Óscar Eduardo Córdoba Arce (born 3 February 1970 in Cali, Valle) is a Colombian football (soccer) goalkeeper who has played more than 70 games for the Colombia national team. He plays in Millonarios from Bogotá, Colombia.

[edit] Club career

Córdoba started playing professionally with Atlético Nacional in 1988, but transferred to Deportivo Cali in 1989 and loaned to Deportes Quindío in 1990. In 1991 he moved to Millonarios, and in 1993 he played for Once Caldas, and América de Cali, with which he would win the Colombian Championship in 1997.

After the title, he moved to Argentine team Boca Juniors to what was probably his most successful time, winning the Argentine Championships Apertura 1998, Clausura 1999 and Apertura 2000, the Copa Libertadores 2000 and 2001, and the Intercontinental Cup of 2000.

Ready to make the jump to Europe, Córdoba moved to Italian Perugia Calcio, but after only half season he transferred to Turkish Beşiktaş Istanbul. In Turkey he often played against another Colombian goalkeeper of the SuperLig; Faryd Mondragon of Galatasaray. After 4 seasons, he transferred to Antalyaspor, club in which he announced his retirement after the 2006/07 season. In spite of the announcement, he returned to Colombia and signed for Deportivo Cali to play the following season.^[1] After not completing the expections given to him by the official council of Deportivo Cali, he was released, after his contract with the Colombian side expired. He is currently on a free agent, as Deportivo Cali was eliminated in the semi-finals of the Copa Mustang in the Apertura of 2008. After the decision taken by the officials of Deportivo Cali, Cordoba expressed his interest in either returning to Argentina, returning to Turkey, or retiring from football itself. He finally signed up for Millonarios.

[edit] International career

Córdoba made his debut for the Colombia national team in a friendly against Costa Rica on March 31 1993. He has gone on to make over 70 appearances for his country, making him the most capped goalkeeper in the history of Colombian international football.^[2] Córdoba has been included in two Colombia squads for the World Cup (1994 & 1998) he has also played in two editions of the Copa América in 1993^[3] and in 2001^[4] where Colombia won the tournament for the first time in their history.

On September 10, 2003 Córdoba surpassed René Higuita's record of 68 caps, to become Colombia's all time record goalkeeper.

Cordoba's last game for the Colombia national football team, was in November 2003, in a Fifa World Cup qualifier for the CONMEBOL section. Argentina was the first to score because of a horribly handled ball by Cordoba, giving the ball directly to Hernan Crespo's feet. With a mere tap in, he scored a goal which ruined Cordoba's reputation for the rest of his international career. The game came to an end with a 1-1 draw. Even though he didn't play since 2004 against Argentina, he never officially resigned from the national squad until he came to Deportivo Cali. In 2006, Cordoba bore the Colombian jersey for the last time. In 2008 he joined Millonarios and was nominated to the "Outstanding Career" Aware of Fox Sports Radio besides other three Colombians: The Formula 3 pilote Gustavo Yacaman and the Paralympic athlete bronze medal Elkin Serna.^[5]

[edit] Playing style

Córdoba's goalkeeping style is quite different from the typical goalkeepers of his time. Inclined to wait a bit off the goal area, he is more of a field defender. His most significant strength is his talent with passing the ball accurately and restarting the balls fast.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Career details at National Football Teams
• International statistics at rsssf

Colombia squads v • d • e Colombia squad – 1993 Copa América 1 Córdoba • 2 Cortés • 3 Mendoza • 4 Herrera • 5 Gaviria • 6 Gómez • 7 O.Maturana • 8 García • 9 Aristizábal • 10 Valderrama • 11 Valencia • 12 Mondragón • 13 Pacheco • 14 Álvarez • 15 Perea • 16 Lozano • 17 Asprilla • 18 Osorio • 19 Rincón • 20 W.Pérez • 21 R.Pérez • 22 Pazo • Coach: Maturana v • d • e Colombia squad – 1994 FIFA World Cup 1 Córdoba • 2 Escobar • 3 Mendoza • 4 Herrera • 5 Gaviria • 6 Gómez • 7 de Ávila • 8 Lozano • 9 Valenciano • 10 Valderrama • 11 Valencia • 12 Mondragón • 13 Ortiz • 14 Álvarez • 15 Perea • 16 Aristizábal • 17 Serna • 18 Cortés • 19 Rincón • 20 Pérez • 21 Asprilla • 22 Pazo • Coach: Maturana v • d • e Colombia squad – 1995 Copa América 1 Higuita • 2 Santa • 3 Mendoza • 4 Fernández • 5 Bermúdez • 6 Gaviria • 7 Guerrero • 8 Lozano • 9 Arboleda • 10 Valderrama • 11 Asprilla • 12 Calero • 13 Cabrera • 14 Álvarez • 15 Mosquera • 16 Aristizábal • 17 León • 18 Cardona • 19 Rincón • 20 Quiñonez • 21 Cassiani • 22 Córdoba • Coach: Gómez v • d • e Colombia squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 O. Córdoba • 2 I. Córdoba • 3 Palacios • 4 Santa • 5 Bermúdez • 6 Serna • 7 de Ávila • 8 Lozano • 9 Valencia • 10 Valderrama • 11 Asprilla • 12 Calero • 13 Cabrera • 14 Bolaño • 15 Aristizábal • 16 Moreno • 17 Estrada • 18 Pérez • 19 Rincón • 20 Ricard • 21 Preciado • 22 Mondragón • Coach: Gómez v • d • e Colombia squad – 1999 Copa América 1 O. Córdoba • 2 I. Córdoba • 3 Cortés • 4 Viveros • 5 Bermúdez • 6 Ramírez • 7 Congo • 8 Lozano • 9 Bonilla • 10 Morantes • 11 Zambrano • 12 Higuita • 13 Bolaño • 14 Betancourth • 15 Portocarrero • 16 González • 17 Montaño • 18 Quintana • 19 Ricard • 20 Grisales • 21 Yepes • 22 Julio • Coach: Álvarez v • d • e Colombia squad – 2001 Copa América Winners (1st Title) 1 O. Córdoba • 2 I. Córdoba • 3 Yepes • 4 Cortés • 5 Orozco • 6 Vargas • 7 Becerra • 8 Ferreira • 9 Aristizábal • 10 Hernández • 11 Arriaga • 12 Calero • 13 Restrepo • 14 López • 15 Murillo • 16 González • 17 Ramírez • 18 Castillo • 19 Grisales • 20 Bedoya • 21 Díaz • 23 Molina • Coach: Maturana v • d • e Colombia squad – 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup Fourth Place 1 O. Córdoba • 2 I. Córdoba • 3 Yepes • 4 Ramos • 5 Mera • 6 Vallejo • 7 Becerra • 8 Valentierra • 9 Aristizábal • 10 Hernández • 11 Murillo • 12 Henao • 13 Alcazar • 14 Díaz • 15 Velázquez • 16 Arriaga • 17 Arzuaga • 18 Caballero • 19 Mosquera • 20 Bedoya • 21 Patiño • 22 L. Martínez • 23 G. Martínez • Coach: Maturana