Freddy Rincón

Freddy Rincón

Personal information
Full name	Freddy Eusebio Rincón Valencia
Date of birth	August 14, 1966 (1966-08-14)
Place of birth	Buenaventura, Colombia
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1986–1988	Atlético Buenaventura
1988–1990	Independiente Santa Fé
1990–1993	América de Cali	77	(32)
1993–1994	Palmeiras
1994–1995	Napoli	28	(7)
1995–1996	Real Madrid	14	(0)
1996–1997	Palmeiras	17	(7)
1997–2000	Corinthians	151	(9)
2000	Santos	20	(1)
2001	Cruzeiro	16	(1)
2004	Corinthians	7	(2)
National team‡
1990–2001	Colombia	84	(17)
Teams managed
2005	Iraty
2006	São Bento
2009	São José
2009	Corinthians youth team
2010	Flamengo de Guarulhos
2010	Atlético Mineiro (assistant manager)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of January 3, 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of June 20, 2009

Freddy Eusebio Rincón Valencia (born August 14, 1966 in Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca), is a retired Colombian football midfielder who played 84 games for the Colombia national team between 1990 and 2001

Club career

Rincón began his career at Atlético Buenaventura in 1986. He also played for: Independiente Santa Fé and América de Cali (Colombia), Napoli (Italy), Real Madrid (Spain), Palmeiras, Santos, and Corinthians (Brazil).

For América de Cali won the Colombian Championship in 1990 and 1992.

It was his combination with Faustino Asprilla in the 5-0 demolition of Argentina in the 1994 World Cup qualifying campaign that prompted AC Parma to sign the Colombian midfielder. However the three foreigner rule meant he was loaned out to Napoli, and was eventually sold onto Real Madrid.

Rincón spent the latter part of his career playing club football in Brazil where he played for Palmeiras, Corinthians, Santos and Cruzeiro. During his time with Corinthians the club won the Brazilian championship in 1998 and 1999 and the first FIFA Club World Cup in 2000, his greatest title.

International career

Rincón scored 17 goals in 84 caps for the Colombian national team, playing in the 1990, 1994, and 1998 World Cups.

His most important and most memorable goal is the one he scored against West Germany in Milan, Italy on June 19 during the 1990 World Cup. Playing into injury time, the ball went into the net just after having gone between the legs of West German goalie, Bodo Illgner, to tie the game 1-1 and send Colombia into the second round. During a qualifying match for the 1994 FIFA World Cup on September 5, 1993 against Argentina, he scored the first goal of the game receiving the ball from teammate Carlos Valderrama and passing the Argentine goalkeeper, Sergio Goycochea, before scoring.

Career as coach

In 2005, he started a football manager career, after he was hired as Iraty manager for the 2006 season. On September 27, 2006, Rincón was hired as São Bento's manager. He is currently the coach of São José Esporte Clube of São José dos Campos, São Paulo.

He was hired as Corinthians youth team head coach in 2009.

Personal life

He has been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since August 20, 2005. He was baptized in São Paulo Perdizes Stake in Brazil.

In 2007, Rincón came under criminal investigation in Colombia and Panama, facing charges of collaboration with cocaine kingpin Pablo Rayo Montaño and suspicion of money laundering. On May 10, São Paulo police took him into custody after a Panamanian request for extradition.

Honors

• América de Cali: Colombian Championship - 1990, 1992
• Palmeiras: Campeonato Brasileiro Série A - 1994; Campeonato Paulista - 1994
• Corinthians: FIFA Club World Cup - 2000; Campeonato Brasileiro Série A - 1998, 1999; Campeonato Paulista - 1999

External links

• Career details at National Football Teams
• International statistics at rsssf
• (Spanish) Futbol Factory profile