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Rafael DudamelFormer Venezuelan footballer, goalkeeper, coach of the Venezuelan team
Date of Birth: 07.01.1973
Country:  Venezuela |
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Rafael Dudamel Biography
Rafael Dudamel is a former Venezuelan footballer, goalkeeper, and current coach of the Venezuelan national team. He was born in Guama, Yaracuy, Venezuela. Dudamel played for various Venezuelan and Colombian football clubs throughout his career, including Universidad de Los Andes, El Vigía, Atlético Zulia, UA Maracaibo, and Deportivo Táchira in Venezuela, and Atlético Huila, Independiente Santa Fe, Deportivo Cali, Millonarios, and Cortulua in Colombia. He also had a brief stint with the Argentine club Quilmes.
Sports Career
Dudamel's sports career began in 1990 when he joined Universidad de Los Andes. In 1991, his team emerged victorious in the Venezuelan championship. He moved to Colombian club Atlético Huila in 1994, but returned to Venezuela in 1996 to play for Deportivo Unicol. In 2005, Dudamel transferred to South African club Mamelodi Sundowns. After the Copa America games in 2007, he was transferred to the leading Colombian club América de Cali, along with fellow Venezuelan international player Jorge Rojas. On August 29, 2008, Dudamel left América de Cali to return to Estudiantes de Mérida.
International Career
Dudamel made 56 appearances for the Venezuelan national team, scoring one goal during the World Cup 1998 qualifiers against Argentina. He was first called up to the national team in 1993 and participated in the Copa America games in the same year, although Venezuela was eliminated in the group stage. He also played in the Copa America in 1995, 1997, and 2001, with Venezuela failing to advance beyond the group stage each time. However, the team made history in 2007 by reaching the quarterfinals and in 2011 by reaching the semifinals of the Copa America.
Coaching Career
Currently, Dudamel holds the position of head coach for the Venezuelan club Estudiantes de Mérida.
