Gabriel Gómez (footballer, born 1959)

Gabriel Jaime Barrabas Gómez Jaramillo (born 8 December 1959) is a retired Colombian footballer who played as a central midfielder.

Gabriel Gómez
Goméz in 1990
Personal information
Full name Gabriel Jaime Gómez Jaramillo
Date of birth (1959-12-08) December 8, 1959 (age 64)
Place of birth Medellín, Colombia
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1981–1986 Atlético Nacional 181 (30)
1987–1988 Millonarios 46 (13)
1989–1990 Independiente Medellín 24 (2)
1991–1994 Atlético Nacional 102 (9)
1995 Independiente Medellín 0 (0)
Total 353 (54)
International career
1985–1995 Colombia 49 (2)
Managerial career
1995 Envigado
1997 –1998 Atlético Nacional
1999 Unión Magdalena
Deportivo Quito
2001 Bucaramanga
2005 Caracas
2008 Atlético Nacional
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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During his career, Gómez played mainly for hometown side Atlético Nacional, 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.

After he retired from playing, Gómez became a football coach. He has managed Envigado, Atlético Nacional, Unión Magdalena and Atlético Bucaramanga in Colombia, Deportivo Quito in Ecuador and Caracas FC in Venezuela.[1]

International career

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During nearly one full decade, Gómez was capped 49 times for Colombia, scoring twice.[2] He represented the nation in two FIFA World Cups, 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 were ousted in the round of 16 by 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.[3] In the days following the 1–2 loss which confirmed the South American team's elimination, defender Andrés Escobar was murdered upon returning home, after scoring an own goal in the match.

Honours

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Season Team Title
1981 Atlético Nacional Colombian League
1988 Millonarios Colombian League
1991 Atlético Nacional Colombian League
1994 Atlético Nacional Colombian League

Personal

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Gómez's older brother, Hernán Darío, coached the national teams of Colombia and Ecuador, amongst others. In 1998, whilst in charge of the former, he also received anonymous death threats.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Ortiz Jiménez, Juan Diego (1 September 2008). "Gabriel 'Barrabás' Gómez dejó de ser el técnico del Atlético Nacional" (in Spanish). El Tiempo.
  2. ^ Colombia - Record International Players Archived December 30, 2008, at the Wayback Machine; at RSSSF
  3. ^ Gomez leaves team; Los Angeles Times, 26 June 1994
  4. ^ Death threats reappear for Colombian team; BBC News, 19 May 1998
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