New Delhi: Paulo Cesar Wanchope is undoubtedly the biggest star in the history of Costa Rican football.
The striker has terrorised many defences throughout his long career and is set to do the same at Germany 2006.
As a youth, the fearsome Tico centre-forward was almost lost to the beautiful game.
An excellent basketball player, Wanchope represented Costa Rica at the 1993 Central American basketball tournament, and spent a year studying in the USA on a basketball scholarship.
However, on his return from North America he was delighted to discover that he had been selected to play football for the Costa Rica youth side, while Herediano, one of the country’s biggest clubs, invited him to join their first-team squad.
Torn between the two sports he loved, Wanchope eventually plumped for football and has not looked back since.
Wanchope’s displays attracted the attention of scouts from across the globe and English side Derby County won the race for his signature.
During a three-year spell at the club from 1996 to 1999, the leggy forward earned the respect of press and public alike as he adapted well to the rigours of the English football.
Spells at West Ham and Manchester City would follow before Wanchope’s adventure in England came to an end in 2005 with a brief but fruitful stint at Spanish side Malaga.
Comments
0 comment