Sergio Córdova

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Córdova and the second or maternal family name is Lezama.
Sergio Córdova
Córdova with Venezuela U20 in 2017
Personal information
Full name Sergio Duvan Córdova Lezama
Date of birth (1997-08-09) 9 August 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Calabozo, Venezuela
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker, winger
Team information
Current team
 Alanyaspor
Youth career
2013–2015 Caracas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 Caracas 36 (4)
2017–2023 FC Augsburg 75 (7)
2020–2021 → Arminia Bielefeld (loan) 23 (2)
2022 → Real Salt Lake (loan) 33 (9)
2023 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 19 (2)
2023– Alanyaspor 27 (6)
2024 → Sochi (loan) 10 (0)
International career‡
2017 Venezuela U20 15 (5)
2017– Venezuela 15 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Venezuela
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2017
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:24, 27 January 2022 (UTC)

Sergio Duvan Córdova Lezama (born 9 August 1997), known as Sergio Córdova (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈseɾxjo ˈkoɾðoβa]), is a Venezuelan professional footballer who plays as a forward for Süper Lig club Alanyaspor. He also represents the Venezuela national team.

Córdova is an academy graduate of Venezuelan side Caracas and scored on his professional debut in 2015. He spent two and a half season's in the club's first team, scoring five goals in 38 appearances, before signing for Augsburg in 2017. Internationally, he represented Venezuela at U20 level and featured for the nation at the South American Youth Football Championship and U-20 World Cup in 2017, winning the Goal of the Tournament award at the latter competition. Later that year, he made his debut for the senior side.

Club career

[edit]

Caracas

[edit]

Having previously represented the club at youth level following his arrival in 2013, Córdova made a goal scoring debut for Caracas on 12 July 2015, starting and scoring the opening goal in a 4–0 league victory over Tucanes.[2] He repeated the feat in his Copa Venezuela debut the following month when he broke the deadlock in the 78th minute of a 3–0 win over second division side Petroleros de Anzoátegui.[3] On 31 October, he became the youngest ever player to score a Primera División brace for the club when he scored twice in a 3–1 win over Metropolitanos.[4] He ended his debut season having amassed 13 appearances across all competitions with a return of four goals.

In the following year's campaign, Córdova was marred by injury and had to undergo surgery after breaking the fifth metatarsal in his left foot.[5] Despite the injury, he managed to make 20 appearances as Caracas ended fourth in the Venezuelan Primera División, thereby qualifying for the 2017 Copa Sudamericana. He made only four more appearances for the club, taking his overall tally to 38 with a return of five goals, before being signed by FC Augsburg following his impressive form with Venezuela at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.[6]

FC Augsburg

[edit]

On the evening of 4 July 2017, Córdova completed a transfer to German Bundesliga side Augsburg for a reported fee of €1m, signing a five-year contract with the club.[6][7] He made his debut on 13 August, coming on as a second–half substitute for fellow debutante Marcel Heller in a 2–0 DFB Pokal loss to third division side Magdeburg.[8] He scored his first goal for the club on 26 August, netting an 89th-minute equalizer from an assist by Heller in a 2–2 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach.[9] In October, whilst on international duty with Venezuela, Córdova suffered a fractured ankle and torn ligaments which him ruled out for part of the Hinrunde.[10][11] He made his first Bundesliga start for the club the following year, starting in a 1–0 win over Hamburg on 13 January.[12]

Loan to Arminia Bielefeld

[edit]

On 17 August 2020, he signed a five-year contract extension with Augsburg before joining newly promoted Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld on a season-long loan.[13][14]

Loan to Real Salt Lake

[edit]

On 3 February 2022, it was announced Córdova had joined Major League Soccer side Real Salt Lake on a season-long loan.[15]

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

[edit]

On 20 February 2023, Córdova returned to Major League Soccer, signing as a designated player with Canadian side Vancouver Whitecaps FC on a 3-year deal.[16]

Alanyaspor

[edit]

On September 15, 2023, it was announced that Córdova had been transferred to Turkish Süper Lig side Alanyaspor for an undisclosed fee.[17]

Loan to Sochi

[edit]

On 5 February 2024, Córdova joined Russian Premier League club Sochi on loan, with an option to buy.[18]

International career

[edit]

Youth

[edit]
Córdova (far left) at the 2017 South American U-20 Championship.

Córdova has represented Venezuela at U20 level and featured at the 2016 Copa de los Andes tournament held in Peru. He scored twice in a 5–1 win over Paraguay which saw Venezuela claim the gold medal, and was named Player of the Tournament, with teammate Ronaldo Peña claiming the top goalscorer award.[19] In February 2017, Córdova took part in the U20 Campeonato Sudamericano with the Venezuela squad. He scored once during the course of the tournament, in a 4–2 win over Ecuador, as Venezuela qualified for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea by securing a third-place finish.[20]

The World Cup took place in May the same year and he opened his account with the second goal in a 2–0 win over Germany in the tournament's opening match.[21] Three days later, he added two goals to his tally when he netted a brace in a 7–0 victory over Vanuatu which saw Venezuela become the first team to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.[22][23] Córdova scored again in a 1–0 win over Mexico on 26 May which helped Venezuela progress from their group without losing or conceding.[24] His four goals saw him end as the tournament's joint-second top goal scorer alongside Fashion Sakala, Dominic Solanke, Jean-Kévin Augustin and Joshua Sargent, and one behind Golden Boot winner Riccardo Orsolini, as Venezuela were ultimately beaten by England in the final.[25] Córdova's goal against Mexico in the group stages was also voted Goal of the Tournament.[26]

Senior

[edit]

Córdova received his first call-up to the senior side on 25 August 2017 when he was named in Rafael Dudamel's squad for World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.[27] He made his debut on 31 August against the former, starting in a 0–0 draw before registering his first senior assist in a 1–1 draw with the latter on 5 September.[28][29]

Personal life

[edit]

Córdova is a practicing Christian and, during a 2018 interview, revealed that his faith in God had helped him overcome the early challenges he faced with the language and cold weather during his time in Germany.[30]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 18 May 2024.[31]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Caracas 2015 Primera División 12 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 13 4
2016 Primera División 20 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 1
2017 Primera División 4 0 0 0 1[b] 0 – 5 0
Total 36 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 38 5
FC Augsburg 2017–18 Bundesliga 26 2 1 0 – – 27 2
2018–19 Bundesliga 20 3 2 0 – – 22 3
2019–20 Bundesliga 16 2 0 0 – – 16 2
2021–22 Bundesliga 13 0 1 0 – – 14 0
Total 75 7 4 0 – — 79 7
Arminia Bielefeld (loan) 2020–21 Bundesliga 23 2 0 0 – – 23 2
Real Salt Lake (loan) 2022 MLS 33 9 1 0 – 1[c] 2 35 11
Vancouver Whitecaps 2023 MLS 19 2 0 0 2[d] 0 5[e] 2 26 4
Alanyaspor 2023–24 Süper Lig 18 3 3 0 – – 21 3
Sochi (loan) 2023–24 Russian Premier League 10 0 1 0 – – 11 0
Career total 214 27 10 1 4 2 5 2 233 32
  1. ^ Includes Copa Venezuela and DFB Pokal matches
  2. ^ Appearance in Copa Sudamericana
  3. ^ Appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs
  4. ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup
  5. ^ Appearances in Canadian Soccer Championship and Leagues Cup

International

[edit]
As of match played 7 October 2021.[31]
National team Year Apps Goals
Venezuela 2017 4 0
2018 4 0
2020 2 0
2021 5 0
Total 15 0

Honours

[edit]

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Venezuela U20

Individual

Records

  • Youngest player to score a Primera División brace (with Caracas FC): 18 years, 2 months and 22 days[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Sergio Córdova". Real Salt Lake. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Sergio Córdova: "Debutar marcando es un sueño"". El Universal. 13 July 2015. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.(in Spanish)
  3. ^ "Caracas superó al Petroleros de Anzoátegui y avanza en Copa Venezuela". Lavinotinto. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2017.(in Spanish)
  4. ^ a b "Players/Sergio Cordova". Soccer Sport Group. Retrieved 27 June 2017.(in Spanish)
  5. ^ "Cordova: I've come back stronger". FIFA. 29 May 2017. Archived from the original on 29 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Augsburg swoop for Michael Gregoritsch and Sergio Cordova". Bundesliga. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  7. ^ "Cordova: "Ich bin physisch stark und mutig"". kicker. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.(in German)
  8. ^ "Augsburg unterliegt Magdeburg". Liga Insider. 13 August 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.(in German)
  9. ^ "Gladbach smed føringen til sidst". Bold. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.(in German)
  10. ^ "Augsburg's Sergio Cordova sidelined with ankle injury". Bundesliga. 15 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Bänderriss: FCA muss auf Cordova verzichten". kicker. 14 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.(in German)
  12. ^ "Augsburg climb to seventh as Ja-Cheol Koo header downs Hamburg". Bundesliga. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Langfristige Bindung von Sergio Córdova und Leihe nach Bielefeld". FC Augsburg (in German). Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Venezolanische Verstärkung für Arminia-Angriff". DSC Arminia Bielefeld (in German). Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  15. ^ "RSL Inks Sergio Cordova on Loan for 2022 | Real Salt Lake".
  16. ^ "Whitecaps FC acquire Venezuelan international striker Sergio "La Pantera" Córdova | Vancouver Whitecaps". whitecapsfc.
  17. ^ FC, Whitecaps. "Whitecaps FC transfer forward Sergio Córdova to Turkish side Alanyaspor | Vancouver Whitecaps". Whitecaps FC. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Серхио Кордова на правах аренды перешел в "Сочи"" (in Russian). PFC Sochi. 5 February 2024.
  19. ^ a b "La Selección Nacional Sub 20 ganó la Copa Los Andes en Perú". Noticia Al Dia. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2017.(in Spanish)
  20. ^ Fernandez, Juan Sebastian Soto (31 March 2017). "Sergio Córdova: "En el Mundial buscaremos tener un mayor desempeño"". Vavel. Retrieved 23 May 2017.(in Spanish)
  21. ^ "Venezuela win Korea Republic 2017 opener". FIFA. 20 May 2017. Archived from the original on 22 November 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  22. ^ "Los goles de Adalberto Peñaranda y Sergio Córdova en el partido de la Venezuela ante Vanuatu". Panorama. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.(in Spanish)
  23. ^ "A progressing pair and a few firsts". FIFA. 23 May 2017. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  24. ^ "Venezuela wahrt makellose Bilanz". FIFA. 26 May 2017. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.(in German)
  25. ^ a b "FIFA U–20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 Awards". FIFA. 11 June 2017. Archived from the original on 3 September 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  26. ^ a b "Gol del Torneo Hyundai". FIFA. Retrieved 22 June 2017. [dead link](in Spanish)
  27. ^ Yi, Yang (26 August 2017). "Venezuela name three uncapped teenagers for World Cup qualifiers". Xinhua News. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  28. ^ Ibarara, Andrés (31 August 2017). "Semana de ensueño para Sergio Córdova". Meridiano. Retrieved 1 September 2017.(in Spanish)
  29. ^ Kalinic, Dejan (6 September 2017). "Argentina 1 Venezuela 1: Sampaoli's men held to costly draw". Goal. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  30. ^ Graf, Johannes (8 January 2018). "So entwickelt sich Sergio Cordóva beim FCA". Augusburger Allgemeine (in German). Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  31. ^ a b "Sergio Cordova Career Stats". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  32. ^ "Vancouver Whitecaps FC win the 2023 Canadian Championship". Canada Soccer. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  33. ^ Diaz, Jackelin (14 November 2016). "Ronaldo Peña y Sergio Córdova fueron galardonados en la Copa de los Andes". El Abanado. Retrieved 27 June 2017. [permanent dead link](in Spanish)
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