 Valdés participating in preseason training | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Carlos Enrique Valdés Parra | ||
| Date of birth | May 22, 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Cali, Colombia | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Santa Fe | ||
| Number | 2 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2005 | Real Cartagena | 33 | (0) |
| 2006–2009 | América de Cali | 97 | (4) |
| 2009–2010 | Santa Fe | 54 | (1) |
| 2011– | Philadelphia Union | 65 | (3) |
| 2013– | → Santa Fe (loan) | 15 | (2) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2008– | Colombia | 12 | (2) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 July 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2013 | |||
Carlos Enrique Valdés Parra (born on May 22, 1985 in Cali) is a Colombian footballer who currently plays for the Independiente Santa Fe in Categoria Primera A on loan from the Philadelphia Union.
Career
Colombia
Valdés began his career in 2005 with Real Cartagena and appeared in 33 league matches. After impressing with Cartagena, Valdés joined storied Colombian club América de Cali the following campaign and was a stalwart in defense for the club for four years, where he appeared in 97 matches and scored 4 goals. As a result of his play with America he was called up to the Colombian national team in 2008. In 2009, he joined Independiente Santa Fe and continued to be one of the top defenders in Colombia.
United States
On January 20, 2011, Valdés officially joined Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union[1] on a one-year loan deal. He made his debut for the Union on March 19, 2011, in the team's season opener for the 2011 MLS season, a 1-0 victory over Houston Dynamo.[2] In Week 7 of the season, Valdés was named to the MLS Team of the Week for his performance against the San Jose Earthquakes.[3] On August 5, 2011, the Union announced that it had secured the full rights to Valdes from his former club, Independiente Santa Fe of the Colombian First Division.[4]
International
Valdés played with the Colombia U-20 squad at the 2005 South American Youth Championship, which Colombia hosted and won. He then competed at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands, helping Colombia to the Round of 16 before losing to the eventual champions, Argentina. In 2008, he made his debut for the Colombian senior national team.
