Andres Escobar Remembered: 20 Years On

 

On July 2nd 1994, Colombian football captain Andres Escobar was murdered in a bar in Medellin, shortly after his own-goal in the group stages of USA ’94 sent a much-fancied Colombian side crashing out at the group stages. Just 5 days earlier he had written a piece for El Tiempo newspaper after this ignominious exit; “Life doesn’t stop here” was how he signed it off.

The death of Escobar brought global attention to Colombia, and has continued to haunt the countries’ national team in the 20 years since that fateful day. The golden generation of ’94 were never able to live up to their high-billing, and Colombia qualified for just one more World Cup between then and now. However, Escobar remains highly regarded in Colombia as a positive representation of the country, and a great talent, whose life was cut short far too soon. 

 

 

Andres Escobar Saldarriaga was born in 1967 in Medellin. He became a professional football player at the age of 20, and represented Atletico Nacional of Colombia, and Young Boys of Switzerland, as well as earning 51 caps for his country.

Escobar was a key cog in the Colombian footballing machine back then: a classy central defender whose performances had earned him a move to AC Milan, which he would tragically never make. In joining up with that legendary Italian defence of the mid-90s, there is a very real possibility that he would have gone on to become one of the world’s best defenders.

Colombia has never forgotten Andres Escobar, but, finally, there is a sense of optimism in the air when his name is discussed: the tragedy will always be remembered, but the current young talent on show in Colombia’s sparkling World Cup run are banishing the demons of Colombia’s past and showing the world that Colombian football is stronger than ever, and that the country is beginning to bounce back from it’s darkest days in the 1990s. By reaching the quarter finals they have surpassed any previous Colombian side, and they are not just winning, but winning with style and class.

 

 

The story of Andres Escobar is the story of great talent being taken away far too soon; a tragic reminder of the past. However, Brazil 2014 can hopefully be seen as a sign for the future, as Colombia bids to show the rest of the world what has changed here, and what will continue changing.

So Vamos Colombia, and Rest in Peace Andres.

Chris