Juan Zúñiga
Encyclopedia
Juan Camilo Zúñiga Mosquera (born 14 December 1985) is a Colombia
n football
defender
who currently plays for Serie A
club Napoli
and Colombian national team
.
in the summer of 2008 and was contracted by Siena. On 9 July 2009 Napoli
signed the Colombian from Siena on a five-year deal for €8.5 million. Zúñiga then usually featured in the midfield in the 352 formation, as left wingback, which Christian Maggio
often played as right wingback, with 3 central backs occupied the defender role.
After the arrival of Andrea Dossena
in January 2010, he lost his starting place and became a backup wingback on the both flank in 2010–11 Serie A
season.
Zúñiga scored his first Serie A
goal for Napoli
against Catania on 20 February 2011. His second goal was on 15 May 2011 against Inter Milan in the 46th minute.
in the 2005 World Youth Cup before progressing to the senior national team in 2005. He was regarded as being similar to other famous adventurous full-backs such as Cafu
and Roberto Carlos by the Italian press during the under-20 World Youth Cup, because of his attacking nature.
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 football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
defender
Defender
Defender usually refers to a position in association football .Defender or The Defender may also refer to:-Film and television:* The Defender or The Bodyguard from Beijing, a film starring Jet Li...
who currently plays for Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
club Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....
and Colombian national team
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...
.
Career
Zúñiga left 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...
in the summer of 2008 and was contracted by Siena. On 9 July 2009 Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....
signed the Colombian from Siena on a five-year deal for €8.5 million. Zúñiga then usually featured in the midfield in the 352 formation, as left wingback, which Christian Maggio
Christian Maggio
Christian Maggio is an Italian footballer who currently plays as a defender for Serie A club Napoli and Italian national team.-Vicenza:Maggio began his career at Vicenza making his Serie A debut in the 2000–2001 season, finishing the campaign with six appearances...
often played as right wingback, with 3 central backs occupied the defender role.
After the arrival of Andrea Dossena
Andrea Dossena
Andrea Dossena is an Italian footballer who plays as a left back for S.S.C. Napoli.-Early career:Dossena began his career at Verona as a youth player before playing 4 seasons in their senior squad...
in January 2010, he lost his starting place and became a backup wingback on the both flank in 2010–11 Serie A
2010–11 Serie A
The 2010–11 Serie A was the 79th season since its establishment, the first under a league committee separate from Serie B. It began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 22 May 2011...
season.
Zúñiga scored his first Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
goal for Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....
against Catania on 20 February 2011. His second goal was on 15 May 2011 against Inter Milan in the 46th minute.
International career
Zúñiga played for ColombiaColombia 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...
in the 2005 World Youth Cup before progressing to the senior national team in 2005. He was regarded as being similar to other famous adventurous full-backs such as Cafu
Cafu
Marcos Evangelista de Moraes , better known as Cafu, is a former Brazilian footballer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest right-backs ever. He was given this nickname due to his speed up and down the right flank which was reminiscent of Cafuringa, a Brazilian forward from the 1970s...
and Roberto Carlos by the Italian press during the under-20 World Youth Cup, because of his attacking nature.
External links
- Player profile on Napoli's official website