Faustino Asprilla

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Faustino Asprilla
Personal information
Full name Faustino Asprilla
Date of birth November 10, 1969 (age 37)
Place of birth Tuluá, Colombia
Nickname Tino, The Octopus
Position Striker
Professional clubs*
Years Club Apps (goals)
1988–89
1989–92
1992–95
1995–98
1998–99
1999–2000
2000–01
2001–02
2002–03
2003
2003–04		 Cucuta Deportivo
Atlético Nacional
Parma
Newcastle United
Parma
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras
Fluminense Football Club
CF Atlante
Atlético Nacional
Universidad de Chile
Estudiantes de La Plata
Total		 36 (17)
78 (35)
84 (25)
48 (9)
23 (5)
12 (2)
12 (8)
12 (3)
11 (3)
13 (5)
2 (0)
331 (112)
National team
1994–2002 Colombia 57 (20)

* Professional club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.

Faustino Hernán Asprilla Hinestroza (born November 10, 1969 in Tuluá) is a Colombian football player. Although undeniably talented he is also a controversial figure for his unpredictable temper. He was known by his supporters in his home country as The Octopus for his uniquely flexible and fluid style. To everyone else he was 'Tino', or '2 goal Tino', as his goals usually came in twos.

Asprilla was part of the legendary Colombian team which destroyed Argentina 5-0 in a World Cup Qualifier game in Buenos Aires in 1993. Unfortunately when it came to the World Cup proper the team was in disarray, and Asprilla walked out on his team mates mid way through the group phase. Colombia failed to progress. Asprilla was also a member of the Colombian team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. He was also the first Colombian player to be red carded for fighting with an opposing player, Paraguayan goal keeper José Luis Chilavert, whom he assaulted during a World Cup qualifying match in 1997.

Asprilla scored 20 goals in 57 matches for Colombia from 1994 to 2002 and played for his country at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups. Asprilla was expected to be one of the players of the tournament, but Colombia lost to the USA unexpectedly after death threats to the players and their families before the tie. His clubs include Parma, Newcastle United and Fluminense. Famously scored a hat-trick for Newcastle against Barcelona in a Champions League game at St James' Park, which ended in a 3-2 win for Newcastle. This would be the high point in his time playing for the Magpies.

Later he rejoined Parma AC, then his career wound down from that point playing for various clubs in Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Colombia. Now officially retired, he devotes his time to coaching youngsters in the academy he set up himself.

[edit] Trivia

  • He also had appeared in various Colombian Reality Shows like Desafio 2004 and Nomadas, in which his sense of humor and charismatic personality made him an audience favorite.
  • Asprilla infamously nearly signed for English League 2 outfit Darlington as a favour to the chairman who had befriended him, however on the day he was to sign the contract he fled the country and has not returned since.
  • Asprilla had to be officially working as a construction worker to gain a visa into Italy.

[edit] Honours and awards

[edit] Parma

With a goal from him, Parma beat A.C. Milan and took away their "invincible" title, that lasted more than one complete season.

Colombia Colombia squad - 1994 World Cup Colombia

1 Córdoba | 2 Escobar | 3 Mendoza | 4 Herrera | 5 Gaviria | 6 Gómez | 7 de Ávila | 8 Lozano | 9 Valenciano | 10 Valderrama | 11 Valencia | 12 Mondragón | 13 Ortiz | 14 Álvarez | 15 Perea | 16 Aristizábal | 17 Serna | 18 Cortés | 19 Rincón | 20 Pérez | 21 Asprilla | 22 Pazo | Coach: Maturana
Colombia Colombia squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup Colombia

1 O. Córdoba | 2 I. Córdoba | 3 Palacios | 4 Santa | 5 Bermúdez | 6 Serna | 7 de Ávila | 8 Lozano | 9 Valencia | 10 Valderrama | 11 Asprilla | 12 Calero | 13 Cabrera | 14 Bolaño | 15 Aristizábal | 16 Moreno | 17 Estrada | 18 Pérez | 19 Rincón | 20 Ricard | 21 Preciado | 22 Mondragón | Coach: Gómez
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