.jpg) Zúñiga playing for Napoli in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Juan Camilo Zúñiga Mosquera | ||
| Date of birth | 14 December 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Chigorodó, Colombia | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Wingback | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Napoli | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2005–2008 | Atlético Nacional | 123 | (9) |
| 2008–2009 | Siena | 28 | (0) |
| 2009– | Napoli | 116 | (4) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2005– | Colombia | 51 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 September 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10 September 2013 | |||
Juan Camilo Zúñiga Mosquera (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxwan kaˈmilo ˈsuɲiɣa mosˈkeɾa], born 14 December 1985) is a Colombian football winger/wingback who currently plays for Serie A club Napoli and the Colombian national team. He is well known for his contributing assists when playing as a defender and an overall versatile player, making a huge impact during counterattacks.[1]
Career
Zúñiga left Atlético Nacional in the summer of 2008 and was contracted by Siena.[2] On 9 July 2009 Napolisigned the Colombian from Siena on a five-year deal for €8.5 million.[3][4] Zúñiga then usually featured in the left side of the 3–5–2 formation, as the left wingback, since Christian Maggio often occupies the right side.
After the arrival of Andrea Dossena in January 2010, he lost his starting place and became a backup wingback on both flanks in the 2010–11 Serie A season.
Zúñiga scored his first Serie A goal for Napoli against Catania on 20 February 2011. His second goal was on 15 May 2011 against Internazionale in the 46th minute. His third, spectacular goal occurred against Genoaon 21 December 2011.
In late August, 2013, Zuniga suffered an injury. Weeks later, it was confirmed that he would have knee surgery and be out for a month, likely causing him to miss the rest of the season for 2013.[5]
International career
Zúñiga played for Colombia in the 2005 World Youth Cup before progressing to the senior national team in 2005. He was regarded as being similar to other famous adventurous full-backs such as Cafu and Roberto Carlos by the Italian press during the under-20 World Youth Cup, because of his attacking nature.
Zúñiga has started most of Colombia 2014 World Cup qualfiers, only missing in the game against Venezuelagiven permission to leave the team for the birth of his son,[6] and against Peru due to injury.
