 |
Mario DiazColombian footballer, defender
Date of Birth: 13.01.1976
Country:  Colombia |
Content:
- Biography of Mario Yepes
- Early Career
- Professional Career
- International Career
- Later Career and Retirement
- Achievements
Biography of Mario Yepes
Mario Yepes is a Colombian footballer and defender. He is known for his performances in Argentine, French, and Italian clubs. With 102 appearances for the Colombian national team, he holds the second place in history after Carlos Valderrama (111).
Early Career
From 1995 to 1997, Yepes played for the Colombian club "Cortulua". Following that, he played for the Colombian club "Deportivo Cali" from 1997 to 1999. In 1999, he joined the Argentine club "River Plate" and played for them until 2002.
Professional Career
From 2002 to 2004, Yepes played for the French club "Nantes". He then moved to the French club "Paris Saint-Germain" from 2004 to 2008. In 2008, he joined the Italian club "Chievo" from Verona, where he played until 2010.
International Career
Yepes represented the Colombian national team from 1999. In 2008, he became the captain of the national team. He was a key defender for Colombia in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where the team reached the quarter-finals for the first time.
Later Career and Retirement
On March 26, 2010, Yepes signed a 2-year contract with AC Milan. His contract was extended for another season in the summer of 2012. Throughout his three seasons at Milan, he played in 46 official matches and scored 2 goals. Despite initial doubts from fans, Yepes proved himself to be a reliable player and gained the trust of the coach and the support of the fans. After a season at Atalanta, Yepes joined San Lorenzo in 2014, where he participated in the FIFA Club World Cup as the winner of the Copa Libertadores.
On January 20, 2016, Yepes announced his retirement. Following his playing career, he became a coach. Since 2016, he has been leading Deportivo Cali.
Achievements
Throughout his career, Yepes achieved the following:
- Colombian Champion: 1998
- Argentine Champion (2): 1999 (Apertura), 2000 (Clausura)
- Italian Champion: 2010/11
- Winner of the Italian Super Cup: 2011
- Winner of the French Cup: 2005/06
- Winner of the French League Cup: 2007/08
