As a player, Carlos Valderrama epitomized the culture of Colombia’s hot and humid Atlantic coast. He was laid back and joyful with a boastful attitude and a bit of a mean streak. Well before personal branding and social media, Valderrama’s golden afro-blond hair and unique play style made him one of world football’s most recognizable stars. His uncanny vision, low socks and colorful rasta-inspired bracelets were synonymous with the cumbia-inspired football of Colombia’s first golden generation.
In 2021, his hair has greyed but his timeless look remains intact otherwise. In fact, the number of bracelets on both of his wrists has doubled. A black graphic t-shirt and a plethora of multi-colored beaded necklaces still adorned the figure of MLS’s first-ever MVP, now 60 years old, as he caught up with The Athletic recently from his home in Barranquilla, Colombia.
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While he was once a man of few words publicly, today Valderrama is eager to reflect on his career and his time in Major League Soccer, retaining a certain charm as he refers to D.C. United as “Washington” and the New England Revolution as “Boston.”
As one of MLS’s all-time great No. 10s, here are 10 thoughts and recollections from El Pibe, an MLS legend.
An American adventure
On a typical steamy afternoon in Barranquilla in 1995, Carlos Valderrama’s then agent called him with a new offer. His contract with Junior de Barranquilla was nearing its end after 82 appearances and two Colombian first division titles, but he was only one year removed from captaining Colombia at the 1994 World Cup in the U.S. He had played in front of sellout crowds at USA ‘94. The ardent support stateside had inspired the unsung hosts to the Round of 16 and made the entire event a massive success.
Valderrama was interested in trying something new, but when his agent mentioned a possibility to continue his playing career in the U.S., it sounded like a joke.
“There’s no league! Where am I going to play?,” Valderrama replied sarcastically. His agent, sensing a need to sell the idea, detailed what is known to be the origins of Major League Soccer.
“(My agent) told me that they were going to start a new professional league,” Valderrama said. “They were going to bring big players from everywhere, but especially from South America to promote the game (in the U.S.).”
Valderrama’s profile fit perfectly within that goal. In MLS, El Pibe, or “The Kid”, as he is affectionately known, became the face of a league in search of a unique identity and culture.
“I told (my agent) ‘Well, let’s go and live it,’” Valderrama recalled. “It was a spectacular experience, spectacular. Everything about it.”
Valderrama will forever be linked to MLS. He still holds the league record for most assists in a single season with 26, a feat that he reached as a 39-year-old in 2000 with the now defunct Tampa Bay Mutiny.
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“The U.S. gave me a great opportunity and I took full advantage,” said Valderrama. “I played for seven seasons and was a league ambassador. Because of that people respect me and care about me. As a Colombian, I’m very proud to have played a part in MLS’s continued growth. That’s honestly how I feel.”
Building a new league
In his last season in Colombia, Valderrama won a league title with Junior before a rabid crowd of 45,000 at the Estadio Metropolitano in Barranquilla. Yet, he seems unbothered when reminded of MLS’s bare-boned origins, back when teams played before scant crowds on American football fields adorned with hash marks and end zones.
“That’s all we had,” Valderrama said, referring to Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. “(The Mutiny) rented the stadium and that’s why the club failed and folded. It was too expensive. But the fans turned up. My time in Tampa was unforgettable despite those challenges. We made it work. We just kept pushing in order for this league to stay alive.”
Sell out crowds, supporters sections, and state-of-the-art soccer specific stadiums are now the norm in MLS. The game day experience is entertainment-filled and drives the league’s revenue, but when MLS kicked off a quarter of a century ago, fan fests and meet-and-greets were a foreign concept for Valderrama. Those aspects of the American game quickly became a normal part of his routine during spells with the Mutiny, Miami Fusion and the Colorado Rapids. It was all part of an adventure that Valderrama recalls with great fondness.
“The good thing about MLS back then was that we spent a lot of time with the fans,” Valderrama said. “It was different from what I had experienced in Europe and in South America. That sort of thing doesn’t exist in Colombia. In MLS, it was worth it. Listen, we’d play a game and then we’d sign autographs for two hours immediately afterwards. Win or lose! It didn’t matter. You had to sign autographs. The goal was to get the fans to fall in love with their clubs. It was great. You were integrated with the fans around you. There was mutual respect.”
The coach who almost passed him over
Unlike some other internationals who arrived in MLS well past their prime, life in America’s first division did not tarnish Valderrama’s exceptional playing career. He led Tampa Bay to the Supporters’ Shield during the league’s inaugural season, contributing four goals and 17 assists. Dutch head coach Thomas Rongen successfully molded the Mutiny to play to Valderrama’s strengths, albeit reluctantly.
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A product of the pioneering Dutch total football of the 1970s, Rongen told MLS Extra Time in May of last year that he had initially balked at the idea of signing Valderrama. The system Rongen planned to use in Tampa would not have a place for a traditional number 10.
“We were a league-operated team, so I lost that battle with (former deputy commissioner) Sunil (Gulati) within 30 seconds,” Rongen told Extra Time. “And I’m glad that I did because Carlos Valderrama ended up being the player that we all know: exceptional, brilliant. He became the backbone, the architect of this team that had a very special run.”
Valderrama remembered Rongen as “a disciplinarian” who also encouraged the Mutiny’s players to express themselves with attacking flair in possession.
“Thomas was amazing, just amazing,” said Valderrama. “He was a very knowledgeable coach, and as a person, he was a ‘10.’ He treated us well because he had been a footballer. He wanted the team to play well so that more fans would go to the games. He wanted that show. He let me play with a lot of freedom. He never took anything away from me. In fact, he allowed me to do more. He saw that I could organize a team and lead, so he gave me that opportunity.”
A star rookie, familiar rivals and untapped potential
Tampa Bay managed to have a long-lasting impact in their first year, despite being ousted by D.C. United in the 1996 Eastern Conference final. The Mutiny were aggressive going forward and clinical in transition, scoring 66 goals that season. Striker Roy Lassister finished with 27 regular-season goals, which stood as the league record for 22 years until it was broken by Atlanta United’s Josef Martínez in 2018 (though it was tied by Chris Wondolowski in 2012 and Bradley Wright-Phillips in 2014).
Lassiter was the main recipient of Valderrama’s service, but it was rookie Steve Ralston who initially caught Valderrama’s eye at Mutiny training.
“When I got there and saw him…man, he had so much quality, so much personality,” Valderrama said. “As soon as I saw him, I said ‘This guy can play in any league.’ He was always very technical. A real player. Roy Lassiter was a goalscorer. I kept those two guys close to me. I had to use my talent and take advantage of their skill because they were both fast players. We had good chemistry. These were players who ended up representing the United States. They needed a league like MLS.”
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It was apparent throughout the interview that Valderrama enjoys talking about his former MLS teammates and rivals. He singled out D.C. United’s Bolivian duo of Marco “El Diablo” Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno as his toughest opponents. Valderrama and Etcheverry were old rivals. Before meeting in MLS, Valderrama’s Atlético Junior side defeated Etcheverry’s América de Cali in the 1995 Colombian league final. The Bolivian would get his payback in the U.S.
“(D.C. United) always ended as champions,” Valderrama said with a hint of exasperation. “They were very good and El Diablo was a class player…and (Jaime) Moreno. That was Bolivia’s golden generation.”
Yet, Valderrama’s pick as the best player that he ever saw in MLS wasn’t a star international signing. In fact, it was a player who he crossed paths with for one lone year in MLS.
“Landon Donovan,” Valderrama said excitedly. “Donovan was at another level. When I first saw him play he was somewhere in Germany. He was young. Then he came (to MLS) and wow, so much quality. Cobi Jones, too. I saw him play and said ‘Whoa!’ That guy’s different.”
Shenanigans in Tampa
At the tail end of his career, Valderrama was relishing life in America. Removed from the heightened criticism of Colombia’s unapologetic press, Valderrama could focus on the game in a more relaxed environment. That meant, in many cases, having his teammates over for gatherings that became legendary.
Asked about the infamous whiskey-filled asados at his home in Tampa, Valderrama was short and reserved, keeping the intimate details to himself.
“We had a lot of fun,” said Valderrama with a slight grin. “We played on Saturday and would have Sunday off, so after games I’d invite the boys over for a cookout. It was a good group. As we got closer, we had more fun together and that’s what we all wanted.”
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Valderrama’s former Mutiny teammate Ivan McKinely was more forthcoming when he spoke to The Athletic’s Pablo Maurer last year.
“He brings us all over to his house after every home game, and we all get fucked up,” McKinley said. “He just pours whiskey down our throats. And then he throws all of us in the pool, basically.”
McKinley’s interactions with Valderrama got serious, as well. After D.C. United took an early first-half lead over the Mutiny at RFK Stadium on July 12th, 1996, McKinley and Valderrama angrily blamed each other for the goal. Rongen immediately substituted both players and what followed was a bloody fist fight between the two inside the visitors locker room.
“I get (into the locker room), and these two guys are just fucking slugging it out,” Rongen told Maurer. “There is blood everywhere, literally on the walls.”
Valderrama was caught slightly off guard when the details of the scuffle were relayed back to him. He sat back in his chair and with a coy smile and admitted to the brawl.
“With McKinley? Yes, that’s all true,” Valderrama said. “That happened. Ivan was crazy. We conceded a goal knowing that Washington was a difficult team. That all went down and Thomas didn’t flinch. He took us both out! Ivan was crazy, but he was a great guy. He played well and he always played with a lot of heart. He really loved the team. We became friends and that helped the team have success. Ivan and I ended up having a spectacular relationship.”
An unforgettable assist
Todo bien, todo bien has long been Carlos Valderrama’s trademark phrase. It began as a way for Valderrama to dismiss an inquisitive reporter’s questions in the 1980s, when journalists would rush the field immediately after the final whistle. Regardless of the result, the enigmatic Colombian would deflect questions by answering with “It’s all good.”
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As a classic No. 10, the technically-gifted Valderrama was a two-time South American player of the year — first in 1987 and again in 1993. At a time when the game was far more physical than it was technical, it was easy to peg the creative Valderrama as a luxury player who was adverse to defending. But in his early years, Valderrama tracked back, pressed and tackled, unafraid to whack an opponent if necessary. He was an imposing leader with a street-ball mentality and a gift for flair. Colombia’s two-touch style of football, or toque toque, was a trademark of Colombian teams of the 1990s. That brand of football kept Valderrama constantly around the ball. His instinctual telepathy with his teammates allowed him to see passing channels that no one else could.
Valderrama’s 93rd minute assist to Freddy Rincón at the 1990 World Cup in Italy is arguably his greatest assist. Colombia needed a draw against the heavily-favored West Germans in their final group-stage game in order to advance to the second round of a World Cup for the first time.
Valderrama had been kicked and harassed by the Germans throughout the match, in particular by defender Thomas Berthold, who never lost sight of the Colombian. After West Germany took the lead in the 90th minute through Pierre Littbarski, Valderrama baited Berthold one last time before threading a pass that still lives in World Cup lore.
“Those are spontaneous plays,” Valderrama said. “It happened very fast. Freddy and I understood each other very well. But that play happened so quickly. You can’t think at that moment. What matters is whether or not your teammate is on the same page with you. We understood each other. That’s the truth because that play developed quickly, mainly because of the moment. Freddy was so fast and he had long strides. He knew he’d always have the advantage.”
For so many Colombians, they remember exactly where they were on June 19th,1990 and with whom they celebrated Rincón’s stunning equalizer. Valderrama smiled throughout his recollection of that goal, but he wouldn’t categorize it as his all-time assist.
“That was the most important match for us at that time,” he said. “So in the end, it’s remembered as a historic assist.”
An unbreakable record
In MLS, the No. 10 remains a highly-sought after international signing, which is perhaps one of Valderrama’s enduring legacies in the U.S. Some are connectors like Seattle’s Nico Lodeiro and Minnesota United’s Emanuel Reynoso. Others provide flair and goals, like Lucas Zelarayán of the Columbus Crew and Toronto FC’s Alejandro Pozuelo. New England’s Carles Gil, however, has separated himself from the rest.
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Before an injury earlier this summer, Gil, a leading candidate to claim the 2021 MVP award, was firmly on pace to break Valderrama’s record. The Spaniard currently has 18 assists as the regular season winds down. Two more, and Gil will tie 2016 Sacha Kljestan and 2019 Maxi Moralez for the 2nd-best single-season assist mark, with 20.
“He’s close!,” exclaimed Valderrama when told about Gil’s numbers. “People today are paying attention (to the assist record) because there are so many statistics associated with the game. Personally, footballers just play. We just play and play and play without worrying about whether we have a record or not. This one still stands, but sooner or later someone is going to break it.”
A joke no more
Valderrama finished his time in MLS with 16 goals and 114 assists, which is fourth all time. Since then, the league has evolved to its current status via roster mechanisms that allow for increased roster spending, and of course expansion, first domestically and now internationally. By 2023, MLS will have 30 teams and a legitimate working relationship with Liga MX.
When told about MLS’s growing relationship with Mexican soccer, Valderrama said, “See? That’s even more growth. That’s great for football.”
International expansion was unthinkable when MLS debuted with 10 teams in 1996.
“In the 70’s when the Cosmos were around, that league vanished. We didn’t want that,” said Valderrama. “MLS has accomplished what they wanted, right? The priority was to keep the league alive, to maintain MLS. Now it’s grown to where players come over from all over the world. When I played, we came over to teach the public about the game. Today, it’s a showcase for young players in order to sell them to Europe. The league has reached that level. In my time, there were one or two American players in Europe. Not anymore. The (U.S.) national team is made up almost entirely of Europe-based players. So, what was the objective? This. They did it. Now they have to maintain it and continue to grow.”
Valderrama was 34 when he debuted for the Mutiny. His career was nearing its end. The Colombian became a legend in MLS, but he was and he still is well aware of the negative stigma that MLS has been unable to shake in South America.
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“In Colombia or in South America, people think that MLS is a subpar league,” Valderrama said. “No. Some really good players have gone (to MLS) and struggled. They didn’t make it. There’s this idea that it’s easy. It’s not easy. Players have had to leave. They don’t adapt on the sporting or cultural side (of MLS.) You might think ‘Why didn’t this player make it?’ Well, it’s because he thought it’d be easy. It’s not. It’s competitive.”
Becoming a pundit and a social media star
Valderrama remains entrenched in the sport that he loves. He has attended every World Cup since 2006 as an analyst for Fútbol de Primera radio, alongside his close friend and play-by-play great, Andrés Cantor, who was recently inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
This past summer, Valderrama was part of the radio network’s Gold Cup coverage for the first time. It was an opportunity for El Pibe to witness CONCACAF’s development ahead of the World Cup in Qatar next year.
“There are some talented players and the team’s are very well prepared physically,” Valderrama said. “And there’s parity. It’s tough. It’s not easy. Every team is dreaming of getting to the World Cup. Whoever gets careless will be out.”
In Colombia, Valderrama remains a marketable former star. He recently launched an upscale liquor with former World Series champion Edgar Renteria. And in August, Valderrama entered the world of fan tokens and cryptocurrency via a partnership with Fanatics. He has over 1 million followers on Instagram and his famous “Todo bien, todo bien” is now a greeting, a sign off and his go-to hashtag.
Once averse to media, Valderrama is now a respected social media personality with two shows on YouTube. His weekly “El Resumen Del Pibe” reviews the top matches in Colombian and South American football. With a nudge from his family, Valderram then released “Un Rato con El Pibe,” in which he interviews former stars of Colombia’s past.
“It was my wife’s idea,” Valderrama said. “She pushed me to do it. My oldest daughter is a photographer and she shoots videos too with my son-in-law. They offered to help and I was like ‘Am I really going to get into this?’ That’s how it got started. The people liked it. And we kept going! I started inviting former players like Faustino (Asprilla) and (René) El Loco Higuita who are good friends of mine.”
‘Alegría’
Valderrama says his new ventures and his grandchildren have reenergized him. After his contributions to the world’s game brought joy to millions of fans around the globe, social media has allowed him to connect with a new audience of past and present admirers.
Perhaps it wasn’t a surprise how Valderrama, an aging star with a youthful nickname, described the meaning of life. After a brief pause, El Pibe said simply, “Alegría. Alegría.” Happiness. Happiness.
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“That’s my lifestyle. Happiness,” Valderrama said. “I have lived an incredible life because of football. All I wanted to do as a child was play for Colombia and I got that opportunity. I saw the world. I did what I loved. I’m still a dreamer. I still think I’m young. I’m still moving forward and I want to continue to grow. I take care of myself. I have to be an example for my children. You get one life and I’m content. I’m happy. I have my kids. I have my grandchildren. But I’m always looking for new opportunities.”
(Top photo: DIBYANGSHU SARKAR / AFP via Getty Images)
