Toja playing for Steaua |
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Juan Carlos Toja Vega | ||
| Date of birth | 24 May 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Bogotá, Colombia | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Attacking midfielder / Left winger | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Aris FC | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1995–2003 | Santa Fe | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2003–2007 | Santa Fe | 25 | (3) |
| 2005–2006 | → River Plate (loan) | 3 | (1) |
| 2007 | → FC Dallas (loan) | 29 | (6) |
| 2008 | FC Dallas | 16 | (2) |
| 2008–2010 | Steaua Bucureşti | 51 | (3) |
| 2010– | Aris FC | 36 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2004–2005 | Colombia U-20 | 15 | (3) |
| 2008– | Colombia | 3 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:43, 22 May 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Juan Carlos Toja Vega (born May 24, 1985 in Bogotá, Colombia) is a Colombian footballer who plays for Aris Thessaloniki.
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Toja started his soccer career in Colombian tournament Interclubes (played amongst select country clubs) in the Clan MacGregor team, playing alongside retired professional player Lucas Jaramillo. Joined Colombian Santa Fe at age 16, playing for the club's U-19 team for six months, was promoted to the first team in early 2004, where he played 25 games in the next two seasons.
Toja signed with Argentine giants River Plate following the tournament but struggled to break into the first team. He played 5 games in the Copa Libertadores Tournament for River Plate, scoring once. He played in only three Torneo Verano games while loaned to River Plate from Santa Fe in 2006.
In February 2007, after sending a highlight video to FC Dallas and impressing in a tryout held at FC Dallas pre-season camp in Brazil, Toja was signed with Major League Soccer on a loan from Independiente Santa Fe. With his electric play and flashy style (topped off with an impressive hairdo – an homage to Jim Morrison, the late lead singer of The Doors), Toja quickly became a fan favorite in Dallas. He scored his first MLS goal, the game-winner, in a 2–1 win at Kansas City Wizards on 5/12, and tallied another game-winner in a 2–1 win at Chicago Fire on 5/17.
He Scored his fourth goal in a 1–0 victory at Colorado Rapids on 6/23, his team-leading third game-winner; Scored two in historic comeback at D.C. United on 7/14 and earned the Week 15 MLS Player of the Week honors for his effort. Was named to the Major League Soccer All-Star Game, starting and scoring the second goal of the MLS team's 2–0 win over Celtic F.C. on 7/19 in Colorado.
Started all three SuperLiga matches and tallied a goal and an assist. Left U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal game vs. Charleston at halftime on 8/7 with a sprained ankle, which kept him out for the next two regular season games. Missed 9/15 game at New England Revolution due to sprained right ankle. Returned to play full 90 minutes on 9/20 in 1–1 tie with Chicago Fire. Started 27 regular season games, finishing second on the team with 6 goals. Appeared in all 4 U.S. Open Cup games and all 3 SuperLiga games, scoring once vs. Los Angeles Galaxy on 7/31 in SuperLiga match. His 34 appearances in all competitions tied for second on the team with Arturo Alvarez and Drew Moor.
His production fell after the 2007 All-Star Game as he received an ankle injury and struggled to find consistency. The season was considered a success and FC Dallas purchased Toja's contract from Independiente Santa Fe.[1]
His performances remained at a high standard in the 2008 season with FC Dallas, scoring 2 goals and being named to the 2008 All-Star Game, but he left the US shortly after the All-Star Game to follow his 'dream' to play in Europe for Romanian giants Steaua Bucureşti. As a testament to the quality and effort Toja put into his performances the FC Dallas faithful would wear wigs in celebration of his trademark 'rock and roll' mullet.
On August 1, 2008, FC Dallas made Toja's transfer to Romanian side Steaua Bucureşti official. He was thus the first player to move from the United States to a Romanian club. Several days after his appearance at the Major League Soccer All-Star game against West Ham United, it had been speculated that Toja would move to Europe within a few days. He joined Colombian mates Dayro Moreno and Róbinson Zapata.[2]
On 21 July 2010 he was transferred to Aris Thessaloniki, signing a three-year contract. He made his debut in the UEFA Europa League against Jagiellonia Białystok. He will join his former teammate from FC Dallas Carlos Ruiz.[3][4]
He played with the Colombian U-20 national team at the 2005 South American Youth Championship, which Colombia hosted and won. Toja then competed at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in Holland, helping Colombia to the Round of 16 before losing to eventual champion Argentina. Toja appeared in three of the team's four games, once as a substitute, including a start against Argentina. He was called up to the full Colombian national team in October 2008 and started in his first game versus Brazil on October 15, 2008 for a 2010 World Cup Qualifier.[5]
His family sustained a tragedy when brother Sebastian, one year younger, was involved in an accident that claimed his life when Juan was 14 years old, also played volleyball as a youth has had long hair any chance he's had…though at school he was not permitted to have long hair, would grow it out while on vacation before getting it cut for school each year…is a fan of a variety of music, including rock with his favorite performer being the Rolling Stones, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, The Police and Soda Stereo also likes salsa music.. His grandfather on his dad's side, also named Juan Carlos Toja, was born in Uruguay and played professional soccer in his country for C.A. Peñarol later moved to Colombia and played for Independiente Medellín and Cucuta Deportivo grandfather on mother's side – Victor Vega, is Colombian and played professionally for Santa Fe, Millonarios and was a member of the Colombia National Team.
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