Rincón began his professional career at Independiente Santa Fé in 1986, winning the Copa Colombia in 1989 with the capital club,[1] as well as gaining national acclaim for his performances.
It was his performances at the 1994 World Cup that prompted Parma to sign the Colombian midfielder. However the three foreigner rule meant he was loaned out to Napoli, and was eventually sold onto Real Madrid for the 1995–96 season.[2]
His most memorable goal is the one he scored against West Germany in Milan, Italy on 19 June during the 1990 World Cup. Playing into injury time, Colombia needed a goal to draw the game and avoid elimination from the tournament at the group stages. When played through by a pass from Carlos Valderrama, Rincon held his nerve and calmly fired the ball through the legs of Bodo Illgner to secure the draw his team needed.[2] During a qualifying match for the 1994 FIFA World Cup on 5 September 1993 against Argentina, he scored the first goal of the game receiving the ball from teammate Carlos Valderrama and passing the Argentine goalkeeper, Sergio Goycochea, before scoring the third goal in a 5–0 victory that secured Colombia's place at the World Cup.[5]
Coaching career
In 2005, Rincón started a football manager career, after he was hired as Iraty manager for the 2006 season.[6] On 27 September 2006, Rincón was hired as São Bento's manager.[7] He was the coach of São José Esporte Clube of São José dos Campos, São Paulo.
In 2007, Rincón came under criminal investigation in Colombia and Panama, facing charges of collaboration with cocaine kingpin Pablo Rayo Montaño and suspicion of money laundering. On 10 May, São Paulo police took him into custody after a Panamanian request for extradition.[9] In August 2013, Rincón suffered multiple injuries in a car accident in his native Valle del Cauca, where he underwent surgery at a local hospital.[10]
On 11 April 2022, Rincón was hospitalized with critical head injuries after the car he was driving collided with a bus in the Colombian city of Cali. Four of his passengers and the bus driver were also injured.[12][13] He died two days later.[14]
Career statistics
Scores and results list Colombia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rincón goal.
List of international goals scored by Freddy Rincón[4]