Agustín Julio

Agustín Julio
Personal information
Full nameAgustín Julio Castro
Date of birthOctober 25, 1974
Place of birthCartagena, Bolívar, Colombia
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1997–2004Santa Fe112(0)
2000→ Atlético Junior (loan)46(0)
2002→ Once Caldas (loan)20(0)
2002→ Medellín (loan)4(0)
2004Unión Magdalena0(0)
2005–2007Deportes Tolima138(0)
2008–2011Santa Fe78(0)
National team‡
1999–2009Colombia29(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 January 2010.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:05, 17 February 2010 (UTC)
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Julio and the second or maternal family name is Castro.

Agustín Julio Castro (born 25 October 1974 in Cartagena) is a Colombian Association football former player, who played as a goalkeeper. His last club was Independiente Santa Fe.

Julio used to be the number one choice keeper for the Colombian national football team. He had won his position after former number one goalie Miguel Calero allowed nine goals in two games. In his stint as the keep, he saved Colombia many times during the first two games of qualifiers against Brazil and Bolivia, and is now being referred to as San Agustin.

Julio was captain of Colombia for 9 out of the first 11 Qualifying games of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification Julio had a successful start to his captaincy reign with a huge win over Argentina . However questions were asked of Julio's captaincy after a 4-0 defeat to Chile. The captaincy and Julio's place in the team were soon lost after this defeat.

However in a shocking turnaround Agustin Julio managed to regain his place in the Colombian side in the September the 5th match against Ecuador. Julio's Colombian side won the match 2-0 which took the side back into the playoff positions. Agustin Julio made a critical save in the 72nd minute of the match when Colombia when the score was still 0-0, Julio managed to save a low-shot with his feet from point blank range.

Agustin Julio remains a popular figurehead in Colombia, with fans petitioning on internet sites to re-instate Julio back in the team, Julio is also a popular player around the world; in fact, after a great performance during the first four games of qualifiers he was rated the 15th best keeper in the world.

External links