Jhon Viáfara
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| Jhon Viáfara | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jhon Eduis Viáfara Mina | |
| Date of birth | 27 October 1978 | |
| Place of birth | Robles, Colombia | |
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | |
| Playing position | Midfielder | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Once Caldas | |
| Number | 8 | |
| Senior career1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1999 2000–2001 2001 2002–2005 2005–2006 2006 2006–2008 2008– |
Deportivo Pasto América de Cali Deportivo Pasto Once Caldas Portsmouth → Real Sociedad (loan) Southampton Once Caldas |
44 (2) 37 (0) 18 (0) 114 (9) 14 (1) 11 (0) 76 (5) 41 (4) |
| National team2 | ||
| 2003– | Colombia | 32 (1) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Jhon Eduis Viáfara Mina (born 27 October 1978) is a Colombian midfielder who plays for Once Caldas of Colombia.
Born in the Colombian town of Robles, Viáfara came to international attention whilst playing for Once Caldas, for whom he was instrumental during his club's success in the Copa Libertadores, the South American version of the UEFA Champions League, in 2004. A tall and athletic midfielder who can play either in his preferred position on the right flank or down the middle, Viáfara is regarded[who?] as a fearsome tackler with the stamina to get forward and support the strikers while also protecting the back four.
His performances made him a regular in the Colombia national football team, and earned him a £800,000 move to English club Portsmouth F.C. for the FA Premier League 2005-06 season.
After playing in several games during the first half of Portsmouth's 2005–06 season, he was dropped by returned-manager Harry Redknapp after the sacking of Alain Perrin, the manager who had brought him to the club. In the January 2006 transfer window he made a loan move to Spanish Primera División club Real Sociedad. At the end of this deal Real declined the chance to purchase him and he returned to Portsmouth again, with only 11 matches played and two red cards for his Spanish adventure. He scored one league goal in his time at Portsmouth, in a 2-1 loss at Manchester City.[1]
On 4 August 2006 he signed a three year deal with rivalling south-coast team Southampton. The transfer fee was undisclosed but is believed to be in the region of £750,000. He has appeared consistently for the Saints in the 2006–07 season. One of his most memorable moments was scoring two goals in the Championship Playoff Semi Final Second Leg against Derby County, though it wasn't enough as Derby went on to win the tie in a penalty shootout.
He scored his first goal of the 2007–08 season with a 12 yard strike in Southampton's 3–2 win over Stoke City on 26 August 2007. Then on 29 September he got his second of the season with a 16 yard strike in the 2–1 win over Sheffield United which proved to be the winner.
Shortly into his 3rd season at the club, after managerial turmoil to the degree of there having been 4 managers within 6 months, he left. The reasons for his departure are said to be homesickness, with Dutch manager Jan Poortvliet saying he 'did not want anyone who was not completely committed to the club to remain at the club.' Other rumours for his departure include wage-bill cutting by chairman Rupert Lowe, although Southampton F.C. are not reported to have received a fee for his return to Once Caldas.
[edit] Honours
- Copa Mustang: 2000, 2003, 2009
- Libertadores Cup: 2004
[edit] References
- ^ "Man City 2-1 Portsmouth". BBC. 27 August 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4168824.stm. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
[edit] External links
- Jhon Viáfara player profile at saintsfc.co.uk
- Jhon Viáfara career stats at Soccerbase
- Player's website
- Jhon Viáfara at National-Football-Teams.com
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