Ivan Córdoba

Colombian defender and Inter Milan vice-captain who helped his country win Copa América glory.

Iván Ramiro Córdoba Sepúlveda (born 11 August 1976) is a Colombian former professional footballer who played as a defender. He spent most of his career at Inter Milan, where he was vice-captain, and also served as a key member of the Colombia national team.

Quick Facts

Full name: Iván Ramiro Córdoba Sepúlveda
Born: 11 August 1976
Birthplace: Rionegro, Colombia
Height: 1.73 m / 5 ft 8 in
Position: Defender
Total caps: 498
Total goals: 25

Lore & Background

Córdoba began his career with Deportivo Rionegro in 1993, then moved to Atlético Nacional in 1996. He played for San Lorenzo in Argentina from 1998 before signing for Inter Milan in January 2000 for €16 million, rejecting an offer from Real Madrid. He formed a central defensive partnership with Marco Materazzi and was named Inter's vice-captain behind Javier Zanetti. He lifted the Coppa Italia in 2005 when Zanetti was absent due to the Confederations Cup. On 19 February 2008, he injured his left anterior cruciate ligament against Liverpool, missing the rest of the season as Inter won the league. He renewed his contract until 30 June 2012 on 9 June 2008. On 5 May 2012, he announced he would leave Inter at the end of the season; his last competitive appearance was on 6 May 2012 in the Derby della Madonnina, where Inter players wore his No. 2 shirt during warm-up. He later traveled to Indonesia for a friendly tour before retiring. He won five Serie A titles, four Coppa Italia titles, three Supercoppa Italiana titles, one UEFA Champions League, and one FIFA Club World Cup with Inter. On 10 February 2021, he became sporting director of Venezia.

Reader's Guide

Córdoba was a central defender known for his pace, stamina, man-marking, and heading ability. Despite being 173 cm tall, he was a good jumper and scored goals with his head. He could also play as a full-back or wing-back on the right. He captained Colombia to win the 2001 Copa América, scoring the only goal in the final. He was called up for the 1998 World Cup (without appearing), the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup (fourth place), and the 1997, 1999, and 2007 Copa América editions.