Carlos Bacca

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Bacca and the second or maternal family name is Ahumada.
Carlos Bacca

Bacca in 2012
Personal information
Full name Carlos Arturo Bacca Ahumada
Date of birth (1986-09-08) 8 September 1986
Place of birth Puerto Colombia, Colombia
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Milan
Number 70
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2011 Atlético Junior 97 (50)
2006 → Barranquilla (loan) 27 (11)
2007–2008 → Minervén (loan) 29 (12)
2008 → Barranquilla (loan) 19 (14)
2012–2013 Club Brugge 45 (28)
2013–2015 Sevilla 72 (34)
2015– Milan 51 (24)
National team‡
2010– Colombia 38 (13)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 November 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2016

Carlos Arturo Bacca Ahumada (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkarlos ˈβaka]; born 8 September 1986) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays for Italian club Milan and the Colombian national team as a striker.

Bacca began his career at Atlético Junior, where he was top scorer in the 2010 Categoría Primera A Apertura. In January 2012, he moved to Club Brugge, where he was the Belgian Pro League's top scorer in his only full season before joining Sevilla for €7 million. He won the UEFA Europa League in both of his first two seasons with the club, scoring twice in the 2015 final. In the summer of 2015, he joined Serie A side Milan for €30 million.

An international for Colombia since 2012, Bacca represented the country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2015 Copa América, and the Copa América Centenario, in which they finished third. He is renowned for his pace, aggression, eye for goal, and determination as a forward.

Background and personal life

Bacca was born in Puerto Colombia, a coastal town in the Barranquilla metropolitan area, to Gilberto Bacca and Eloisa Ahumada.[2] Bacca is known to be an extremely religious person of the Evangelical Christian faith,[3][4] frequently thanking God in interviews,[5][6] and despite his denomination it was at one time rumored that he wanted to join Roma so that he would be close to the Pope.[7]

Club career

Atlético Junior

Bacca began his professional career with Atlético Junior in 2006, where he did not have many chances to play. While playing football, Bacca had a second job working as a bus driver's assistant, to earn more money since his family came from a poor background.[6] On loan at Barranquilla FC in 2007, Bacca made 27 appearances and scored 12 goals. After that, he joined Venezuelan club Minervén on loan for a season. Bacca led the club into second place in the league, scoring 12 goals in 29 games. In 2008, Bacca rejoined Barranquilla on loan once again and was the league top scorer with 14 goals in 19 games.

In his first professional season at Junior, Bacca quickly earned himself a regular first team place and was the top scorer in the 2009 Copa Colombia. One year later, in 2010, he became the winner and top goalscorer of the Categoría Primera A, repeating in 2011 as winner and top goalscorer giving Junior their sixth and seventh Colombian titles.

Since making a breakthrough at Atlético Junior, Bacca had attracted clubs' interest, mostly from Europe. Many clubs in Europe like Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow[8] and Chievo[9] came close to Bacca's signature, but those moves were never completed. Bacca revealed that he nearly joined Lokomotiv, but his hopes of moving to Russia ended after the club instead signed Ecuadorian striker Felipe Caicedo.[10]

Club Brugge

Bacca training with Club Brugge in 2013

During the beginning of 2012, Bacca signed for Belgian side Club Brugge, putting pen to paper on a three-year contract worth €1.5 million for his services.[11] He stated that joining Club Brugge fulfilled his dream to play in Europe.[12]

He made his debut on 21 January 2012, coming on as a substitute for Lior Refaelov in the 68th minute, as Brugge lost 1–0 against Mechelen. In his first three months at Brugge, Bacca struggled to make a breakthrough in the first team, but in the playoffs, he earned his place in the first team. On 15 April 2012, Bacca scored his first league goal for the club against Gent, which gave Brugge the 1–0 win. Then in the last game of the season, Bacca scored twice, in a 3–2 win over Kortrijk, as Brugge finished in second place to earn a European spot.[13]

At the start of the 2012–13 season, Bacca started to play more regularly after the departure of Joseph Akpala and earned the trust of new manager Georges Leekens. In January 2013, having scored 18 goals to date, Bacca asked for a transfer after announcing his intention to leave Brugge.[14] This in response to several clubs throughout Europe expressing an interest in Bacca.[15] However, in an unexpected turn of events two weeks later, Bacca signed a new contract that would have kept him at the club until 2016.[16] At the end of the 2012–13 season, Bacca finished as the league's top scorer.[17] This led him being nominated for the player of the year in Belgium.[18] Six days later, Bacca won the player of the year in Belgium and wrote on Twitter saying, "Thanks to my family, friends, family and Club Brugge especially throughout Colombia, this award is for you, thanks for your support."[19]

In his Brugge career, he scored 28 goals in 45 league appearances.[13]

Sevilla

On 9 July 2013, Spanish La Liga club Sevilla signed Bacca for €7 million on a five-year contract with a €30 million buy-out release clause.[20]

In the Copa EuroAmericana, Bacca scored his first Sevilla goal in a 3–1 win over Barcelona SC on 26 July.[21] He scored his first competitive goal for the club on 1 August in a 3–0 home win over Mladost Podgorica for the third qualifying round of the 2013–14 Europa League.[22] His La Liga debut came on 18 August in a 1–3 home loss to Atlético Madrid. On 25 September, he scored his first two league goals against Rayo Vallecano in a 4–1 victory.

On 26 March 2014, Bacca netted two goals in a 2-1 Sevilla victory against the then league leaders Real Madrid at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.[23] In the second leg of Sevilla's Europa League quarter-final tie with Porto on 10 April, he scored his side's third goal in a 4–1 win, securing a 4–2 aggregate victory and a spot in the semi-finals of the competition.[24] Two weeks later, he scored the second goal in their 2–0 semi-final first leg win over compatriots Valencia.[25] In the final on 14 May, he scored in the penalty shootout where Sevilla beat Benfica to lift the trophy.[26] Bacca was voted by Marca as the best signing of the 2013–14 La Liga season.[27] At the LFP Awards, he was voted the season's best player from the Americas, ahead of Real Madrid's Ángel Di María and Barcelona's Neymar.[28]

On 30 September 2014, Bacca signed a contract extension with Sevilla, keeping him at the club until 2018.[29] He scored seven European goals as the club retained their Europa League crown, including two in the final for a 3–2 victory over Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, thus qualifying the team to the next season's Champions League.[30]

Milan

On 2 July 2015, Italian Serie A club Milan announced the signing of Bacca after activating his buyout clause of reported €30 million, subject to a medical.[31] He made his debut for Milan in a friendly win over city rivals Internazionale in Shenzhen, China.[32] He made his competitive debut on 17 August in the third round of the Coppa Italia, starting in a 2–0 win over Perugia at the San Siro.[33] He scored his first goal in Serie A on 29 August 2015 in a 2–1 home win against Empoli. He scored his first brace in Serie A on 19 September in a 3–2 home win against Palermo. On 13 January 2016, he scored a rabona-style goal against Carpi in a 2–1 Coppa Italia win, taking Milan to the semi-finals, then scored again in the weekend as Milan beat Fiorentina 2–0. On 31 January, he scored in the Derby della Madonnina against Inter, helping Milan triumph 3–0, then again three days later in a 2–0 victory at Palermo. On 21 August 2016 he scored his first hat-trick against Torino in a 3-2 win at San Siro.[34]

International career

Bacca scored his first goal for the senior national team in his debut on 11 August 2010, putting Colombia in front against Bolivia at the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz; the match finished in a 1–1 draw.[35] His next goal for Colombia came over two years later, scoring his side's second of the match in a 3–0 win over Cameroon on 17 October 2012.[36]

On 31 May 2014, Bacca scored to put Colombia ahead 2–0 against Senegal, in a match that finished 2–2.[37] Bacca was selected to the final 23-man roster for Colombia at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil less than a week later.[38] Bacca made one appearance in the finals, coming on as a substitute and winning a penalty in Colombia's 1–2 defeat to hosts Brazil in the quarter-finals.[39]

In a friendly match against El Salvador at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey on 10 October 2014, Bacca scored twice as Colombia won 3–0.[40]

In May 2015, Bacca was included in Colombia's 23-man squad for the 2015 Copa América by coach José Pékerman.[41] After the team's second match, a 1–0 win against Brazil in Santiago on 17 June, Bacca was red carded after the final whistle for pushing over Brazilian striker Neymar, who himself was earlier sent off for deliberately kicking the ball at Pablo Armero.[42] Bacca was given a two-match ban, while Neymar was suspended for four matches.[43]

Career statistics

Club

As of 20 November 2016[44]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barranquilla (loan) 2006 Primera A 27120000002712
Minervén (loan) 2007 Segunda División 29120000002912
Barranquilla (loan) 2008 Primera A 19140000001914
Total 75380000007538
Atlético Junior 2009 Primera A 2912121100004123
2010 32180020003418
2011 362011884005532
Total 975023191040013073
Club Brugge 2011–12 Pro League 103000000103
2012–13 35252073004428
Total 45282073005431
Sevilla 2013–14 La Liga 351410167005221
2014–15 372031157105628
Total 72344131141010849
Milan 2015–16 Serie A 38185200004320
2016–17 136000000136
Total 51245200005626
Career Total 3401743322482110423217

International

As of 16 November 2016[44]
Colombia national team
YearAppsGoals
201011
201100
201211
201360
201474
2015102
2016135
Total3813

International goals

Scores and results lists Colombia's goal tally first.[45]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 11 August 2010 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia  Bolivia
1–0
1–1
 Friendly
2. 17 October 2012 Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia  Cameroon
2–0
3–0
3. 31 May 2014 Estadio Pedro Bidegain, Buenos Aires, Argentina  Senegal
2–0
2–2
4. 10 October 2014 Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States  El Salvador
2–0
3–0
5.
3–0
6. 14 November 2014 Craven Cottage, London, England  United States
1–1
2–1
7. 26 March 2015 Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain  Bahrain
1–0
6–0
8. 8 September 2015 Red Bull Arena, Harrison, United States  Peru
1–0
1–1
9. 24 March 2016 Estadio Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia  Bolivia
2–0
3–2
 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
10. 29 March 2016 Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia  Ecuador
1–0
3–1
11.
3–0
12. 7 June 2016 Rose Bowl, Pasadena, United States  Paraguay
1–0
2–1
 Copa América Centenario
13. 25 June 2016 University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, United States  United States
1–0
1–0

Honours

Club

Atlético Junior
Sevilla

International

Colombia

Individual

References

  1. ↑ http://www.acmilan.com/it/carlos-bacca
  2. ↑ Carlos Bacca, el hijo de Puerto Colombia | ELESPECTADOR.COM
  3. ↑ "Bacca, héroe de la Europa League: "Se lo dedico a Dios" (Bacca, hero of the Europa League: "I dedicate it to God")". ProtestanteDdigital.com (in Spanish). 27 May 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  4. ↑ ""Creo en Dios y lo llevo en mi corazón." dijo Carlos Bacca jugador cristiano del Sevilla ("I believe in God and in my heart." said Carlos Bacca Christian player Sevilla)". La Gaceta Chritiana (in Spanish). 28 May 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  5. ↑ Chesters, Heath (28 October 2013). "Bacca: Thanks to God, because he gave me this gift and talent". Inside Spanish Football. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Bacca: "At 20 I was working as a fisherman"". Marca. 14 July 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  7. ↑ Chesters, Heath (14 June 2015). "Carlos Bacca, un buteur guidé par la religion? (Carlos Bacca, a striker guided by religion?)". Foot Mercado (in French). Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "Carlos Bacca passes Atletico Junior Russian Lokomotiv" [Carlos Bacca pasa de Atlético Junior al Lokomotiv de Rusia] (in Spanish). El Pais. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "Chievo, incoming Carlos Bacca" [Chievo. in arrivo Carlos Bacca] (in Italian). Tutto Mercato Web. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "Atletico Junior, Bacca: "I was close to Lokomotiv"" [Atletico Junior, Bacca: "Sono stato vicino alla Lokomotiv"] (in Italian). Tutto Mercato Web. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "Carlos Bacca was presented at Brugge of Belgium" [Carlos Bacca fue presentado en el Brujas de Bélgica] (in Spanish). antena2.com.co. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Carlos Bacca went to fulfill his dream to Belgium" [Carlos Bacca se fue a cumplir su sueño a Bélgica] (in Spanish). El Pais. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  13. 1 2 3 "Carlos Bacca, Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  14. ↑ "Carlos Bacca wants to leave Club Brugge" [Carlos Bacca wil weg bij Club Brugge] (in Dutch). De Standaard. 7 January 2012. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "Sixteen goals: logical that I'm popular '" [Sixteen goals: logical that I'm popular '] (in Dutch). De Standaard. 22 December 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  16. ↑ "OFFICIAL: Brugge, Bacca renewed until 2016" [UFFICIALE: Bruges, Bacca rinnova fino al 2016] (in Italian). Tutto Mercato Web. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  17. 1 2 "Belgium Juniper League 2012/13 – Best goalscorers". SoccerVista. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  18. ↑ "Colombia's Carlos Bacca nominated for player of the year in Belgium" [El colombiano Carlos Bacca nominado a jugador del año en Bélgica] (in Spanish). El Pais. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  19. 1 2 "Carlos Bacca, the best player in Belgium" [Carlos Bacca, el mejor jugador de Bélgica] (in Spanish). El Pais. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  20. ↑ "Sevilla sign Colombian striker Carlos Bacca". insidespanishfootball.com. July 11, 2013.
  21. ↑ "1–3. Sevilla thrashed reacts and Ecuadorian Barcelona" [1–3. Sevilla reacciona y golea al ecuatoriano Barcelona] (in Spanish). La Informacion. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  22. ↑ "Sevilla left without options to a loose Mladost (3–0)" [El Sevilla deja sin opciones a un flojo Mladost (3–0)]. Estadio Deportivo. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  23. ↑ "Sevilla FC 2–1 Real Madrid". ESPNFC. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  24. ↑ "Sevilla ease into semis". ESPNFC. 10 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  25. ↑ "Sevilla 2–0 Valencia". BBC Sport. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  26. 1 2 "Spot-on Sevilla leave Benfica dreams in tatters". UEFA.com. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  27. ↑ Deportes Postobon
  28. ↑ "gala de premios LFP 2013/14" [LFP Awards show 2013/14] (in Spanish). Liga de Fútbol Profesional. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  29. ↑ "Carlos Bacca mejora su contrato con el Sevilla FC" [Carlos Bacca will improve his contract with Sevilla FC] (in Spanish). Sevilla FC. 30 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2 October 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  30. ↑ Keegan, Mike (27 May 2015). "Dnipro 2-3 Sevilla: Carlos Bacca scores twice as La Liga side survive scare to retain Europa League crown and earn Champions League spot with dramatic win in Warsaw". Daily Mail. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  31. ↑ "Zlatan Ibrahimovic return would help bring AC Milan back to the top, says Carlos Bacca". Daily Mail. 19 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  32. ↑ "Ozil directs Arsenal rout of Lyon in preseason friendly; United beat Barca". ESPN FC. 26 July 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  33. ↑ "AC Milan 2-0 Perugia: Honda and Luiz Adriano win cup clash for Rossoneri". Goal. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  34. ↑ "Carlos Bacca hat trick as AC Milan beat Torino; Inter Milan stumble at Chievo". PA Sport. ESPNFC.com. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  35. ↑ "Bolivia v. Colombia, 11 August 2010". 11vs.11. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  36. ↑ "Colombia 3–0 Cameroon". Goal.com. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  37. ↑ "Colombia 2:2 Senegal". Sky Sports. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  38. ↑ "FIFA World Cup 2014 Colombia Squad: Football Team & Player List". India.com. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  39. ↑ "Hosts beat Colombia, set up Germany semi". FIFA. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  40. ↑ "Colombia 3–0 El Salvador: Radamel Falcao back on target and Carlos Bacca scores twice as James Rodriguez and Co dominate". Daily Mail. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  41. ↑ "2015 Copa America squad lists". ESPN. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  42. ↑ "Copa America: FT: Brazil 0-1 Colombia". BBC. 17 June 2015.
  43. ↑ "Neymar: Brazil striker banned for Copa America". BBC Sport. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  44. 1 2 Carlos Bacca profile at Soccerway
  45. ↑ "Carlos Bacca International Statistics"., Int.soccerway.com Retrieved on 31 July 2014
  46. ↑ "Ronaldo voted La Liga's best player at LFP awards". Goal.com. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  47. ↑ "UEFA Europa League squad of the season". UEFA.com. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
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