Abel Aguilar

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Abel Aguilar

| image = FWC 2018 - Round of 16 - COL v ENG - Photo 141 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Aguilar with Colombia at the 2018 World Cup

| fullname = Abel Enrique Aguilar Tapias{{cite web|url=https://www.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF|title=FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Colombia|publisher=FIFA|page=5|date=15 July 2018|access-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611000407/https://www.fifadata.com/documents/FWC/2018/pdf/FWC_2018_SQUADLISTS.PDF|archive-date=11 June 2019}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|1|6|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bogotá, Colombia

| height = 1.85 m

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 2002–2005

| years2 = 2005–2010

| years3 = 2005

| years4 = 2007–2008

| years5 = 2008–2009

| years6 = 2009–2010

| years7 = 2010–2013

| years8 = 2012–2013

| years9 = 2013–2016

| years10 = 2015–2016

| years11 = 2016

| years12 = 2016–2018

| years13 = 2018

| years14 = 2019

| clubs1 = Deportivo Cali

| clubs2 = Udinese

| clubs3 = → Ascoli (loan)

| clubs4 = → Xerez (loan)

| clubs5 = → Hércules (loan)

| clubs6 = → Zaragoza (loan)

| clubs7 = Hércules

| clubs8 = → Deportivo La Coruña (loan)

| clubs9 = Toulouse

| clubs10 = Toulouse B

| clubs11 = Belenenses

| clubs12 = Deportivo Cali

| clubs13 = FC Dallas

| clubs14 = Unión Magdalena

| caps1 = 102

| caps2 = 2

| caps3 = 0

| caps4 = 48

| caps5 = 34

| caps6 = 27

| caps7 = 73

| caps8 = 28

| caps9 = 49

| caps10 = 3

| caps11 = 9

| caps12 = 55

| caps13 = 4

| caps14 = 41

| totalcaps = 475

| goals1 = 3

| goals2 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| goals4 = 3

| goals5 = 9

| goals6 = 4

| goals7 = 4

| goals8 = 3

| goals9 = 1

| goals10 = 0

| goals11 = 1

| goals12 = 1

| goals13 = 0

| goals14 = 4

| totalgoals = 33

| nationalyears1 = 2003–2005

| nationalyears2 = 2004–2018

| nationalteam1 = Colombia U20

| nationalteam2 = Colombia

| nationalcaps1 = 9

| nationalcaps2 = 71

| nationalgoals1 = 2

| nationalgoals2 = 7

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}

{{MedalCountry|{{fb|COL}}}}

}}

Abel Enrique Aguilar Tapias (born 6 January 1985) is a Colombian former footballer who played as a central or defensive midfielder.

Having started his career at Deportivo Cali, Aguilar signed with Italian club Udinese at the age of 20 then spent seven seasons in Spanish football with four teams, appearing in La Liga for Zaragoza, Hércules and Deportivo. He also competed professionally in France, Portugal and the United States.

A Colombian international since 2004, Aguilar represented the nation in two World Cups and as many Copa América tournaments while playing 71 matches.

Club career

=Italy=

Aguilar was born in Bogotá. Serie A club Udinese Calcio bought his rights in the summer of 2005, from local Deportivo Cali, and loaned him immediately to fellow league team Ascoli Calcio 1898 FC due to the excess of foreign players in the roster;{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/ascoli-il-profilo-di-aguilar-15349|title=Ascoli, il profilo di Aguilar|trans-title=Ascoli, Aguilar's profile|publisher=Tutto Mercato Web|first=Alessio|last=Calfapietra|language=it|date=14 October 2005|access-date=2 February 2016}} however, after some problems in the arrival of the transfer, the player missed pre-season training, only joining it a month into the season.

Aguilar returned to Udinese in January 2006, after having never played for Ascoli,{{cite web|url=https://it.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01b1-0e6d567dfe5b-23cb105fb24b-1000--l-udinese-richiama-aguilar/|title=L'Udinese richiama Aguilar|trans-title=Udinese recall Aguilar|publisher=UEFA|language=it|date=4 January 2006|access-date=2 February 2016}} but received few playing opportunities in the following months (two league matches and the UEFA Cup 1–0 loss at RC Lens, all incomplete).{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2006/b/sezioni/sport/calcio/lensudi/lensudi/lensudi.html|title=L'Udinese cade contro il Lens ma si qualifica agli ottavi|trans-title=Udinese fall to Lens but qualify to the last-16|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|date=23 February 2006|access-date=2 February 2016}}

=Spain=

For the following three years, Aguilar was also loaned, always in the Spanish second division. He started out in January 2007 at Xerez CD,{{cite web|url=http://www.xerezcd.com/noticias.php?id=1458|title=Contratación de Abel Aguilar|trans-title=Abel Aguilar's signing|publisher=Xerez CD|language=es|date=13 August 2007|access-date=10 July 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727154015/http://www.xerezcd.com/noticias.php?id=1458|archive-date=27 July 2009}} where he remained until the end of the 2007–08 campaign, always as first choice.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2011/08/05/futbol/equipos/real_sociedad/1312529051.html|title=Carlos Vela y Abel Aguilar son los dos fichajes que pueden llegar|trans-title=Carlos Vela and Abel Aguilar are the two signings that may arrive|newspaper=Marca|first=Óscar|last=Badallo|language=es|date=5 August 2011|access-date=2 February 2016}}

In 2008–09, Aguilar represented Hércules CF,{{cite web|url=http://www.eldiario.es/canariasahora/deportes/Aguilar-objetivo-blanquiazul-ficha-Hercules_0_327567652.html|title=Aguilar, objetivo blanquiazul, ficha por el Hércules|trans-title=Aguilar, white-and-blue desire, signs for Hércules|publisher=Canarias Ahora|language=es|date=5 August 2008|access-date=2 February 2016}} being a permanent fixture as the Alicante side fell three points short of a return to La Liga. On 24 July 2009 he was again loaned, now to Real Zaragoza,{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2009/07/24/futbol/equipos/zaragoza/1248466969.html|title=El Zaragoza cierra las incorporaciones de Juan Pablo Carrizo y Abel Aguilar|trans-title=Zaragoza complete Juan Pablo Carrizo and Abel Aguilar deals|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=24 July 2009|access-date=2 February 2016}} which in turn promoted to the top flight; he made his debut in the competition on 29 August, starting and playing 71 minutes in a 1–0 home win against CD Tenerife,{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2009/08/29/mas_futbol/1251496868_850215.html|title=El Zaragoza regresa a Primera con victoria|trans-title=Zaragoza return to Primera with win|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Clara|last=Pardo Latre|language=es|date=29 August 2009|access-date=2 February 2016}} and scored all his four league goals during the first two months of competition.{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2009/09/29/mas_futbol/1254205673_850215.html|title=Abel Aguilar, el alquiler más rentable del Zaragoza|trans-title=Abel Aguilar, Zaragoza's most lucrative rental|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Pedro Luis|last=Ferrer|language=es|date=29 September 2009|access-date=2 February 2016}}

Aguilar was released by Udinese in July 2010, immediately signing a four-year contract with former club Hércules, returned to the top division after an absence of 13 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.herculescf.es/358-abel-aguilar-vuelve-a-vestir-de-blanquiazul-2.html|title=Abel Aguilar vuelve a vestir de blanquiazul|trans-title=Abel Aguilar again in white-and-blue|publisher=Hércules CF|language=es|date=24 July 2010|access-date=27 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917225206/http://herculescf.es/358-abel-aguilar-vuelve-a-vestir-de-blanquiazul-2.html|archive-date=17 September 2010}} He appeared in 34 scoreless games during the season, which ended in relegation.{{cite web|url=https://www.eldesmarque.com/futbol/deportivo-coruna/20191030/la-misma-historia-vuelve-a-cebarse-con-abel-aguilar_30044930.html|title=La misma historia vuelve a cebarse con Abel Aguilar|trans-title=Abel Aguilar meets same fate again|publisher=El Desmarque|first=Cristóbal|last=Ráez|language=es|date=30 October 2019|access-date=1 March 2025}}

Aguilar returned to the Spanish top tier in the 2012–13 campaign, being loaned to Deportivo de La Coruña.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2012/07/18/futbol/equipos/deportivo/1342624108.html|title=El Hércules cede a Abel Aguilar al Deportivo|trans-title=Hércules loan Abel Aguilar to Deportivo|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=18 July 2012|access-date=2 February 2016}} He netted twice in just his second league appearance to help to a 3–3 draw at Valencia CF,{{cite web|url=http://www.europapress.es/deportes/futbol-00162/noticia-futbol-liga-bbva-cronica-valencia-deportivo-20120827011534.html|title=Crónica del Valencia-Deportivo, 3–3|trans-title=Valencia-Deportivo match report, 3–3|publisher=Europa Press|language=es|date=27 August 2012|access-date=2 February 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.elcolombiano.com/historico/abel_aguilar_deportivo_la_coruna_pocas_veces_he_hecho_dos_goles_en_un_partido-BFEC_204027|title="Pocas veces he hecho dos goles en un partido": Abel Aguilar|trans-title="Not very often have I scored two goals in a match": Abel Aguilar|newspaper=El Colombiano|language=es|date=27 August 2012|access-date=2 February 2016}} but his team was again eventually relegated.{{cite news|url=https://www.elespectador.com/deportes/futbol-mundial/el-deportivo-la-coruna-de-abel-aguilar-descendio-article-425527/|title=El Deportivo La Coruña de Abel Aguilar descendió|trans-title=Abel Aguilar's Deportivo La Coruña got relegated|newspaper=El Espectador|language=es|date=1 June 2013|access-date=1 March 2025}}

=Toulouse=

On 22 August 2013, Aguilar agreed to a three-year deal with Toulouse FC.{{cite web|url=https://www.francebleu.fr/sports/football/toulouse-fc-le-colombien-abel-aguilar-signe-pour-3-ans-officiel-1377188154|title=Toulouse FC: le colombien Abel Aguilar signe pour 3 ans (officiel)|trans-title=Toulouse FC: Colombian Abel Aguilar signs for 3 years (official)|publisher=France Bleu|first=Frédéric|last=Chapuis|language=fr|date=22 August 2013|access-date=2 February 2016}} His maiden appearance in Ligue 1 occurred nine days later, putting on an average performance and being booked in a 2–1 away loss to SC Bastia.{{cite web|url=http://www.football365.fr/france/ligue-1/la-solidarite-bastiaise-a-paye-face-a-toulouse-1055913.shtml|title=La solidarité bastiaise a payé face à Toulouse|trans-title=Bastiaise solidarity paid off against Toulouse|publisher=Football365|first=Franck|last=Guidicelli|language=fr|date=31 August 2013|access-date=2 February 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713170540/https://www.football365.fr/la-solidarite-bastiaise-a-paye-face-a-toulouse-1046477.html|archive-date=13 July 2019}}

Aguilar spent his third year in France on the sidelines, nursing a serious ankle injury.{{cite news|url=http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2015/10/26/2204778-aguilar-pret-a-sortir-du-placard.html|title=Aguilar prêt à sortir du "placard"|trans-title=Aguilar ready to leave the "stretcher"|newspaper=La Dépêche du Midi|language=fr|date=26 October 2015|access-date=2 February 2016}} In the very last moments of the 2016 January transfer window, he joined C.F. Os Belenenses from Portugal.{{cite news|url=http://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/belenenses/detalhe/abel-aguilar-reforca-azuis.html|title=Abel Aguilar reforça azuis|trans-title=Abel Aguilar bolsters blues|newspaper=Record|first=Fábio|last=Lima|language=pt|date=1 February 2016|access-date=14 November 2017}}

=Return home=

On 12 June 2016, after 11 years playing in Europe, Aguilar returned to his country and Deportivo Cali, signing a three-year contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com.co/futbol/colombia/nota/_/id/2701294/el-volante-abel-aguilar-es-nuevo-jugador-del-deportivo-cali|title=El volante Abel Aguilar es nuevo jugador del Deportivo Cali|trans-title=Holding midfielder Abel Aguilar is new Deportivo Cali player|publisher=ESPN|language=es|date=12 June 2016|access-date=12 June 2016}} He scored his first goal for the team on 29 July, in the 2–1 victory over América de Cali in the Copa Colombia.{{cite web|url=http://www.noticiasrcn.com/deportes-futbol/deportivo-cali-le-gano-2-1-america-y-se-llevo-el-clasico-vallecaucano|title=Deportivo Cali le ganó 2–1 a América y se llevó el clásico vallecaucano|trans-title=Deportivo Cali defeated América 2–1 and took vallecaucano classic|publisher=RCN Televisión|language=es|date=29 July 2016|access-date=29 July 2016}}

=FC Dallas=

On 27 August 2018, Aguilar joined Major League Soccer side FC Dallas.{{cite web|url=https://www.fcdallas.com/post/2018/08/27/fc-dallas-signs-member-colombia-s-2018-fifa-world-cup-squad-midfielder-abel-aguilar|title=FC Dallas signs member of Colombia's 2018 FIFA World Cup squad, midfielder Abel Aguilar|publisher=FC Dallas|date=27 August 2018|access-date=27 August 2018}} At the end of the season, he was released.{{cite web|url=https://www.fcdallas.com/post/2018/11/26/fc-dallas-exercises-contract-options-four-players|title=FC Dallas exercises contract options on four players|publisher=FC Dallas|date=26 November 2018|access-date=26 November 2018}}

=Unión Magdalena=

Aged 33, Aguilar returned to his country in December 2018, agreeing to a deal at Unión Magdalena for the upcoming season.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/es-co/deportes/futbol-colombiano/abel-aguilar-jugar%C3%A1-en-el-2019-con-el-uni%C3%B3n-magdalena/ar-BBR0ozQ|title=Abel Aguilar jugará en el 2019 con el Unión Magdalena|trans-title=Abel Aguilar will spend 2019 with Unión Magdalena|publisher=MSN|language=es|date=15 December 2018|access-date=15 February 2019}} On 18 February 2020, he announced his retirement.{{cite news|url=https://colombia.as.com/colombia/2020/02/19/futbol/1582068701_081212.html|title=Abel Aguilar anuncia su retiro del fútbol a los 35 años|trans-title=Abel Aguilar announces retirement from football at the age of 35|newspaper=Diario AS|language=es|date=19 February 2020|access-date=29 March 2020}}

International career

Aguilar was captain of the Colombia national team at under-17 and under-20 levels.{{cite web|url=https://www.semana.com/deportes/articulo/la-sub-20-del-2005-columna-vertebral-pekerman/264517-3/|title=La sub-20 del 2005: 'columna vertebral' de Pékerman|trans-title=2005's under-20s: Pékerman's 'backbone'|publisher=Semana|first=Rodrigo|last=Urrego B.|language=es|date=9 September 2012|access-date=1 March 2025}} He rose to stardom as leader of the latter side that finished third at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2023/05/21/la-historica-participacion-de-la-seleccion-colombia-en-el-mundial-sub-20-donde-fue-tercera-de-la-mano-de-reinaldo-rueda/|title=La histórica participación de la selección Colombia en el Mundial sub-20 donde fue tercera de la mano de Reinaldo Rueda|trans-title=Colombia national team's historic participation in the under-20 World Cup where they finished third led by Reinaldo Rueda|newspaper=Infobae|first=Camilo|last=Zabaleta|language=es|date=21 May 2023|access-date=1 March 2025}}

Aguilar was then promoted to the senior squad for the 2004 Copa América held in Peru. There, he scored two goals, helping his country to the semi-finals.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2004safull.html|title=Copa América 2004|publisher=RSSSF|first=Martín|last=Tabeira|access-date=24 July 2012}}

Subsequently, Aguilar returned to the under-20 (again as captain), helping them to a first-place finish at the 2005 South American Youth Cup with the consequent qualification for the World Championship of the category in the Netherlands. After helping the national team to three group-stage wins, he could not prevent a round-of-16 2–1 ousting at the ends of Argentina.

Aguilar was selected by José Pekerman for his 2014 FIFA World Cup squad.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/colombia/10810250/Colombia-World-Cup-2014-squad.html|title=Colombia World Cup 2014 squad|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=2 June 2014|access-date=24 June 2014|url-status=live|archive-date=20 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620025125/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/colombia/10810250/Colombia-World-Cup-2014-squad.html}} He played his first-ever game in the tournament on 14 June, starting in a 3–0 group stage win against Greece which was also his 50th cap.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=6/news=colombia-back-with-a-bang-2370928.html|title=Colombia back with a bang|publisher=FIFA|date=14 June 2014|access-date=14 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621044852/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y%3D2014/m%3D6/news%3Dcolombia-back-with-a-bang-2370928.html}}

Aguilar was also picked for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.{{cite news|url=http://www.elcolombiano.com/deportes/futbol/seleccion-colombia-revelo-la-lista-de-23-jugadores-que-iran-al-mundial-rusia-DM8806498|title=Colombia ya tiene a sus 23 mundialistas|trans-title=Colombia already have their 23 World Cup men|newspaper=El Colombiano|first=John Eric|last=Gómez Marín|language=es|date=4 June 2018|access-date=5 June 2018}}

Career statistics

=International=

Year	Apps	Goals
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" !colspan=3\|Colombia{{NFT player\|1531}}{{Soccerway}}{{ESPNsoccernet}}
2004	7	2
2005	5	2
2006	0	0
2007	0	0
2008	1	0
2009	7	0
2010	2	0
2011	9	0
2012	2	0
2013	11	1
2014	9	0
2015	2	1
2016	3	1
2017	10	0
2018	3	0
Total\|\|71\|\|7

:Scores and results list Colombia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Aguilar goal.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
class="wikitable collapsible"
1.	12 July 2004	rowspan="2"\| Estadio Mansiche, Trujillo, Peru	{{fb\|PER}}	{{center\|2–1}}	{{center\|2–2}}	rowspan=2\| 2004 Copa América
2.	17 July 2004	{{fb\|CRC}}	{{center\|1–0}}	{{center\|2–0}}
3.	12 July 2005	Orange Bowl, Miami, United States	{{fb\|TRI}}	{{center\|2–1}}	{{center\|2–1}}	rowspan=2\| 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup
4.	17 July 2005	Reliant Stadium, Houston, United States	{{fb\|MEX}}	{{center\|2–1}}	{{center\|2–1}}
5.	6 February 2013	Sun Life, Miami Gardens, United States	{{fb\|GUA}}	{{center\|3–0}}	{{center\|4–1}}	rowspan=2\|Friendly
6.	30 March 2015	Mohammed Bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates	{{fb\|KUW}}	{{center\|1–0}}	{{center\|3–1}}
7.	11 October 2016	Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia	{{fb\|URU}}	{{center\|1–0}}	{{center\|2–2}}	2018 World Cup qualification