Adolfo Valencia


Adolfo José Valencia Mosquera is a Colombian retired footballer who played as a striker.
Nicknamed El tren due to his powerful physique, he played in seven different countries – having one-year spells in Germany and Spain's top flight – and represented Colombia at two World Cups.

Club career

Born in Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, 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, he was instrumental in helping the Bavarians clinch the Bundesliga title, and finished as the team's top scorer alongside Mehmet Scholl, with 11 goals.
Valencia also played one season in Spain, with Atlético Madrid, where he was involved in a serious incident with irascible club president Jesús Gil, while vastly underperforming overall: after a La Liga match at CD Logroñés, the latter said that "The black guy needs to have his throat cut". He subsequently went on to represent, without settling at any club, Independiente Santa Fe, América de Cali, A.C. Reggiana 1919, Independiente Medellín, PAOK FC, NY/NJ MetroStars, Zhejiang Lucheng F.C. and Unión Atlético Maracaibo.
While at Zhejiang, Valencia led the Chinese second division in scoring during the 2003 season. In his debut campaign in the Major League Soccer, he set a team record by scoring 16 league goals, and retired from football in 2004.

International career

Valencia made his debut for Colombia on 31 July 1992, scoring the only goal in a match against the United States at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the Friendship Cup, and proceeded to represent the nation at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups. In the former edition he netted twice, in group stage defeats to Romania and the United States.
Alongside Bernardo Redín, Valencia was Colombia's all-time topscorer in the World Cup. On 5 September 1993, he was one of three players on target in a 5–0 win in Argentina for the 1994 World Cup qualifiers.

International goals

Scores and results list Colombia's goal tally first.
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreFinalCompetition
1.31 July 1992Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States
1–0
1–0
1992 Friendship Cup
2.31 March 1993Atanasio Girardot, Medellín, Colombia
1–0
4–1
Friendly
3.31 March 1993Atanasio Girardot, Medellín, Colombia
4–1
4–1
Friendly
4.8 May 1993Orange Bowl, Miami, United States
1–1
2–1
Friendly
5.16 June 19939 de Mayo, Machala, Ecuador
1–0
2–1
1993 Copa América
6.3 July 1993Reales Tamarindos, Portoviejo, Ecuador
1–0
1–0
1993 Copa América
7.15 August 1993Metropolitano Roberto Melendez, Barranquilla, Colombia
2–0
2–1
1994 World Cup qualification
8.5 September 1993Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina
5–0
5–0
1994 World Cup qualification
9.3 June 1994Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, United States
2–0
2–0
Friendly
10.18 June 1994Rose Bowl, Pasadena, United States
1–2
1–3
1994 FIFA World Cup
11.22 June 1994Rose Bowl, Pasadena, United States
1–2
1–2
1994 FIFA World Cup
12.21 March 1996Guillermo Plazas Alcid, Neiva, Colombia
2–0
3–0
Friendly
13.28 March 1996Atanasio Girardot, Medellín, Colombia
1–1
4–1
Friendly
14.28 March 1996Atanasio Girardot, Medellín, Colombia
4–1
4–1
Friendly

Personal life

Valencia's son, José Adolfo, was also a footballer and a striker. He played mostly for Independiente Santa Fe, and represented Colombia at under-20 level.

Honours

Club

Bayern Munich
América Cali
Maracaibo