Juan Camilo Zúñiga

Atlético Nacional

Born in Chigorodó, Antioquia, Zúñiga made his professional debut with Colombian giant Atlético Nacional. With Nacional, he gained three titles while being at the club for seven seasons. In total, he made 129 league appearances and scored 9 goals.

Siena

Zúñiga left Atlético Nacional in the summer of 2008 and was contracted by Italian side Siena. The transfer fee was €2.32 million. While at Siena, Zúñiga gave impressive performances, which attracted several clubs. In total, he made 28 leagues appearances, failing to score a goal.

Napoli

On 9 July 2009 Napoli signed the Colombian from Siena on a five-year deal for €8.5 million. Zúñiga then usually featured on the left-hand side of the 3–5–2 formation, as the left wingback, since Christian Maggio often occupies the right-hand side.

After the arrival of Andrea Dossena in January 2010, he lost his starting place and became a backup wingback on both flanks in the 2010–11 Serie A season.

Zúñiga scored his first Serie A goal for Napoli against Catania on 20 February 2011. His second goal was on 15 May 2011 against Internazionale in the 46th minute. His third, spectacular goal occurred against Genoa on 21 December 2011.

In late August, 2013, Zúñiga suffered an injury. Weeks later, it was confirmed that he would be forced to have knee surgery and be out for a month, likely causing him to miss the rest of the season for 2013.

In April 2014, it was announced after 5 months that Zúñiga had finally recovered from his knee injury and would continue regularly for Napoli.

In the first half of 2015–16 Serie A, he was left out of the squad.

Bologna (loan)

On 13 January 2016 Zúñiga signed for Bologna on loan until the end of the season.

Watford (loan)

On 13 July 2016, it was announced that Zúñiga will play for Watford for one season. On 18 September 2016, Zúñiga came on in the 83rd minute for Capoue and scored against Manchester United in his side's 3-1 win. In what was only his third appearance for Watford in the Premier League, he subsequently won a penalty, converted by Troy Deeney, for Watford's third goal.

International career

Zúñiga played for Colombia in the 2005 World Youth Cup before progressing to the senior national team in 2005. He was regarded as being similar to other famous adventurous full-backs such as Cafu and Roberto Carlos by the Italian press during the under-20 World Youth Cup, because of his attacking naturethe FIFA World Cup 2014-07-04 (23).jpg|thumb|200px|right|Zúñiga (right) shakes hands with the Brazil national team's squad after Colombia's quarter-final loss at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.]] Zúñiga started most of Colombia 2014 World Cup qualifiers, only missing two games: against Venezuela after being given permission to leave the team for the birth of his son, and against Peru due to injury.

He was called up for the 2014 World Cup and appeared in four of the five matches that Colombia played in the tournament. On 4 July 2014, while Colombia's quarter-final match against hosts Brazil was nearing its end, Zúñiga landed his right knee in Neymar's lower back while challenging for the ball. Neymar was stretchered off and further examinations showed that Neymar suffered a fractured third lumbar vertebra, ruling him out of the rest of the World Cup. After the match, which Colombia lost 2-1, Zúñiga insisted that he had not meant to injure Neymar. Neymar's teammate Thiago Silva defended Zúñiga, stating that he is not the type of player who would purposely cause an injury to any player. Conversely, Brazilian legend Ronaldo said that he believes the very violent challenge was a foul with the intention to cause harm. The day after the match, it was revealed that Zúñiga had sent a letter of apology to Neymar, saying that he was "deeply sorry and sad" for unintentionally causing the injury. Neymar later accepted the apology. Though Zúñiga publicly apologized to Neymar, his Instagram and Twitter accounts were flooded with racial insults and death threats to him and his family by some Brazilian fans.

Despite disputed sentiment and false slander, a year later at Copa America 2015 Zúñiga would participate against Brazil in the second group match which an on-pitch brawl broke out following Colombia's 1–0 win over Brazil; Brazilian captain at the time Neymar deliberately kicked the ball at opponent Pablo Armero and attempted to headbutt Colombian matchwinner Jeison Murillo, earning a red card. As a result, Colombian forward Carlos Bacca retaliated by pushing Neymar over, and was himself sent off. CONMEBOL fined Neymar $10,000 and suspended him for four matches, ruling him out for the remainder of the tournament, while Bacca was suspended for two matches. Although Zúñiga was nowhere involved in the incident it draw an exonerating parallel based on the professionalism between both athletes.

International goals

Scores and results lists Colombia's goal tally first.

Style of play

A quick, energetic, versatile, and hard-working player, Zúñiga is capable of playing in several positions along the left flank, and has been deployed as an attacking full-back, as a wing-back, and as a winger; he is also capable of playing on the right. Once regarded as a possible heir of Cafu, he is mainly known for his pace, strength, technique, and dribbling skills, as well as his powerful striking ability from outside the area; these attributes make him a dangerous offensive threat, and enable him both to score and create goals for teammates.

Career statistics

Club