Jorge Campos

Template:Short description {{#invoke:Other people|otherPeople}} Template:Use dmy dates Template:Family name hatnote Template:Infobox football biography

Jorge Campos Navarrete (born 15 October 1966) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

A notable player of Mexico in the 1990s and early 2000s, Campos was an eccentric player, known for his constant play outside the penalty area – often functioning as a sweeper-keeper, as well as his acrobatic, risky, and flamboyant style of goalkeeping, and his colourful playing attire. His main strengths as a goalkeeper were his leaping ability, athleticism, and speed when rushing off his line, as well as his ability to organize his defense, which enabled him to overcome his short stature. He was regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Il Messico ai Mondiali">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Campos also made for an effective striker, an example of versatility that is rarely seen in football. At times, he would start a game in goal, and transfer upfield later in the match, mostly at the club level. In total, he scored 35 goals throughout his career, scoring all but one while playing for UNAM. His trademark, self-designed bright kits contributed to his popularity.<ref name="Il Messico ai Mondiali"/>

Club careerEdit

Born in Acapulco, Campos started his career in 1988 in Mexico with Pumas. At that time the club's first string goalkeeper was Adolfo Ríos, so because Campos desired first-team opportunities, he asked to be used as a striker. He performed notably in his first season, scoring 14 goals and contending for the title of top-goal scorer. In the following seasons he earned the position of first-choice goalkeeper and won the 1990–91 championship with Pumas.

He also won the championship with Cruz Azul in the Primera División de México Invierno 1997 (México First Division Winter 1997), although he was the second string goalkeeper to Óscar Pérez. He was regularly used as a substitute striker during this period.

As well as Pumas and Cruz Azul, Campos also played for such clubs Atlante, Tigres, and Puebla. He scored a notable bicycle kick goal for Atlante in the 1997 season. In that game, he started as goalkeeper, but as the forwards were failing to score a goal, the coach replaced a field player with another goalkeeper to send Campos to the attack.

He also played in the United States, where he starred in Major League Soccer's first three seasons for the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chicago Fire.Template:Citation needed He was the first major foreign star to be signed by the league,Template:Citation needed and enjoyed considerable popularity in the United States. Campos played in back-to-back matches during a double-header event at the Rose Bowl on 16 June 1996, playing for Mexico against the United States and then the Galaxy against Tampa Bay.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

International careerEdit

On the international stage, Campos started as goalkeeper for Mexico in two FIFA World Cup tournaments: 1994 and 1998. He was also called up to the 2002 FIFA World Cup but he did not play in the tournament. He would eventually collect 129 caps.

At the 1999 New Year's Cup in Hong Kong, in which Mexico was invited as well as Egypt and Bulgaria, Campos' father was kidnapped in Mexico and Campos returned to Mexico to attend to the matter.<ref>Phil Davidson, Top footballer's father kidnapped Template:Webarchive, The Independent, 19 February 1999, Accessed 5 June 2008</ref> Campos was invited several times to play with the Rest of the World Team against clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Milan. His last game with Mexico was in 2004 in a friendly against Tecos.

He was selected as one of 3 overage players on the Mexico Olympic team at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Managerial careerEdit

Campos served as the assistant manager to Ricardo La Volpe during his tenure with Mexico.

LegacyEdit

File:4l3a2029.jpg

Jorge Campos with his jersey at a Museum of Decorative Arts exhibit in Paris.

Campos has appeared in commercials for the American sportswear company Nike.<ref name="Jackson"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1996, wearing a black jersey (in contrast to the colorful jerseys he wore in games), Campos starred in a Nike commercial titled "Good vs Evil" in a gladiatorial game set in a Roman amphitheatre. Appearing alongside football players from around the world, including Ronaldo, Paolo Maldini, Eric Cantona, Luís Figo and Patrick Kluivert, they defend "the beautiful game" against a team of demonic warriors, before it culminates with Cantona striking the ball and destroying evil.<ref name="Jackson">Template:Cite book</ref>

Campos has appeared in EA Sports' FIFA video game series, featuring in the Classic XI for 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, FIFA 11, FIFA 12, FIFA 13, FIFA 15 and FIFA 16.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also appeared in FIFA 23, FC 24 and FC 25's Ultimate Team section, as a FUT Heroes Card.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Campos is also a commentator for TV Azteca.

On 26 July 2024, Campos was the honorary captain for a match in Toronto between York United FC and Atlético Ottawa.<ref name="YUFC ref">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Career statisticsEdit

File:Jorge Campos in 2016.jpg

Campos in 2016

Source:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Club performance			League		National cup		League cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Mexico			League		Cup		League Cup		North America		Total
Template:Nowrap	UNAM		7	0	8	0
1989–90			40	14	2	1			10	7
1990–91			44	2	8	4
1991–92			37	3	6	0
1992–93			7	1
1993–94			34	2
1994–95			36	6	1	0
1995–96	Atlante		23	0	1	0
USA			League		Open Cup		League Cup		North America		Total
1996	LA Galaxy	Major League Soccer	24	0			6	0
Mexico			League		Cup		League Cup		North America		Total
1996–97	Atlante	Primera División	16	0	8	0
USA			League		Open Cup		League Cup		North America		Total
1997	LA Galaxy	Major League Soccer	19	0					3	1
Mexico			League		Cup		League Cup		North America		Total
1997–98	Cruz Azul	Primera División	2	0
1997–98	UNAM	Primera División	10	0
USA			League		Open Cup		League Cup		North America		Total
1998	Chicago Fire	Major League Soccer	9	0	1	0
Mexico			League		Cup		League Cup		North America		Total
1998–99	UNAM	Primera División	33	6
1999-00	Tigres UANL	Primera División	17	0
2000–01	Atlante	Primera División	26	0
2001–02	UNAM	Primera División	33	0
2002–03	Puebla	Primera División	26	0
2003–04	Puebla	Primera División	2	0
Total	Mexico		393	34
Total	USA		52	0	1	0	6	0	3	1	62	1
Career total			445	34