Gabriel Gómez
Encyclopedia
Gabriel Jaime Gómez Jaramillo (born 8 December 1959 in Medellín
) is a retired Colombia
n footballer who played as a central midfielder.
, representing the club in eight professional seasons, in two different spells, and helping the team to three first division titles.
Incidentally, in 1989, when Atlético won the Libertadores Cup, he played for city neighbours Independiente Medellín
, having signed from Club Deportivo Los Millonarios. After returning to Nacional in 1991, Gómez retired four years later, at the age of 36.
49 times for Colombia
, scoring twice. He represented the nation in two FIFA World Cup
s, 1990
and 1994
, and three Copa América
tournaments: 1987, 1989 and 1993.
In the World Cup, Gómez started in all four of his country's matches in 1990, as Colombia ousted in the round of 16 against Cameroon
. Four years later, in the United States
, he received death threats from unknown people prior to the second group stage match against the hosts
, and refused to appear in the game. Days following the 1–2 loss which certified the South America
n team's elimination, defender
Andrés Escobar
was murdered upon returning home, after scoring an own goal
in the match.
, coached the national teams of Colombia and Ecuador
, amongst others. In 1998, whilst in charge of the former, he also received anonymous death threats.
Medellín
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...
) is a retired 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...
n footballer who played as a central midfielder.
Club career
During his career, Gómez played mainly for hometown side Atlético NacionalAtlético 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...
, representing the club in eight professional seasons, in two different spells, and helping the team to three first division titles.
Incidentally, in 1989, when Atlético won the Libertadores Cup, he played for city neighbours Independiente Medellín
Independiente Medellín
Corporación Deportiva Independiente Medellín is a professional Colombian football team competing in Fútbol Profesional Colombiano, the Colombian first division. The club is based in the city of Medellín and founded in 1913. It has won the league's national tournament known as Copa Mustang five...
, having signed from Club Deportivo Los Millonarios. After returning to Nacional in 1991, Gómez retired four years later, at the age of 36.
International career
During nearly one full decade, Gómez was cappedCap (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...
49 times 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...
, scoring twice. He represented the nation in two FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
s, 1990
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...
and 1994
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
, and three Copa América
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
tournaments: 1987, 1989 and 1993.
In the World Cup, Gómez started in all four of his country's matches in 1990, as Colombia ousted in the round of 16 against Cameroon
Cameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
. Four years later, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he received death threats from unknown people prior to the second group stage match against the hosts
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, and refused to appear in the game. Days following the 1–2 loss which certified the South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n team's elimination, defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
Andrés Escobar
Andrés Escobar
Andrés Escobar Saldarriaga , nicknamed "The Gentleman of Football", was a Colombian footballer who was shot and killed in Medellín. It is widely believed that he was murdered due to his own goal in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which supposedly would have caused gambling losses to several powerful drug...
was murdered upon returning home, after scoring an own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
in the match.
Honours
| Season | Team | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 |  Atlético NacionalAtlético 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... |
Colombian League |
| 1988 | Millonarios |
Colombian League |
| 1991 | 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... |
Colombian League |
| 1994 | 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... |
Colombian League |
Personal
Gómez's older brother, Hernán DaríoHernán Darío Gómez
Hernán Darío Gómez Jaramillo, also known as El Bolillo is a Colombian ex-football player and manager.He was an active player from 1966 to 1985.He successfully led Ecuador to their first World Cup finals in 2002...
, coached the national teams of Colombia and Ecuador
Ecuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
, amongst others. In 1998, whilst in charge of the former, he also received anonymous death threats.