Adolfo José Valencia Mosquera (born 6 February 1968 in Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca) is a retired Colombian 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.
[edit] Club career
Valencia started playing with Independiente Santa Fe, where his stellar performances earned him a transfer to Germany's FC Bayern Munich; in his sole season (although he still played the first game of 1994–95), he was instrumental in helping the Bavarians 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".[1] 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.[2] Valencia retired from football in 2004.
[edit] International career
Valencia made his debut for Colombia 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 Cups. 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.
[edit] Honours
[edit] Personal life
Valencia's son, José Adolfo, is also a footballer and a striker. He played mostly for Independiente Santa Fe, and represented Colombia at under-20 level.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Valencia, Adolfo |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
Footballer |
| Date of birth |
6 February 1968 |
| Place of birth |
Buenaventura, Colombia |
| Date of death |
|
| Place of death |
|
