Freddy Rincón


Freddy Eusebio Rincón Valencia, is a retired Colombian footballer who played 84 games for the Colombia national team between 1990 and 2001. A versatile midfielder he was capable of playing on the left, in the centre or as an attacking midfielder.

Club career

Rincón began his career at Atlético Buenaventura in 1986. He also played for Independiente Santa Fé, América de Cali, Napoli, Real Madrid, Palmeiras, Santos, and Corinthians.
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 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, Colombia needed a goal to draw the game and avoid elimination from the tournament at the group stages. When played through by a pass from Carlos Valderrama, Rincon held his nerve and calmly fired the ball through the legs of the German goalkeeper to secure the draw his team needed. 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.

International goals

Scores and results lists Colombia's goal tally first.
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreFinalCompetition
1.26 May 1990Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt
1–1
1–1
Friendly
2.2 June 1990Népstadion, Budapest, Hungary
1–2
1–3
Friendly
3.19 June 1990Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan, Italy
1–1
1–1
1990 FIFA World Cup
4.3 February 1991Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, United States
2–1
2–3
1991 Miami Cup
5.6 June 1991Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden
1–1
2–2
Friendly
6.23 June 1993Estadio George Capwell, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1–1
1–1
1993 Copa América
7.8 August 1993Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru
1–0
1–0
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
8.22 August 1993Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay
1–1
1–1
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
9.29 August 1993Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia
2–0
4–0
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
10.5 September 1993Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1–0
5–0
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
11.5 September 1993Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina
3–0
5–0
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
12.5 June 1994Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, United States
2–0
2–0
Friendly
13.10 July 1995Estadio Atilio Paiva Olivera, Rivera, Uruguay
1–0
1–0
1995 Copa América
14.16 July 1995Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay
1–1
1–1
1995 Copa América
15.22 July 1995Estadio Domingo Burgueño, Maldonado, Uruguay
4–1
4–1
1995 Copa América
16.10 November 1996Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia
2–2
2–2
1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
17.23 May 1998Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, United States
2–2
2–2
Friendly

Coaching career

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. In August 2013, Rincón suffered multiple injuries in a car accident in his native Valle del Cauca, where he underwent surgery at a local hospital.
Rincón's son is professional footballer Sebastián Rincón, who currently plays for Vitória de Guimarães in Portugal.

Honours

América de Cali
Palmeiras
Corinthians
Individual