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Omar Bravo TordecillasMexican footballer, striker
Date of Birth: 04.03.1980
Country:  Mexico |
Content:
- Omar Bravo: A Mexican Football Legend
- Rise to Prominence with Guadalajara
- European Adventure
- Return to Mexico and International Career
Omar Bravo: A Mexican Football Legend
Early Life and CareerOmar Bravo was born in Los Mochis, Mexico, where he began his sporting journey with the local amateur baseball team and dabbled in boxing, despite his parents' disapproval. At the age of 12, Bravo discovered his passion for football and joined his school's team. His impressive performances led him to the Los Mochis city team and then to the Sinaloa state team.
Rise to Prominence with Guadalajara
In 1994, Bravo caught the attention of scouts from Santos Laguna, but the club ultimately declined to sign him. Undeterred, he tried out for Guadalajara and impressed the youth team coaches. He joined the Chivas youth system and made his senior team debut for Guadalajara against UANL Tigres on February 17, 2001.
Initially a substitute, Bravo gradually earned a starting role. In 2006, he played a pivotal role in Guadalajara's Apertura championship win, leading the team in goals with 11. The following year, he became the Mexican league's leading scorer, netting 11 goals in 17 games, one ahead of Javier Campora. On April 26, 2008, Bravo scored his 100th league goal in a 4-0 victory over Puebla, becoming only the second Guadalajara player after Salvador Reyes to reach that milestone.
European Adventure
On May 22, 2008, Bravo transferred to Spanish club Deportivo La Coruña for a fee of €1 million. He signed a three-year contract worth €1.295 million per season, rejecting a more lucrative offer from Guadalajara. Bravo debuted for Deportivo on August 31, 2008, in a La Liga match against Real Madrid, which Deportivo won 2-1. He scored his first league goal on December 8, 2008, against Malaga and also netted twice in the Copa del Rey. However, Bravo struggled to fully adapt to Spanish football, making only nine appearances, with only two starts.
Return to Mexico and International Career
On February 27, 2009, Bravo returned to Mexico on loan to UANL Tigres for the duration of the 2009 Apertura. He made his Tigres debut on March 5. In June 2009, Bravo returned to Deportivo, but the club no longer needed his services and placed him on the transfer list. On August 6, Deportivo mutually agreed to terminate Bravo's contract, and he immediately rejoined Guadalajara.
Bravo made his Mexico national team debut on March 13, 2003, in a friendly against Bolivia. In the 2006 World Cup, he scored two goals against Iran in the opening match, earning the man of the match award. He played in two more games but failed to make an impact and was not selected in the round of 16 against Argentina. In 2007, Bravo helped Mexico reach the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, losing to the United States. He also played in the Copa América, finishing third and scoring three goals, including a penalty in the bronze medal match against Uruguay.
