1. Mario Yepes is well known for his time in Paris Saint-Germain, where he was considered to be one of the best defenders at the time, being dubbed by fans as "Super Mario".
23 Facts About Mario Yepes
1. 2.
Mario Yepes served as the captain of the Colombia national team between 2008 and 2014.
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Mario Yepes began his managerial career with hometown club Deportivo Cali, whom he managed from 2016 to 2017.
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Mario Yepes started his playing career in 1994 with Cortulua, as a forward before Cortulua's coach converted him to a libero.
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Mario Yepes signed for his home town club Deportivo Cali in 1998.
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Mario Yepes was part of the squad for the 1999 Copa Libertadores.
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In 2002, Mario Yepes moved to Europe, signing for Nantes in the French Ligue 1.
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Mario Yepes would become a mainstay in the PSG side winning the Coupe de France in 2006 and the Coupe de la Ligue in 2008, though he did not feature in the second final.
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Mario Yepes signed a new long-term contract in summer 2009.
10.
In March 2010, Chievo teammate Sergio Pellissier confirmed that Mario Yepes would join AC Milan in the summer, when his contract ran out.
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Mario Yepes played few games in the Italian Serie A, but participated in the UEFA Champions League.
12.
Mario Yepes was close to scoring with Milan in the UEFA Champions League match against Tottenham Hotspur, in which he had two clear chances of scoring with a header, but was denied twice by Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes.
13.
On 12 May 2012, Mario Yepes signed a one-year extension contract with Milan, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2013.
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Mario Yepes later confirmed that Milan would not offer him as such and his reason for departure.
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On 14 July 2013, Mario Yepes signed a one-year contract with Serie A club Atalanta.
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Mario Yepes has played 102 matches for the Colombia national team since his debut in 1999, making him the second-most capped Colombian player of all time, after Carlos Valderrama.
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Mario Yepes was part of the Colombia squad that won the Copa America in 2001.
18.
On 17 December 2013, Mario Yepes announced that he would retire after the 2014 World Cup.
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Mario Yepes was the oldest outfield player at the 2014 World Cup, and the second-oldest overall, after compatriot Faryd Mondragon.
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On 19 June 2014, Mario Yepes earned his 100th cap for Colombia in the second group stage match against the Ivory Coast, becoming the third Colombian player to reach the milestone after Valderrama and Leonel Alvarez.
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Mario Yepes's coaching team had Freddy Hurtado and Julian Barragan as assistants, and Daniel Curbelo as physical trainer.
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In 2022, Mario Yepes became the Latin American regional ambassador for Betsson, the world's largest gaming group, which said that as an AC Milan legend, he would help engage Milan fans in the region.
23.
Mario Yepes and his wife have three children, his son Luciano Yepes was born in May 2002, his second son Valentino Yepes was born on 23 September 2012, and his daughter Miranda Yepes was born in April 2005.