Imagine say you dey watch football, and one player just dey waka like storm. Everywhere e go, trouble dey follow am. Na so you fit describe Gerardo Bedoya, di Colombian maverick wey hold one of di craziest records for football history.
As defender wey fit play holding midfield, Bedoya no be ordinary player, na man wey referees dey fear, opponents dey dread, and fans dey love for him boldness.
Throughout him career, Bedoya don collect 58 red cards, di most wey any footballer don ever get for history! Some say na 46, but either way, e plenty well well. You fit imagine di number of times referees don reach inside pocket reach pull red card just because of this man?
Di Red Cards Wey Make Bedoya Infamous
Bedoya collection of red cards na story for itself.
Bedoya dey known as “The Beast”. Him most infamous wahala na when e elbow him former teammate Yhonny Ramirez for Santa Fe game against Millonarios.
Ramirez dey floor, Bedoya flick him boot enter Ramirez head with studs. Referee no waste time, red card straight, plus 15-match suspension. Imagine di scene! Fans shock, teammates dey shake head, but Bedoya? Him dey calm like say na normal day.
Till today, e dey almost impossible for any current player to reach am. Di only one wey dey try approach na Sergio Ramos, wey dey Monterrey now.
Bedoya Career, Achievements and Big Moments
But make you no think say na only red cards be him story. Bedoya still get beta moments. E play key role for Colombia national team as dem win 2001 Copa America.
For semi-finals, e score long-range goal against Honduras. E still dey hit bangers for club level: Racing vs River Plate, last-minute thunderbolt wey secure 1-1 draw, help dem clinch league title after 35 years. E don play for 13 clubs across Central and South America, including di legendary Boca Juniors. For Santa Fe, e help dem win first Colombian league in 37 years back 2012.
Wetin People Talk About Di Man Weh Get Most Red Cards
Colombian journalist Carl Worswick talk say: “When e show for TV, presenter go usually get red card for pocket or shin pads because na Bedoya reputation be dat. E personality dey explosive. When e see red, e no fit control himself. E dey pile in anyhow.”
Even as assistant manager, Bedoya no carry last, they send am off 21 minutes into first game. Worswick still yarn: “Players for bench dey laugh, dem no fit believe. E clear say reputation no dey help am. But na him style be dat.”
Fans still love am for Santa Fe because e dey give 100% for tackles, dey chase every ball like e be final match. Worswick add: “Fans see am as warrior wey dey give everything. E score better goals, but people go dey remember am for di red cards mainly. For Santa Fe and Racing fans, e be hero wey help end title drought.”
So, if you dey look for one football story wey mix madness, passion, and pure energy, Gerardo Bedoya na example. Na man wey show say football no be just skill, na heart and fire too dey count.