Mario Yepes
Encyclopedia
Mario Alberto Yepes Díaz (born 13 January 1976) is a Colombia
n professional footballer, who plays as a defender
for Serie A
club Milan
. He has also been the captain of the Colombian national team
since 2008.
, he was playing as a forward before Cortulua's coach converted him to a libero (sweeper). His career really took off after he signed for his home town club Deportivo Cali
in 1998. He won two Colombian championships with Deportivo Cali
.
In 1999, he joined River Plate
in Argentina
, where he became a star and won two Argentine Primera championships. In spite of the fact that several Italian and English clubs wanted to recruit him, he signed for FC Nantes Atlantique
in January 2002 where his nickname was “El Rey.” He became one the best central defenders of the French first division
and joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2004, where his nickname is "Super Mario" as a reference to his defensive abilities and fitness levels. In 2008 he joined Chievo Verona of Italy. He signed a new contract in summer 2009.
In March 2010, Chievo
team-mate, Sergio Pellissier
, confirmed that Yepes will join Milan
in the summer, when his contract runs out.
On 1 July 2010, Milan delegate administrator Adriano Galliani
declared that Yepes is a big player to replace Giuseppe Favalli
who became a free agent on the same day.
Yepes got to Milan in the 2010-2011 season but was quickly put in the bench due to the starting centre-back was Thiago Silva. Yepes played few games in the Italian League but participated in the UEFA Champions League. Yepes was close to scoring with Milan in the UCL match against Tottenham, in which he had two clear chances of scoring with a header, but was denied twice by Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes.
Mario Yepes scored his first goal for AC Milan on the 23 October 2011, where he finished off a remarkable Milan comeback against Lecce, scoring the 4th and winning goal for Milan in the 83rd minute to drive Milan to a 4-3 victory, with Kevin-Prince Boateng
scoring a hat trick to level the scores after a 3-0 losing position.
since his debut in 1999. He was part of the Colombia squad that won the Copa America
in 2001
. He was also in the squads for three other editions of the tournament in 1999
, 2007
and 2011.
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n professional footballer, who plays as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
club Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
. He has also been the captain of the Colombian national team
Colombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
since 2008.
Club career
When Mario Yepes started his playing career in 1994 with CortuluáCortuluá
Corporación Club Deportivo Tuluá, is a Colombian football club based in the city of Tuluá. The club was founded October 16, 1967 and plays its home games at the Doce de Octubre stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 16,000 seats.-History:...
, he was playing as a forward before Cortulua's coach converted him to a libero (sweeper). His career really took off after he signed for his home town club Deportivo Cali
Deportivo Cali
Asociación Deportivo Cali is a Colombian sports club based in Cali, Colombia. Mostly known for its football team, it also sponsors basketball, volleyball and swimming...
in 1998. He won two Colombian championships with Deportivo Cali
Deportivo Cali
Asociación Deportivo Cali is a Colombian sports club based in Cali, Colombia. Mostly known for its football team, it also sponsors basketball, volleyball and swimming...
.
In 1999, he joined River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, where he became a star and won two Argentine Primera championships. In spite of the fact that several Italian and English clubs wanted to recruit him, he signed for FC Nantes Atlantique
FC Nantes Atlantique
Football Club de Nantes is a French association football club based in Nantes, Pays de la Loire. The club was founded on 21 April 1943, during World War II, as a result of local clubs based in the city coming together to form one big club. From 1992–2007, the club was referred to as FC Nantes...
in January 2002 where his nickname was “El Rey.” He became one the best central defenders of the French first division
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
and joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2004, where his nickname is "Super Mario" as a reference to his defensive abilities and fitness levels. In 2008 he joined Chievo Verona of Italy. He signed a new contract in summer 2009.
In March 2010, Chievo
A.C. ChievoVerona
Associazione Calcio Chievo Verona is a professional Italian football club named after and based in Chievo, a suburb of 2,800 inhabitants in Verona, Veneto, and owned by Paluani, a cake company and the inspiration for their original name, Paluani Chievo...
team-mate, Sergio Pellissier
Sergio Pellissier
Sergio Pellissier is an Italian football striker. He is the captain of Italian Serie A club Chievo, where he has been since 2000.-Club:...
, confirmed that Yepes will join Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
in the summer, when his contract runs out.
On 1 July 2010, Milan delegate administrator Adriano Galliani
Adriano Galliani
Adriano Galliani is an Italian entrepreneur who has been serving as vice-president and C.E.O. of Italian football club Associazione Calcio Milan since 1986. During his tenure as CEO, Milan have won five European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles and eight Serie A titles among other achievements and...
declared that Yepes is a big player to replace Giuseppe Favalli
Giuseppe Favalli
Giuseppe Favalli is a retired Italian footballer who played as a defender for Serie A clubs Lazio, Internazionale and Milan.-Cremonese:He started his career with then-Serie B squad Cremonese...
who became a free agent on the same day.
Yepes got to Milan in the 2010-2011 season but was quickly put in the bench due to the starting centre-back was Thiago Silva. Yepes played few games in the Italian League but participated in the UEFA Champions League. Yepes was close to scoring with Milan in the UCL match against Tottenham, in which he had two clear chances of scoring with a header, but was denied twice by Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes.
Mario Yepes scored his first goal for AC Milan on the 23 October 2011, where he finished off a remarkable Milan comeback against Lecce, scoring the 4th and winning goal for Milan in the 83rd minute to drive Milan to a 4-3 victory, with Kevin-Prince Boateng
Kevin-Prince Boateng
Kevin Prince-Boateng , is a German-born Ghanaian footballer, who plays as a Midfielder for Serie A club A.C. Milan. He won nine caps from The Black Stars of Ghana after appearing for Germany's under-15s to their under-21s; he retired from international football on 4 November 2011.-Club career:A...
scoring a hat trick to level the scores after a 3-0 losing position.
International career
Yepes has played over 80 games for the Colombian national teamColombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
since his debut in 1999. He was part of the Colombia squad that won the Copa America
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
in 2001
Copa América 2001
The Copa América 2001 was held in Colombia, from July 11 to July 29, 2001. It was organised by CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body....
. He was also in the squads for three other editions of the tournament in 1999
Copa América 1999
The 1999 Copa América was a football tournament held in Paraguay, from June 29 to July 18, 1999. It was organised by CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body.There is no qualifying for the final tournament...
, 2007
Copa América 2007
The 2007 Campeonato Sudamericano Copa América, known simply as the 2007 Copa América or 2007 Copa América Venezuela, was the 42nd edition of the Copa América, the South-American championship for international association football teams...
and 2011.
Club
- Deportivo CaliDeportivo CaliAsociación Deportivo Cali is a Colombian sports club based in Cali, Colombia. Mostly known for its football team, it also sponsors basketball, volleyball and swimming...
- Colombian Professional Football: 1998, 1999
- Copa Libertadores de América: Second Place: 1999
- Copa MerconorteCopa MerconorteThe Copa Merconorte was an international football competition played from 1998 to 2001 by clubs from Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and later the United States, Costa Rica and Mexico...
: Second Place 1999
- River PlateClub Atlético River PlateClub Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
- Apertura: 1999
- Clausura: 2000
- Paris Saint-Germain
- Coupe de FranceCoupe de FranceThe Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
: 2006 - Coupe de la LigueCoupe de la LigueThe Coupe de la Ligue , known outside of France as the French League Cup, is a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel...
: 2008
- Coupe de France
- Milan
- Serie ASerie ASerie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
: 20112010–11 Serie AThe 2010–11 Serie A was the 79th season since its establishment, the first under a league committee separate from Serie B. It began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 22 May 2011... - Supercoppa ItalianaSupercoppa ItalianaThe Supercoppa Italiana is a pre-season football competition held the week before the season begins in Italy every year. It is contested by the winners of the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in the previous season, as a curtain raiser to the new season. It is usually played at the home of the Serie A...
: 20112011 Supercoppa Italiana- References :...
- Serie A
International
- Copa AmericaCopa AméricaThe Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
: 2001Copa América 2001The Copa América 2001 was held in Colombia, from July 11 to July 29, 2001. It was organised by CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body.... - FIFA Confederations CupFIFA Confederations CupThe FIFA Confederations Cup is an association football tournament for national teams, currently held every four years by FIFA. It is contested by the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships , along with the FIFA World Cup winner and the host nation, to bring the number of teams...
: Fourth Place 2003
External links
- Profile at official club website
- Profile at Assocalciatori.it
- ESPN Profile
- http://www.goal.com/en/match/63921/lecce-vs-ac-milan/report