Óscar Córdoba

Óscar Córdoba

Personal information
Full name	Óscar Eduardo Córdoba Arce
Date of birth	February 3, 1970 (1970-02-03) (age 41)
Place of birth	Cali, valle, Colombia
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1988	Atlético Nacional
1989–1990	Deportivo Cali
1990	Deportes Quindío
1991–1992	Millonarios
1993	Once Caldas
1993–1997	América de Cali	110	(0)
1997–2001	Boca Juniors	118	(0)
2002	Perugia	15	(0)
2002–2006	Beşiktaş J.K.	137	(0)
2006–2007	Antalyaspor	32	(0)
2007–2008	Deportivo Cali	14	(0)
2008–2009	Millonarios	37	(0)
National team
1993–2009	Colombia	73	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Córdoba and the second or maternal family name is Arce.

Óscar Eduardo Córdoba Arce (born 3 February 1970 in Cali, Valle) is a retired Colombian football (soccer) goalkeeper who has played more than 70 games for the Colombia national team. He last played in Millonarios from Bogotá, Colombia.

Club career

Córdoba started playing professionally with Atlético Nacional in 1988, but transferred to Deportivo Cali in 1989 and loaned to Deportes Quindío in 1990. In 1991 he moved to Millonarios, and in 1993 he played for Once Caldas, and América de Cali, with which he would win the Colombian Championship in 1997. The Scottish jazz rock/fusion band "Oscar Cordoba" are named in his honour.

After the title, he moved to Argentine team Boca Juniors to what was probably his most successful time, winning the Argentine Championships Apertura 1998, Clausura 1999 and Apertura 2000, the Copa Libertadores 2000 and 2001, and the Intercontinental Cup of 2000.In 2000 and 2001 was part of the dream team of America.

Ready to make the jump to Europe, Córdoba moved to Italian Perugia Calcio, but after only half season he transferred to Turkish Beşiktaş Istanbul. In Turkey he often played against another Colombian goalkeeper of the Super Lig; Faryd Mondragón of Galatasaray. After 4 seasons and after winning the 2002-03 Turkish First Football League and the 2005-2006 Turkey Cup, he transferred to Antalyaspor, club in which he announced his retirement after the 2006/07 season. In spite of the announcement, he returned to Colombia and signed for Deportivo Cali to play the following season.^[1]

His contract with the Colombian side expired after Deportivo Cali were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Copa Mustang in the Apertura of 2008. In December 2008 he was nominated by the American channel Fox Sports as "Outstanding Carrer" Award given annually by such means the best athletes in the world. Oscar will be awarded with special recognition for Outstanding Career with Argentine striker Gabriel Batistuta.

After his experience at Deportivo Cali, Córdoba expressed his interest in either returning to Argentina, returning to Turkey, or retiring from football itself. He finally signed for Millonarios where he played until his retirement in December 2009.

International career

Córdoba made his debut for the Colombia national team in a friendly against Costa Rica on March 31, 1993. He has gone on to make over 70 appearances for his country, making him the most capped goalkeeper in the history of Colombian international football.^[2]

In the qualifiers for the FIFA 1994 World Cup he started in every game and conceded only two goals making him the best goalkeeper in the playoffs and received the fewest goals. In 2001 America Cup he played a key role playing five of six games as possible, leaving the clean sheet throughout the tournament which holds the record along with a deputy in the competition Miguel Calero to be the only ones to leave the shutout in a Copa America, also he won the award for best goalkeeper in the Copa America. He played in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup where Colombia came fourth.

On September 10, 2003 Córdoba surpassed René Higuita's record of 68 caps, to become Colombia's all time record goalkeeper. He was called up to the Colombia national football team for his final time in October 2009 as the third goalkeeper in a FIFA World Cup qualifier for the CONMEBOL. In 2008 he joined Millonarios and was nominated and won the "Outstanding Career" Award of Fox Sports Radio besides other three Colombians: The Formula 3 pilot Gustavo Yacaman and the Paralympic athlete bronze medal Elkin Serna.^[3]

Honours

América de Cali

• Categoría Primera A: 1

1996–97

Boca Juniors

• Argentine Primera División: 3

1998 Apertura, 1999 Clausura, 2000 Apertura

• Copa Libertadores: 2

2000, 2001

• Intercontinental Cup: 1

2000

Beşiktaş

• Süper Lig: 1

2002–03

• Turkish Cup: 1

2005–06

Colombia

• Copa América:

2001

Individual

• Best Goalkeeper of the Copa America 2001
• Best Goalkeeper of the Copa Libertadores 2000,2001
• Part of the dream team of America 2000,2001

References

1. ^ Medio Tiempo article
2. ^ rsssf: Colombia record international footballers
3. ^ "Three Colombians nominated by Fox Sport Channel", Colombia Passport: Economics, Society and Culture in Colombia, 3 December 2008. Link retrieved on 3 December 2008.

External links

• Career details at National Football Teams
• International statistics at rsssf

Persondata
Name	Córdoba, Óscar
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1970-02-03
Place of birth	Cali, Valle, Colombia
Date of death
Place of death