25 Facts About Hugo Rodallega

1.

Hugo Rodallega Martinez was born on 25 July 1985 and is a Colombian professional footballer who currently plays as a forward in the Colombia Categoria Primera A for Club Independiente Santa Fe.

2.

Hugo Rodallega scored 24 goals for the club, making him their all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.

3.

Hugo Rodallega was born in El Carmelo, Colombia, and lived in the village with his parents and two elder sisters.

4.

Hugo Rodallega's cousin Carmen is a footballer, and has played for the Colombia women's national football team.

5.

Hugo Rodallega began his career at local amateur club Boca Juniors de Cali before signing for Deportes Quindio in 2004.

6.

Hugo Rodallega went on to score a total of 13 goals in his first season, earning himself a call-up to the Colombia under-20 squad for the South American Youth Championship.

7.

Hugo Rodallega signed for Deportivo Cali during the middle of the 2005 season, where he won his first honours at club level, helping the team win the 2005-II Copa Mustang.

8.

Hugo Rodallega had now caught the attention of foreign clubs and signed for Mexican Primera Division club Monterrey in 2006.

9.

Hugo Rodallega failed to replicate his previous goal scoring record, finding the net three times before being loaned out to Atlas.

10.

Hugo Rodallega was then transfer listed after scoring just once in 15 games for Monterrey during the Clausura 2007 tournament, and was signed by Necaxa.

11.

Hugo Rodallega's spell at Necaxa was more successful, where he managed to score 16 goals during his first season with the club.

12.

Hugo Rodallega made his debut for Wigan as a 77th-minute substitute for Amr Zaki against Liverpool on 28 January 2009 at the DW Stadium.

13.

Hugo Rodallega nearly made an instant impact for his new team, hitting the crossbar with a powerful strike from a 25-yard free-kick.

14.

Hugo Rodallega appeared in all 38 league games during the season, and despite Wigan's new manager Roberto Martinez often playing him on the left wing, he finished as the club's top goalscorer with ten league goals.

15.

On 17 December 2011, Hugo Rodallega made his 100th league appearance for Wigan, coming onto the pitch as a substitute against Chelsea.

16.

Hugo Rodallega later announced that he wanted to leave Wigan and despite no deals were made officially in the January 2012 transfer window.

17.

On 12 July 2012, Hugo Rodallega signed a three-year deal with Fulham after the expiration of his contract at Wigan.

18.

Hugo Rodallega scored the winning goal against fellow strugglers Birmingham City on 27 September 2014, helping Fulham claim their first league victory of the season.

19.

Hugo Rodallega scored a hat-trick against league leaders Besiktas on 23 April 2016.

20.

In 2005, Hugo Rodallega was selected in Colombia's squad for the U-20 South American Championship.

21.

Hugo Rodallega made his debut in Colombia's opening game against Bolivia.

22.

Hugo Rodallega came onto the pitch as a half-time substitute, and went on to score four goals in the second half of the match.

23.

Colombia finished the tournament as champions as Hugo Rodallega became the tournament's all-time top goal scorer with a total of 11 goals in nine games, beating Luciano Galletti's record of nine goals.

24.

Hugo Rodallega was selected for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, but failed to live up to expectations and was dropped from the team after the group stages as Colombia lost against Argentina in the second round.

25.

Hugo Rodallega briefly played in goal during Colombia's final tournament game at the 2007 Copa America, when first string goalkeeper Robinson Zapata was given a red card and Colombia had no more available substitutes.