One of Colombias biggest players in history has ended his career. After stations all across Europe, Mario Yepes waves goodbye to professional football aged 40.
Mario Yepes (photo from espnfc.com)
San Lorenzo are the ones losing the player, but the country loses a player who sacrificed himself throughout the years and ended up with 102 international caps.
His biggest success undoubtedly came with the surprising title at the Copa América 2001, Colombia's home tournament.
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| Yepes on the top left as part of the Copa América 2001 winners squad (photo from futbolred.com) |
He and his team marched through the tournament in unbeaten fashion, capped off by a 1-0 final victory over Mexico. Yepes himself only celebrated his national team debut in February 1999, in a 3-3 draw against Germany.
The centre-back started his professional career in his hometown for Deportivo Cali, before moving to Argentina's legendary River Plate. But it was only the start, as stations in France (Nantes, PSG) and Italy (Chievo Verona, Milan, Atalanta) were following. In 2014, he returned to South America and now ended his career with San Lorenzo.
After 21 years, Yepes says: "The most important thing is that I left a legacy."
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