Albeiro Usuriaga
Encyclopedia
Albeiro Usuriaga López (12 June 1966 – 11 February 2004) was a Colombia
n footballer who played as a striker.
Nickname
d El Palomo, he played professionally in Colombia
, Spain
, Argentina
, Mexico
, Ecuador
, Brazil
, Paraguay
and Venezuela
, before being murder
ed at the age of 37.
's Atlético Nacional
, scoring four goals in a 6–0 win against Danubio F.C.
for the 1989 Libertadores Cup, and adding another against Club Olimpia in the final (2–0 in the second leg in Paraguay
), in an eventual penalty shootout win; goalkeeper René Higuita
was amongst his teammates.
After playing two season halves in Spain
with CD Málaga
- Málaga CF
's predecessor - and having a three-year spell with América de Cali
, he rarely settled with a team and continuously changed countries, appearing for Club Atlético Independiente
(two stints), Club Necaxa, Barcelona Sporting Club
, Santos Futebol Clube, Club Deportivo Los Millonarios, Atlético Bucaramanga
, General Paz Juniors
, All Boys
, Deportivo Pasto
, Club Sportivo Luqueño
and Carabobo FC.
In 1993–94, Usuriaga contributed with four goals as Argentina
's Independiente won the Clausura
tournament. Three years later, whilst with the same team, he was handed a two-year ban by the Argentine Football Association
after testing positive for cocaine
. After playing in various levels of football, he retired from the game in 2003, at the age of 37.
for Colombia
, during three years. His only international goal came during the 1990 FIFA World Cup
qualification playoffs
against Israel
, the only goal in the two legs.
He was later, however, omitted from the final squad in Italy
, due to disciplinary problems.
district in his hometown of Cali
, in unclear circumstances.
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 footballer who played as a striker.
Nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d El Palomo, he played professionally in Colombia
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...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, 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...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, before being murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
ed at the age of 37.
Club career
Usuriaga first came to prominence with MedellínMedellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
's Atlético Nacional
Atlético Nacional
Corporación Deportiva Atlético Nacional is a Colombian football team based in Medellín. They play their home games at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot stadium which also serves as home to Deportivo Independiente Medellín...
, scoring four goals in a 6–0 win against Danubio F.C.
Danubio F.C.
-History:Danubio was founded by the Bulgarian born brothers, Miguel and Juan Lazaroff, on March 1, 1932 together with other youths from the "Republica de Nicaragua" school in Montevideo...
for the 1989 Libertadores Cup, and adding another against Club Olimpia in the final (2–0 in the second leg in Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
), in an eventual penalty shootout win; goalkeeper René Higuita
René Higuita
José René Higuita Zapata is a former Colombian football goalkeeper nicknamed El Loco...
was amongst his teammates.
After playing two season halves in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
with CD Málaga
CD Málaga
Club Deportivo Málaga was a Spanish football club based in Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It played twenty seasons in La Liga, before being dissolved in 1992....
- Málaga CF
Málaga CF
Málaga Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Málaga, Andalusia. The team currently plays in Spain's La Liga.Málaga CF is generally seen as the successor to CD Málaga, one of the most historical Andalusian football clubs, by being a near-identical looking football club that even shares...
's predecessor - and having a three-year spell with América de Cali
América de Cali
Corporación Deportiva América, commonly known as América de Cali or simply América is a Colombian football club based in Cali. They currently play in the Categoría Primera A, the top-flight professional league in the country....
, he rarely settled with a team and continuously changed countries, appearing for Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....
(two stints), Club Necaxa, Barcelona Sporting Club
Barcelona Sporting Club
Barcelona Sporting Club is an Ecuadorian sports club based in Guayaquil, known best for its professional football team. They currently play in the Ecuadorian Serie A, the highest level of football in the country, and hold the distinction of being the only team to have never been relegated.With...
, Santos Futebol Clube, Club Deportivo Los Millonarios, Atlético Bucaramanga
Atlético Bucaramanga
Club Atlético Bucaramanga Corporacion Deportiva, known simply as Atlético Bucaramanga, is a Colombian football club based in the city of Bucaramanga. The club was founded in 1949...
, General Paz Juniors
General Paz Juniors
Club Atlético General Paz Juniors is a sports club, located in Córdoba, Argentina. Although other sports are practised there , the club is mostly known for its football team, which currently plays in the regionalised 4th level of Argentine football league system, the Torneo Argentino B.-External...
, All Boys
All Boys
Club Atlético All Boys is a sports club based in the Floresta neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The institution is mostly known by its football team, which currently plays at the Primera División, the top division of Argentine football league system....
, Deportivo Pasto
Deportivo Pasto
Asociación Deportivo Pasto or simply Deportivo Pasto is a Colombian football team from the city of Pasto, Nariño Department. It was founded in 1949...
, Club Sportivo Luqueño
Club Sportivo Luqueño
Club Sportivo Luqueño is a Paraguayan football team, based in the city of Luque.-History:The club was founded in 1921 when three teams from the city of Luque decided to merge and form one single club: Sportivo Luqueño. Only three years after its foundation, the team was already playing in the...
and Carabobo FC.
In 1993–94, Usuriaga contributed with four goals as 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...
's Independiente won the Clausura
Apertura and Clausura
The Apertura and Clausura tournaments are a relatively recent innovation for many Latin American football leagues in which the traditional European football season from August to May is divided in two sections per season, each with its own champion. Apertura and Clausura are the Spanish words for...
tournament. Three years later, whilst with the same team, he was handed a two-year ban by the Argentine Football Association
Argentine Football Association
The Argentine Football Association is the governing body of football in Argentina. It organises the Argentine football league and the Argentina national football team. It is based in Buenos Aires...
after testing positive for cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
. After playing in various levels of football, he retired from the game in 2003, at the age of 37.
International career
Usuriaga gained 15 capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for Colombia
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...
, during three years. His only international goal came during the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
qualification playoffs
1990 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
The South American zone of qualification for the 1990 FIFA World Cup saw 9 teams competing for 2 direct places at the finals, with one extra place potentially on offer to the winner of a play-off. CONMEBOL member Argentina qualified automatically as reigning World Cup champions.-Format:Teams were...
against Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
, the only goal in the two legs.
He was later, however, omitted from the final squad in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, due to disciplinary problems.
Death
On 11 February 2004, 37-year old Usuriaga was gunned down in a nightclubNightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
district in his hometown of Cali
Calì
Calì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...
, in unclear circumstances.