Alexander Escobar Gañán

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Escobar and the second or maternal family name is Gañán.
Álex Escobar
Personal information
Full nameAlexander Escobar Gañán
Date of birth8 February 1965
Place of birthCali, Colombia
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Playing positionMidfielder
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1983–1996América de Cali505(75)
1996Atlético Mineiro (loan)[2]8(0)
1997–2000LDU Quito[3]129(27)
2001Millonarios[4]21(0)
2001Deportivo Pereira[3]21(0)
2002–2005LDU Quito111(8)
Total795(110)
National team
1985–1995Colombia12(1)
Teams managed
2005–2006LDU Quito (assistant)
2007América de Cali
2007–2009América de Cali (assistant)
2010Junior (assistant)
2011Juan Aurich (assistant)
2013América de Cali (assistant)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Alexander Escobar Gañán (born 8 February 1965), also known as Álex Escobar, is a retired Colombian footballer who played as a midfielder.[5]

Escobar is highly regarded in América de Cali and LDU de Quito, as well as in the Colombia national team. With the first he won six Primera A titles, and with the second won four Serie A titles. He is also the player with most appearances in América de Cali.

Club career

Escobar in the commemorative plaque of the 1998 LDU Quito Final.

Escobar was born in Cali on 8 February 1965. His father was Hernán Escobar Echeverry, a retired defender that played in América de Cali, Atlético Nacional and Independiente Medellín.[6] Escobar scored 14 goals in 83 matches in the Copa Libertadores from 1984 to 2004, making him the 9th player with most appearances in the tournament on 27 March 2004.[7]

América de Cali

Escobar was part of the youth team of América de Cali, and played for the national football team of Valle del Cauca on 1982 and 1983. He debuted for América on 1983, and played for the team until 1997, when was transferred to LDU de Quito. Escobar is the player with most appearances for América, with 505 games played, and with 75 goals scored.

International career

Escobar made his international debut on 3 November 1985 (with just 20), while playing for América de Cali, in the match against Paraguay for the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifying. The match ended with a 2–1 win, but Colombia (who had lost the previous game 4–0) was eliminated.

Two years later he was part of the national squad for the 1987 Copa América, in which Colombia finished third. Escobar only played one match, the 2–1 win against the host Argentina in the third-place match.[8]

Escobar scored his only goal for the national team in the 74th minute of the 2–2 draw against South Korea on 26 February 1994 in a friendly match.

Career statistics

Club

This table is incomplete, thus some stats and totals could be incorrect.

Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Colombia League Cup South America Total
1983América de CaliCampeonato Profesional21000021
198438800-0388
198547400-0474
1986433002+1454
1987374003+3407
198837500-0375
19893680000368
1990Categoría Primera A4390000439
19913840081465
1992463001+1474
199321300133346
19944670000467
19952020000202
1995–964214001545718
Brazil League Cup South America Total
1996Atlético MineiroCampeonato Brasileiro80000080
Colombia League Cup South America Total
1996–97América de CaliCategoría Primera A90003+1121
Ecuador League Cup South America Total
1999LDU de QuitoEcuadorian Serie A3440000344
20002920000292
Colombia League Cup South America Total
2001MillonariosCategoría Primera A2100000210
2001Deportivo Pereira2100000210
Ecuador League Cup South America Total
2003LDU de QuitoEcuadorian Serie A3320040372
200439300160553
Total Brazil 80000080
Colombia 5477500451459289
Ecuador 240350020026035
Career total 795110008314878124

International

International appearances

Team Year Apps Goals
Colombia 198510
198710
199120
199471
199510
Total121

International goals

International goals
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 1994-02-26 Weingart Stadium, Los Angeles, USA  South Korea 1–2 2–2 Friendly match

Honours

Player

América de Cali
Runner-up (3): 1987, 1991, 1995
Runner-up (4): 1985, 1986, 1987, 1996
Atlético Mineiro
Runner-up (1): 1996
LDU Quito

Assistant coach

América de Cali
Runner-up (1): 2008 Apertura
Juan Aurich
Junior

External links

References

  1. Alexander Escobar Gañán at footballzz.co.uk
  2. "Jogadores Estrangeiros do Clube Atlético Mineiro". RSSSF Brasil (in Portuguese).
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Alexander Escobar Gañán – Historia". América de Cali Sitio Oficial (in Spanish).
  4. "Alexander Escobar's profile". Worldfootball.net.
  5. "Alexander Escobar's profile". BDFA.
  6. "Alexander Escobar". América.com.co (Fan site) (in Spanish).
  7. Ballesteros, Frank (27 March 2004). "Players in the Copa Libertadores". RSSSF.com.
  8. Tabeira, Martín (22 August 2008). "1987 Copa América". RSSSF.com.