represented as it was that evening of June 1990, when, as all Colombians shouted at the top of their voices, he made his most famous goal. That goal marked a key moment in Freddy’s career and in the history of the Colombian national team, which qualified for the round before the quarterfinals of the World Cup. The mural was special too—it was part of that year’s edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. At 36 feet wide and 131 feet high, the mural became the tallest in the world. That mural also contains historical, cultural, and everyday figures of the coastal city. This plainly shows the central place given to soccer in Colombia and, in particular, to one of its main idols—Freddy Rincón.

8

Freddy Rincón

Buenaventura is the main port of Colombia in the Pacific Ocean. The city has a population of about 350,000 people.

local club, Buenaventura Athletics. There soccer league playing for the same club. he outlined his style and his striking Even though he was still very young, he skills, which would be greatly valued by was able to demonstrate his skills and the teams with whom he played later. The make it clear that his future was teenaged Freddy looked singularly tall, promising. more like a basketball player than a

Thanks to his quiet temperament and

soccer player. But he found ways to turn relaxed demeanor, he received the this characteristic into an attribute. nickname

“Pereza” (Laziness).

But

Those long legs for which he once was Freddy’s career shows that he was called “La espiga” (The Spike), also anything but lazy. He himself has said in allowed him to develop outstanding public that “in soccer, if you don’t work, speed and great strength through the you don’t succeed.” years. He reached the highest Colombian

We

can

be

sure

that

Freddy

succeeded, but also that he really worked Two of Freddy’s brothers, Ignacio and Manuel, were also professional soccer players. The first played for Santa Fe and the second for Magdalena and Caldas.

for it. In soccer, sometimes it’s necessary to make major sacrifices in order to move forward. Thus, a young, 22-year-old Freddy decided not to look back, but to take a great step in his career. It was one

An Unforgettable Goal

9

About a year after Freddy joined, Freddy remembers, “I wanted to be a chemical engineer. I was good at that in school, but I loved to play soccer and, as time passed, I ended up playing three World Cups.”

Jorge Luis Pinto, the coach, allowed him to do the warm-up that every soccer player on the bench desires—Freddy was going to enter the match in the second half. Alfonso López stadium would discover a new soccer hope. As he

of the firsts in that long and hard road masterfully controlled the ball and moved that led him to being the star we now unswervingly towards the rival side of the know. That day in 1988, Freddy arrived field, Freddy soon earned himself a in Bogotá, Colombia’s capital city, to play position as a starter for the cardinal team. for his first major club—Independiente Santa Fe.

From Buenaventura to Bogotá

Two years after his arrival, and having gone through an arduous tournament, Freddy Rincón raised the Colombia Cup (nowadays called Copa Postobón) right after his team defeated Unión Magdalena

Freddy began his time as a member of in the final second leg, played in Bogotá. Santa Fe. That team is not just historic

After that great achievement, América

for having developed Freddy Rincon’s de Cali set its sights on Freddy, and he, skills, but also for having been the first with fruitful prospects that promised Colombian soccer champion, in 1948. even more, took his cleats and headed Undoubtedly, a good sign.

there.

Freddy Rincón in action, 1990.

CHAPTER 2

América’s Giant THE HIGHEST POINT IN FREDDY RINCON’S CAREER came in the first half of the 1990s. During that time, his goals made all the difference to his team. His success with América de Cali became a springboard to international soccer, giving him an opportunity to play in Brazil and Europe. After paying an amount in the how to stand on the pitch and carry millions that was never made public, the team on his shoulders. But the América included on its team the new roughness of his image didn’t make Colombian soccer gem that Freddy Freddy neglect the accurateness and Rincon had become. He was already a beauty of his game. That, his personal player of high value and potential, but style, was what took him there in the he could shine even more.

first place.

Thus Freddy became known as “El

América won the 1990 Copa

coloso de Buenaventura” (Buena- Mustang (Mustang Cup) with Rincón ventura’s Giant), a mature and well- on the team. Two years after his trained player. He developed an arrival, Freddy wore the captain’s athletic physique and, together with armband and led the team to a new the technique that he built up through victory—América won the Cup again, years of hard training, his legs became this time with a goal scored by Freddy two lethal weapons. He wasn’t that slender, calm-looking boy with the timid face who had left Buenaventura. Now, Freddy was a man that knew

11

12

Freddy Rincón

previous win was far from being mere chance. Rather, América was among the best teams on the continent, and Rincón was a key element for its performance. The coach in charge of the team was none other than Francisco “Pacho” Maturana, the same coach who directed Colombia’s great national teams in the early 1990s.

Brazil: A Launching Pad After a brilliant performance on América and the national team, new horizons full of possibilities were opening up for Rincón. Many claims were made during that time, but nothing was certain. Depending on which day the newspapers were read, the midfielder was going to sign up for an Argentinean team, a Brazilian one, or this or that Italian team. At last, Parmalat company bought Rincón for 3 million dollars, and so in Freddy teamed up with the great Colombian Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama to win international contests.

and two by Antony “El Pipa” (The Pipe) de Ávila. Thus, the Giant left his mark in the eighth championship won by the Red

1994

Freddy

started

wearing

Brazilian team Palmeiras’s white and green shirt. There he became one of the most important figures on the team that won the Torneo Paulista, the main soccer championship in Brazil.

Devils, as América is usually called. In that very year, 1992, the most glorious for Rincón in that club, the team reached the Copa Libertadores de América semifinal. The same happened the following year, demonstrating that the

the

The midfielder’s biggest ambitions were on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. “Every player’s dream is to go to Europe,” he said to the media.

América’s Giant

13

If coaches’ eyes were already on him, the interest of the main clubs in the world in adding him as their player was now confirmed.

Always

prudent

and

moderate, Freddy prepared to move to

Right before going to play in Europe, Freddy won almost one championship per year and established himself as part of the national team’s golden generation.

the world’ top soccer leagues. Although he had enjoyed a wonderful campaign bigger—he wanted to step on the grass of with Palmeiras, the midfielder’s biggest European stadiums and display there that ambitions were on the other side of the eye-catching

and

solid

game

that

Atlantic Ocean. “Every player’s dream is characterized him. to go to Europe . . . then we’ll see if I

That dream didn’t take long to become

fulfill my dream,” he said to media at the true, as one day in 1994 Freddy Rincón time when the most renowned clubs were arrived in Italy, the land that in the World competing for his signing on.

Cup four years before had seen what he

When he left Bogotá, heading to São was made of. Napoli was the club that Paulo, Brazil, Freddy dreamed even received him with open arms.

Freddy has loved music since he was a kid. He listens to salsa in particular, a typical rhythm from Colombia (and Central America and the Caribbean in general) that is very lively and danceable. That music surrounded him during his first years of life, and he became passionate about it. When he got to Brazil, he discovered samba, a style with African roots and more percussion. When asked about it, he said that the Brazilians “forced [him] to listen to samba.” He preferred the sounds from his land and carried them wherever he went. While he was playing in Brazil during 1994, albums by Jerry Rivera, Luisito Ayala, Guayacán Orquesta, el Grupo Niche, la Sonora Ponceña, and Lebrón Brothers were with him. Rincón’s playing style was very much like salsa, as when he got the ball he looked like he was dancing—the ball moved with him like a partner, and she responded to his every move.

Freddy tangles with Eber Moas of Uruguay during a World Cup qualifier.

CHAPTER 3

Hero of Colombian Soccer History FREDDY RINCÓN IS ONE OF THE MOST-REMEMBERED idols from that brilliant generation of Colombian soccer in the late 1980s and early 1990s. For the coffee growers, as the Colombian national team is called, his participation—as well as Valderrama’s, Valencia’s, Higuita’s, and Asprilla’s— was crucial to making records and taking Colombia’s colors to the top. The

first

time

Rincón

wore career

with

Colombia’s shirt was on February 2, Directed

by

the

national

Francisco

team.

“Pacho”

1990, in a friendly match against the Maturana, Colombia qualified for a Uruguayan national team. However, it World Cup after twenty-eight years of took until his seventh match to score watching it on TV. his first official goal. It finally

Maturana’s renewed technical plan

happened in another friendly match consisted of facing the game humbly against Egypt in Cairo, with Colombia but with great technique. The coach as the visiting team, a little over three wanted his team to be in tune with the months later.

most

advanced

strategies

of

In the same year would come the international soccer, such as the one goal that established him as a key player in Italy’s World Cup. It was the third of the seventeen he scored in his

15

16

Freddy Rincón

Francisco “Pacho” Maturana played soccer for Colombia before becoming manager of the national team from 1987 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1994.

used by the famous 1974 Dutch team. In and that was the position in which he those years, Colombia developed a showed his mastery that June evening of playing technique that betted on ball 1990, when he penetrated the West possession. Achieving a high level of German defense and coolly struck home. individual

technique

and

passing Colombia managed a draw against

accurateness was key. At the same time, Germany,

the

team

which

would

the playing quality the team gradually ultimately win the 1990 World Cup, and acquired came side by side with a modest reached the knockout round. That goal mindset. Colombia hadn’t gotten into a was the most important in his career, the World Cup for years and they knew that one which made him an idol in the they were doing things right, but that Colombian people’s eyes. they should stay calm and maintain discipline.

Rincón’s Right Leg, Colombia’s Heart

Historical Qualifiers Three years later, Rincón would show again that he was equal to this new, trend-setting

Colombian

soccer.

Comfortable with that way of playing and Colombia was playing the qualifiers to the attitude that went with it, Freddy get into a new round of the FIFA World Rincón suited the team perfectly. Rincón Cup—USA 1994. Making a slow start, became a fantastic attacking midfielder, step by step the tricolor team lived up to

Hero of Colombian Soccer History

17

what it knew how to do. Colombia Monumental of Buenos Aires, which was finished in the first position of its group, full to capacity that day. That glorious achieving automatic qualification. The September 5, 1993, Colombia taught a coffee growers didn’t lose any of the lesson that Argentineans will never qualifying matches. That was a splendid forget. The White and Sky Blue, as moment for the new Colombian soccer.

Argentina’s national team is known, was

From that competition leading up to made up of players who had been world the World Cup, the historical match in champions in 1986 and runners-up in which

Colombia

Argentinean

team

hammered was

the 1990. However, the team was having a

particularly surprisingly

hard

time

qualifying.

memorable. It happened in the most Colombia had just defeated Peru 4-0 impressive stadium in Argentina, the (including a goal by Freddy) and was

The great Colombian team that defeated Argentina in a qualifying match for the 1994 World Cup. Pictured are (back row) Oscar Córdoba, Luis Carlos Perea (15), Leonel Álvarez (14), Freddy Rincón (19), and José Adolfo Valencia (13), (front row) Faustino Asprilla (21), Gabriel Gómez (6), Wilson Pérez (20), Antony de Ávila (4), and Carlos Valderrama (10).

18

Freddy Rincón

off quietly, aiming to the center of the The match in which Colombia hammered Argentina in 1993 was so striking that many of the Argentinean fans applauded the Colombian players at the end.

goal with his right foot. It was the goal of a true high-scorer. Then, a marvelous goal was scored by Faustino Asprilla. The third goal, initiated with a counter-attack, included an impressive run by Asprilla, a center that no one could head, and was

unstoppable. The Argentineans couldn’t finished off by Rincón, who entered the do anything against the team dressed in defensive field from behind and scored. yellow, blue, and red, as the Colombians Asprilla and Valencia scored the other demonstrated superb ball-handling skills two goals. and made the most of every opportunity.

That was the match in which Freddy

Freddy opened the scoring that scored the most goals for the national evening with a magnificent goal. He team, and it was decisive in establishing received a pass from Valderrama, slightly him as a world-class soccer player. A few behind the last Argentineans defenders’ months later, he said, “My international line, avoided the goalkeeper, and finished image and prestige definitely grew a lot.”

Freddy Rincón started the decade with the best moment of his career. Together with the rest of the team, he made a serious effort to achieve glory for the Colombian national team, as well as the qualification for the 1994 USA World Cup. In spite of this, the unstoppable midfielder didn’t exhibit a good performance in that World Cup, in which Colombia couldn’t move past the first round. In the first match, against Romania, which ended with the Europeans winning by 3 to 1, Freddy lost a face-to-face opportunity against the goalkeeper. After that, he didn’t have many more chances to improve his image in the competition. Nobody could explain what was happening, as not much time had passed since the best soccer Colombia had seen in years. During that time there was a rumor that a spiritualist had warned Freddy to look after his legs, because otherwise he might suffer a serious injury. It may sound incredible—a professional sportsman guided by fortune-telling, but some time later, Freddy confirmed it. Francisco Henao, editor of El País newspaper, declares that it doesn’t sound weird to him. “Buenaventura [the city where Freddy was born] has a large black population, and many people here are very fond of rituals such as cigarette ash reading, for example. These rituals and superstitions came with immigrants of African descent.”

Hero of Colombian Soccer History

19

Freddy Rincón, along with Carlos Valderrama, has played more in World Cups (Italy 1990, USA 1994, and France 1998) than any other Colombian player. With 84 games, he also has the fourth-most appearances on the national team. His 17 goals ranks third all-time for the coffee growers.

Corinthians captain Freddy Rincón kisses the winner's trophy after defeating Vasco da Gama 4-3 in the final of the World Club Championships, 14 January 2000.

CHAPTER 4

Between European Cold and Tropical Heat FREDDY’S DREAM WAS TO PLAY IN EUROPE, and after his outstanding performance for Palmeiras and the national team, the Italian Napoli had no doubts about getting him to play for them. European soccer’s conditions were more demanding, but Freddy was still fulfilling a dream, in spite of having to resign from a central place on the team. He played for the Blue for a season point of view, Freddy’s landing in (1994-1995), and took part in 28 of Europe was pretty good, though he the 34 matches played, scoring 7 couldn’t stand out as much as he did goals. The team ended in the seventh on the other side of the Atlantic position, one step lower than the year Ocean. before, but higher than the tenth

By

the

end

of

the

season,

position, where it fell when Freddy Argentinean coach Jorge Valdano, in left.

charge of Real Madrid, wanted to take

Europe was a different world. an important chance and reinforce his Here, winning was not just a matter of team with the Colombian Rincón. individual

skills.

Napoli

had

to

compete against other teams of its stature—the most powerful, with the best players in the world. From this

21

22

Freddy Rincón

Freddy appears in the second row, third from left, in this photo of Real Madrid’s team from November 1995.

The day he turned 29, August 14,

Being part of Madrid’s team meant

1995, Freddy signed a contract for three that after having climbed for many years, seasons with the Spanish club Real he was suddenly reaching the top. Freddy Madrid. Although his teammates were was very enthusiastic about taking part in happy about his coming, some fans the Meringues, as the club is called. “I’ve received him negatively and attacked him always admired this team and I’ll fight with racist graffiti for being Latin with all my might to make it become the American and having black skin. Freddy champion once more,” he said. didn’t

let

them

offend

him

and

Unfortunately, Rincón didn’t have

understood that these were just tokens of good luck in Madrid—he couldn’t score ignorance that had nothing to do either even a single goal in the fourteen matches with what he was or with what he was he played. The team was going through going to do there—play soccer.

difficult times and the coach had to pay

Between European Cold and Tropical Heat

23

the consequences by leaving his position. moving from the city. Sport Club Without Valdano’s presence, Freddy Corinthians Paulista bought him, and he lacked support in the club, so the played there from 1997 to 2000. Freddy following year he went back to Brazil, became one of the great idols Corinthians where he still had plenty to do.

Brazil: A Long-Awaited Return By the end of 1996, Freddy came back to Palmeiras to complete a total of sixty-five matches and twenty-one goals with a

fans adore. There he played along with teammates like Vampeta, Marcelinho, and Ricardinho, who built a solid midfield together.

Club World Cup: The Highest Rung

white and green shirt. The Brazilian team With the Corinthians, probably the club had a good season, winning the Torneo which appreciates him most outside Paulista of 1996. Rincón’s participation Colombia, Rincón reaped several titles— meant seven goals in the seventeen the

1998-1999

season

Brazilian

matches he played in his second stint Championship, the Campeonato Paulista with the Green.

1999 and, most important, the 2000

Appreciated even without important FIFA Club World Cup. successes, he changed clubs without

The best teams in the world played in

The racist graffiti against Freddy was the worst part of his reception when he arrived in Madrid. Freddy knew that everything would be more difficult in Europe, but there was no reason to tolerate something like this. The poor performance of the club that season made some fans get angry at those who they considered different from them—Valdano, the Argentinean, and Rincón, the Colombian. Freddy always understood that what is important is what happens inside the field, and there, the only colors that matter are the ones on the shirts. Have experienced being minority in this situation, Freddy took part in campaigns against discrimination and racism. Freddy has never bowed his head or backed off a single step back when facing what was said to him. “It may be foolhardy of me, but instead of hurting me, those words made me stronger,” he said. Rincón, who always fought to get what he achieved, has spoken out against violence. The saddest moment in his career was when Andrés Escobar, his teammate on the Colombian national team, was murdered due to a poor performance in the World Cup. Ever since then, Freddy has been even more strongly opposed to violence.

24

Freddy Rincón

Chance decided that it was going to be Playing in Europe had always been a dream for Freddy. Unfortunately, things were more complicated than what he expected.

against Vasco da Gama, also Brazilian. After a match without brilliance, the Corinthians beat their rival via penalties. Still, Freddy raised the cup to the sky in a festive and joyful atmosphere. Once again, his team was celebrating victory

this last cup. In a moment of irony, Real and counting on him as their leader. Madrid didn’t qualify thanks to a goal by Freddy Rincón. The Meringues and Paulistas were neck and neck in points by the end of the group stage, but a goal by Freddy against Al Nassr made the difference the Corinthians needed to qualify. Real Madrid didn’t make it and the Corinthians passed to the final.

Freddy Rincón is a very beloved and respected figure in the Corinthians. He has been recently added to the club’s hall of fame.

CHAPTER 5

The Final Stretch AFTER WINNING THE CLUB WORLD CUP, Freddy began to step aside for younger players. By 2001, he was 35 and his relationship with the Corinthians had worn out. He played a season for Santos, then for Cruzeiro and, after a time away from active play, returned to the Corinthians, where he closed his career as a soccer player in 2004. Among

these

last

three

club of the Corinthians youth divisions.

changes, he played a total of forty- The following year he worked as three matches and scored just four assistant coach for Atletico Mineiro goals. Gone were the golden times of and in 2011, for Flamengo. youth, but the soccer world was bigger than just the game. Many new

The Voice of Experience

possibilities opened to Freddy to keep Besides getting into the coaching role, by that time his voice had become a him near the grass of the fields. Brazil is the country where he reference point for the Colombian settled after hanging up his cleats. soccer world. Freddy doesn’t hesitate Since 2006, already retired, he worked when he has to say something as a coach for Iraty, São Bento, controversial to the media. His career Marilia, and São José, second division Brazilian

teams

of

the

Paulista

district. Then, in 2009, he took charge

25

26

Freddy in the uniform of Corinthians, 2000.

Freddy Rincón

The Final Stretch

27

backs him up and he has no need to be silent. His main criticisms are focused on the management of the Colombian national team, which hasn’t qualified for a World

Freddy believes that for the national team the most important thing is to get out of the rut where it is stuck. He dreams of seeing the Tricolor in a World Cup again.

Cup since 1998. According to Rincón and other players, such as “El Patrón” Jorge (The Boss) Bermúdez, this absence

Life in Brazil

from the main championship in the world Rincón has faced some legal issues causes a lot of stress for those who take related to drug trafficking. He maintains the coaching position for the national that he is innocent and asserts that the team. Ideally, they say, a foreigner should Colombian government hasn’t helped take charge.

him as it should. What is certain is that

Freddy plays in a benefit soccer game in 2010, along with stars like Lionel Messi.

28

Freddy Rincón

Although Freddy Rincón has had legal troubles in recent years, he remains a hero to many Colombians.

issue gets resolved, he won’t be able to leave the country. Freddy continues life together with his wife and looks towards the future. He waits for the moment when young players take up where the great Colombian teams nowadays Freddy is settled in Brazil, of the early 1990s left off. Once that day where he feels himself beloved and comes, Colombian soccer will recover the protected. On the other hand, until that splendor it deserves. Freddy has retired from the field, but he sowed many seeds in it before he left. Thousands of young players dream of following his steps and achieving what he did. In particular, his three children like soccer and, although Freddy doesn’t know if that will be their vocation, he is willing to support them. One of them, Sebastián Rincón, born in 1994, has been trained as a soccer player at Independiente Santa Fe. The club that saw Freddy grow up now forges a new generation which promises to do honor to its inheritance. Today, Sebastián plays in the MLS League in the USA. He holds his position as defender with as much determination as his father held his position as midfielder. Inheritances may feel heavy, especially when parents have succeeded as highly as Freddy “The Giant” Rincón. It may be difficult to go beyond that mark. However, Freddy doesn’t push his children and clearly knows that soccer, like any other profession, has to be loved to be played well. “Soccer is the love of my life and my greatest passion,” he says. “If I hadn’t been a soccer player, I would have studied; although it’s clear that my life was set for me to be a soccer player.”

Freddy Rincón by the Numbers 18-year career as a professional footballer. Played for eight clubs in America and Europe: Independiente Santa Fe, America de Cali (Colombia), Palmeiras, Corinthians, Santos, Cruzeiro (Brazil), Napoli (Italy), and Real Madrid (Spain). Played a total of 317 matches, scoring 84 goals. Seven national titles won throughout his career. 84 matches played in the colors of Colombia, scoring 17 goals for the national team. His most famous goal was scored in the 92nd minute against Germany in 1990. He appeared in three World Cup finals, a record in Colombian football. Scored two goals in Colombia’s historic September 1993 win over Argentina. As captain, led Corinthians to victory in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2000.

GLOSSARY assistant coach—member of the coaching team who works closely with the head coach. ball possession—action or effect of having the ball, keeping the other team from controlling it. Cardenal—Independiente Santa Fe’s nickname. coach—professional in charge of developing and organizing a team’s strategy. counterattack—strategy that consists of making the most of the other team’s lack of organization after it has just attacked. goalkeeper—player in charge of the goal; he is the only one allowed to use his hands in the game. group stage—stage in the World Cup competition where teams play a short tournament before entering a qualifying stage. knockout round—stage in certain competitions where the team that loses a match is out of the entire competition. midfielder—player in charge of building up the attack from the middle of the field. minority—a relatively small group of people, differing from others in race, religion, language, or political views. Paulista—related or belonging to the São Paulo region, Brazil. superstitious—tending to believe in superstitions or non-rational beliefs. World Cup—most important soccer competition in the world, organized by FIFA.

FURTHER READING “Black and White, ” ABC Spain (September 1995). Available at http://www.edualter.org/material/racis08.htm Ignacio Fusco. “Believe and Bust,” Olé (April 8, 2005). Diego Graciano, “‘I Became Persona Non Grata’: Freddy Rincon,” New Stadium Web (May 2009). Available at http://www.nuevoestadio.com/2009/05/11/hablafredy-rincon/ Hugo Luck, “Hope in a Corner,” Figure Magazine (September 1993). Claudio Mauri, “Freddy Rincon: My Life Changed after 5 to 0,” Diary of the Nation (March 1994). Oscar Javier Mayorga Ostos, “‘I Was Abandoned by My Own Country,’ complains Freddy Rincon,” Agency France Presse (August 2009).

INTERNET RESOURCES http://dimayor.com/ Official website of Colombia’s main soccer league. http://www.colfutbol.org/ Official website of the Colombian Soccer Federation. http://independientesantafe.co Official website of Independiente Santa Fe. http://www.america.com.co/ Official website of América de Cali. http://www.palmeiras.com.br/es/ Official website of Palmeiras. http://www.corinthians.com.br Official website of the Corinthians.

INDEX Álvarez, Leonel, 17 América de Cali, 9, 11 Asprilla, Faustino, 15, 17, 18 Ávila, Antony “El Pipa” de, 12, 17 Bermúdez, Jorge “El Patrón,” 27 Bogotá, 9, 13 Brazil, 11, 12, 13, 23, 24 Buenaventura, 7, 8, 18 Buenaventura Athletics, 8 Buenos Aires, 17 Colombia Cup (Copa Postobón), 9 Colombian national team (Cafeteros), 5, 6, 7, 14, 15–19, 27 Copa Libertadores, 12 Copa Mustang (Mustang Cup), 11 Córdoba, Oscar, 17 Corinthians, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26 Cruzeiro, 25 Escobar, Andrés, 23 Gamboa, Delio “Maravilla,” 7 Gómez, Gabriel, 17 Higuita, Rene, 17 Illgner, Bodo, 6 Independiente Santa Fe, 8, 9, 28 Iraty, 25 Italy, 5, 13, 21

Napoli, 13, 21 Palmeiras, 12, 13, 21, 23 Pedernera, Adolfo, 7 Perea, Luis Carlos, 17 Pérez, Wilson, 17 Pinto, Jorge Luis, 9 Real Madrid, 21, 22–23, 24 Rincón, Freddy and 1990 World Cup, 5–6, 7, 16 birth and childhood of, 7–9 professional career of, 9, 11–13, 20–24, 25, 26 with national team, 4–7, 14, 15–19 after retirement, 27–28 Rincón, José Rafael (father), 7 Rincón, Sebastián (son), 28 Santos, 25 São Bento, 25, São José, 25 São Paulo, 13 Torneo Paulista, 12, 23 Valdano, Jorge, 21, 23 Valderrama, Carlos “El Pibe,” 5, 6, 15, 17, 18, 19 Valencia, Adolfo José “El Tren,” 7, 15, 17, 18 Valencia, Rufina (mother), 7 Vasco da Gama, 20, 24

Kilinger, Marino, 7 Littbarski, Pierre, 5 Marilia, 25 Maturana, Francisco “Pacho,” 12, 15, 16 Messi, Lionel, 27 Milan, 5 Moas, Eber, 14

West Germany, 5, 6, 16 World Club Championships, 20, 23, 24, 25