Pablo Armero

Summary

Pablo Estífer Armero (born 2 November 1986) is a Colombian former footballer who played as a left back. He is known in Colombia by the nickname "Miñía", reportedly after a phrase commonly used to call infants in his hometown.

Pablo Armero
Armero playing for Colombia in the 2014 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Pablo Estífer Armero[1]
Date of birth (1986-11-02) 2 November 1986 (age 37)
Place of birth Tumaco, Colombia
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Left back / Left midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2008 América de Cali 108 (6)
2009–2010 Palmeiras 36 (1)
2010–2013 Udinese 90 (3)
2013–2014 Napoli 33 (0)
2014West Ham United (loan) 5 (0)
2014–2017 Udinese 8 (1)
2014–2015Milan (loan) 8 (0)
2015Flamengo (loan) 4 (0)
2017 Bahia 5 (0)
2018 América de Cali 25 (1)
2019 CSA 3 (0)
2019 Guarani 3 (0)
International career
2008–2017 Colombia 68 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:46, 10 June 2019 (UTC)

Club career edit

America de Cali edit

Armero made his professional debut with América de Cali, and he was part of the squad that won the 2008 Finalizacion title against Independiente Medellín.

Palmeiras edit

After his performance with Colombia, and having helped América win their 13th championship, Armero was loaned to Palmeiras, his agent Turbo Sports holding the registration rights through Poços de Caldas.[2] He was signed in early 2009, and was the first choice for Palmeiras left-back position.[2] He helped Palmeiras reach the São Paulo State Championship semi-finals before losing to Santos. He was noticed for his speed and crossing abilities and played many matches helping Palmeiras lead in the Brazilian Série A. His only goal for Palmeiras came in a 4–1 win against Náutico in July 2009.[3]

Having signed a pre-contract, Armero almost joined the Serie A side Parma in July 2010, but the deal collapsed on 3 July. Parma's lack of non-EU registration quota, reflected in the new ruling announced on 2 July, forced the contract to be terminated and obligated the club to pay a sum to the player.[4][5] Instead, Parma signed Zé Eduardo. It was reported that Palmeiras bought 20% economic rights, (date unknown) and the non-dividable registration rights in June 2010.[6][7] made Palmeiras would receive 20% transfer fee.[8]

Udinese edit

On 28 August 2010, Udinese signed Armero. He became a left wingback ahead Giovanni Pasquale in Udinese's 3–5–2 formation (or a 5–3–2 formation). That season Udinese finished fourth and returned to the UEFA Champions League.

Due to Udinese's UEFA coefficient, Udinese paired with seeded team Arsenal of the English Premier League. The team changed tactics, and Armero played as a left-sided wingback in its 4–4–1–1 formation, with new-signing Neuton playing new left-back. After his successful Serie A debut and following his appearances in European football, Armero was selected into the Serie A Team of the Year for the 2010–11 season.[9]

Armero was rested for the first round of 2011–12 Serie A and started in his first UEFA Europa League match on 15 September. With the team changing its tactics back to 3–5–2, Armero remained left wing-back, also scoring the winning goal.[10]

Napoli edit

On 9 January 2013, Armero joined Napoli on loan until the end of the season, with the option to make a permanent switch in the summer.[11] He mostly made his appearances coming off the bench for the remainder of the 2012–13 season. During the 2013 summer transfer window, Napoli made the move permanent for a reported €4 million.[12]

West Ham United (loan) edit

On 31 January 2014, Armero completed his loan move to West Ham United until the end of the season.[9] He made his West Ham debut on 15 March in a 3–1 away defeat to Stoke City. With West Ham already losing 3–1, he was an 83rd-minute substitute for Andy Carroll.[13] He played five league games for West Ham before his loan ended.[14] His final game came on 19 April 2014 in a 1–0 home defeat by Crystal Palace. The only goal of the game was a penalty conceded by Armero whose performance was criticised by manager Sam Allardyce.[15]

Return to Udinese and loan to Milan edit

On 20 June 2014, Udinese announced they had signed back Armero, a season after he left to Napoli.[16]

On 11 August 2014, the club announced his loan move to Milan for the 2014–15 season.[17]

Flamengo and Bahia edit

On 9 April 2015, he was loaned again, this time to Flamengo, until the end of the year.[18] He debuted in a match against Avaí for the third round of the Brasileirão 2015.

Armero rejoined Italian club Udinese for the 2015–16 season, where he mostly appeared as a substitute. However, Armero was sold halfway through the 2016–17 season, having played only eight matches in three years.

On 24 December 2016, he joined Bahia, who was playing in Campeonato Brasileiro Série B at the time.[19][20]

CSA edit

Armero joined Brazilian club CSA on 17 March 2019, but was released only two months later after being spotted at a nightclub on the eve of a league match.[21][22]

International career edit

Armero played for the Colombian under-17 team in the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship and was promoted to the senior team in 2008 for his form with América de Cali. He received his first cap in Colombia's 5–2 win over Venezuela and has won the spot of starting left-back for the national team. In March 2013, he scored his first goal for Colombia in a 5–0 victory over Bolivia.[23]

In June 2014, he was named in Colombia's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.[24] Armero scored Colombia's first goal in a 3–0 win against Greece in the team's opening group game.[25]

International goals edit

Scores and results lists Colombia's goal tally first.[26]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 22 March 2013 Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia   Bolivia
5–0
5–0
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2. 14 June 2014 Estádio Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, Brazil   Greece
1–0
3–0
2014 FIFA World Cup

Style of play edit

Described as a "box-to-box player" ("tuttocampista," in Italian) in the media, Armero is known for his versatility, team–play, and work-rate, and is capable of playing in several midfield positions; he has been used as a left–sided midfielder, as an attacking midfielder, or as an offensive–minded central midfielder, known as the mezzala role, in Italian football jargon, and has even been used as a left-back.[27][28]

Honours edit

Club edit

América de Cali
Bahia

Individual edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists" (PDF). Premier League. 4 February 2014. p. 40. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Turbo Sports coloca Pablo Armero no Verdão" (in Portuguese). O Globo. 30 December 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
  3. ^ "Palmeiras goleia Náutico e 'dorme' na vice-liderança. Torcida exalta Jorginho" (in Portuguese). Globoesporte.globo.com. 11 July 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Ghirardi sugli extracomunitari tesserabili: Sono allibito". Parma FC (in Italian). 3 July 2010. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2010.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ "Foreign player cap for Serie A". Sky Sports. 3 July 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Boletim Informativo Diário Eletrônico (Bid-E) Relação Pela Data 09/07/2010". CBF (in Portuguese). 9 July 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  7. ^ "Boletim Informativo Diário Eletrônico (Bid-E) Relação Pela Data 14/07/2010". CBF (in Portuguese). 14 July 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  8. ^ "Palmeiras confirma acordo por Armero; agente nega e diz ter mais 3 propostas". UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). 26 August 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Hammers snap up Armero". West Ham United FC. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014.
  10. ^ Buona la prima! 15 September 2011
  11. ^ "Napoli Sign Armero on Loan". ESPN FC. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  12. ^ "Official: Armero to Napoli – Football Italia". football-italia.net. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Stoke City 3–1 West Ham United". Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  14. ^ "Games played by Pablo Armero in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  15. ^ "Allardyce singles out Armero for costly error". FourFourTwo. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  16. ^ "Udinese buy Armero from Napoli". Football-italia.net. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  17. ^ "Welcome Pablo Armero!". Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  18. ^ "Flamengo contrata Pablo Armero". flamengo.com.br (in Portuguese).
  19. ^ "Pablo Armero es el nuevo refuerzo del Bahía de Brasil". Antena 2 (in Spanish). 23 December 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  20. ^ Campo, Carlo (24 December 2016). "Bahia, Udinese reach agreement for transfer of Pablo Armero". theScore.com. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  21. ^ "Dirigente do CSA diz que Manga, Armero e Maidana cometeram indisciplina: "Ninguém tolera"". Globoesporte. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  22. ^ "Armero se despede da torcida e diz que não desrespeitou o CSA: "Não tive uma segunda chance"". Globoesporte. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  23. ^ "Colombia Vs Bolivia". sbnation.com. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  24. ^ "World Cup 2014: Radamel Falcao out of Colombia squad". BBC. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  25. ^ "Colombia v Greece: World Cup 2014 – as it happened". The Guardian. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  26. ^ ""Pablo Armero International Statistics"". Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  27. ^ Schianchi, Andrea (29 January 2012). "Giaccherini e Armero Altro che immobilismo!". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  28. ^ "Calciomercato Flamengo, è ufficiale: ecco Armero dal Milan". Il Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 9 April 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2020.

External links edit

  • Pablo Armero at Soccerbase  
  • Pablo Armero at National-Football-Teams.com
  • CBF Contract Record (in Portuguese)
  • palmeiras.com.br at the Wayback Machine (archived 20 April 2010)
  • Pablo Armero at Soccerway