Biography
Who is Mario Yepes?
Early playing career
Mario Yepes began his professional path in 1994 with Cortuluá. Originally playing as a forward, a coach transitioned him into a libero role. In 1998, he moved to his hometown club, Deportivo Cali. While playing for Deportivo Cali, he secured a Colombian championship and was a member of the 1999 Copa Libertadores squad.
He traveled to Argentina in 1999 to join River Plate. During his time there, he won two Argentine Primera championships. His success in South America eventually led to a move to Europe in 2002, when he signed with Nantes in the French Ligue 1.
European and club success
After playing for Nantes, Mario joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2004. He became a key defender for the club, winning the Coupe de France in 2006 and the Coupe de la Ligue in 2008. In 2008, he moved to Italy to play for Chievo. He later signed with AC Milan in the 2010-11 season.
During his tenure at AC Milan, he competed in the UEFA Champions League. He scored a crucial winning goal against Lecce in October 2011. Mario Yepes also played for Atalanta in 2013 and San Lorenzo in 2014 before retiring from professional football in January 2016.
International career and captaincy
Mario represented the Colombia national team for many years, earning 102 caps. He was a member of the squad that won the 2001 Copa América. Between 2008 and 2014, he served as the captain for his country. He was part of the generation that helped Colombia reach the World Cup quarter-finals in 2014.
In the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he was the oldest outfield player in the tournament. He captained the team during their 3-0 victory over Greece. His performance helped lead the national side to their best-ever World Cup result.
Managerial work and later life
Following his retirement as a player, Mario entered coaching. He managed Deportivo Cali from 2016 to 2017. During his time as a manager, the club qualified for the 2017 Copa Sudamericana. He left the coaching position in March 2017.
From 2019 to 2021, he worked as the Sports Director for the Colombian Football Federation. He also became a regional ambassador for the gaming group Betsson in 2022. This role allowed him to connect with AC Milan fans in Latin America.
Birthday and age
Mario Yepes was born on January 13, 1976, which makes Mario 50 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Mario shares the date with 43 other famous people.
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