Happy Birthday to you!
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| AFP |
In our regular Sunday feature, FIFA.com presents you with some of the biggest names in football who will be celebrating their birthdays over the coming week.
23. Alberto Acosta (49) represented Argentina at the inaugural FIFA Confederations Cup in 1992, scoring a goal against Côte d'Ivoire en route to La Albiceleste lifting the prestigious trophy. The prolific goalscorer also competed at two Copa America tournaments, emerging victorious in 1993, which was Argentina's last continental victory to date. At club level, he starred for Union Santa Fe, Boca Juniors and San Lorenzo, where he won the Copa Sudamericana and topped the scoring charts in his homeland in 1992. The Argentinian international enjoyed two successful spells with Chilean giants Universidad Catolica, capturing a Primera Division title, a Copa Chile and a Chilean Player of the Year award during those periods. Acosta turned out for three clubs outside South America during his career: Toulouse (France), Yokohama (Japan) and Sporting Lisbon (Portugal), with whom he claimed a Portuguese League crown.
24. Carlos Hermosillo (51) was part of the Mexico squads that performed on home soil at the 1986 FIFA World Cup™, although he did not see any playing time himself, and at USA 1994, where he did get on the pitch, making two appearances as El Tri reached the Round of 16. In 1995, the beanpole striker participated in the Confederations Cup, finishing third, and at the Copa America, having previously appeared in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 1991. After starting out at Club America, where he clinched six Mexican Championships and two Mexican Super Cups, he tried his luck with Standard Liege, Monterrey and then Cruz Azul, where he added a further Mexican title and a Mexican Cup to his CV. Another league crown followed in the colours of Necaxa, as did a second move abroad to Los Angeles Galaxy. Hermosillo, a three-time leading goalscorer in the Mexican League, later played for Atlante and Chivas.
25. Yinka Kudaisi (40) travelled to three FIFA Women’s World Cup™ tournaments with Nigeria, namely Sweden 1995, USA 1999 and China 2007, although she did not make any appearances at the l2007 finals. The imposing centre-back also showcased her defensive skills at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournaments in 2000 and 2004.
26. Zlatko Vujovic (57) pulled on the jersey of Yugoslavia at Spain 1982 and Italy 1990, where he and his team-mates were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Argentina. In addition, the clinical forward took part in the 1980 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament, where he scored two goals and finished fourth, and in UEFA EURO 1984. He made his name at Hajduk Split, with whom he landed a Yugoslav League title, two Yugoslav Cups and a Yugoslav Footballer of the Year award, before exporting his talents to France, where he secured a league and cup double with Bordeaux and subsequently turned out for Cannes, Paris Saint-Germain, Sochaux and Nice.
27. Dietmar Hamann (42) played for Germany at France 1998 and Korea/Japan 2002, where Die Nationalelf lost in the Final versus Brazil. The reliable defensive midfielder also starred at the 1993 FIFA U-20 World Cup, EURO 2000 and EURO 2004. Having come through the ranks at Bayern Munich, where he scooped two Bundesliga titles, a German Cup, a German Super Cup and a UEFA Cup, he enjoyed a successful period in English football, first with Newcastle United and then with Liverpool, with whom he lifted two FA Cups, two English League Cups, a UEFA Cup, a UEFA Champions League trophy, two UEFA Super Cups and an FA Charity Shield. He also reached the final of the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup, which the Reds lost to Sao Paolo. Following three seasons at Manchester City, the Bavaria native saw out the remainder of his career with Milton Keynes Dons, for whom he fulfilled the role of player/coach. After hanging up his boots for good, Hamann worked in the backroom staff at Leicester City prior to taking charge in his own right at Stockport County.
28. Thiago Motta (33) finally got a taste of the World Cup with Italy at Brazil 2014, having already experienced a major tournament with La Nazionale at EURO 2012. The elegant midfielder was promoted from the Barcelona B team to the senior side in 2001, winning two Liga titles, two Spanish Super Cups and a Champions League title with the Catalans in the years that followed. After stints at Atletico Madrid and Genoa, he was transferred to Inter Milan in 2009. Motta’s three years in Lombardy were peppered with trophies, corresponding to a Serie A crown, two Italian Cups, an Italian Super Cup, another Champions League title and the World Club Cup. In 2012, he signed for Paris Saint-Germain, and has since amassed three Ligue 1 Championships, a Coupe de France, two French League Cups and three Trophees des champions in the French capital.
29. John O'Brien (38) played a key role in the United States’ surprise run to the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup, where he was an ever-present in the side and scored a goal in the group stage. Four years later, he made one appearance at Germany 2006. The versatile American had previously held aloft the 2005 Gold Cup and finished fourth at the 2000 Olympic Football Tournament in Sydney. O'Brien turned professional at Ajax, who initially sent him out on loan to Utrecht. Upon returning to Amsterdam, he established himself in the team, bagging two Eredivisie titles, a Dutch Cup and a Dutch Super Cup, before moving on and plying his trade for Den Haag and Chivas USA.