Felipe Baloy

Football player infobox| playername = Felipe Baloy
fullname = Felipe Abdiel Baloy Ramírez
nickname = "Machacado", " el sheriff", "pipe", "Kid"


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|2|24
cityofbirth = Panama
countryofbirth = Panama
height = height|m=1.85
currentclub = Monterrey
clubnumber = 23
position = Defender
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1999 2000 2001-2002 2003 2003-2004
2005 2005-present 2007
clubs = Eurokickers F.C. Sporting '89 Envigado Independiente Medellin Grêmio Atlético Paranaense CF Monterrey
→América "(loan)"
caps(goals) = 0? (?) 0? (?) 37 (3) 09 (0) 50 (3) 05 (0) 91 (8) 4 (0)
nationalyears = 2001-
nationalteam = Panama
nationalcaps(goals) = 26 (1)
pcupdate = 31 July 2006
ntupdate = 13 November 2006

Felipe Baloy (born February 24, 1981, in Panama, Panama) is a football defender who currently plays in Mexico for Primera División de México team Club de Fútbol Monterrey and is the current captain of the Panama national football team.

Early life

Baloy was born on February 24, 1981 in Panama City. He was the second youngest of his 7 brothers and grew in the populous "barrio" of Cerro Batea in the San Miguelito district after moving from another "barrio" called San Martin. "Pipe" grew interest in football after playing in the streets with his friends.

Baloy graduated from both elementary and high school, but never went to university because he decided to pursuit his career in football where "things have been going well" [ [http://felipebaloy.com/fb_biografia.htm Felipe Baloy's Biography] ] .

Club career

Early career

At the age of 18, he started his football career in ANAPROF team Eurokickers F.C., however his spell only lasted a year since the team was relegated that year. He then moved to Sporting '89 and managed to be part of the Panama's U-20 squad where he was spotted by Colombian international representative Luis Felipe Posso signed "Pipe" to his agency and open the doors for Baloy in Colombia.

Colombia

At the age of 19 Baloy moved to Colombia to play for Copa Mustang team Envigado Fútbol Club in 2001. He played a year with the Antioquia side before moving to Independiente Medellín. With the Medellín side he had more success, he played in Copa Libertadores in 2003 where DIM finished 3rd. After 2003 his spell in Colombia was about to end after he was signed by Brazilian side Grêmio.

Brazil

Baloy started his career in Brazil with Grêmio where he played the 2003 and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2004 season in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. With Grêmio Baloy had rough times, after finishing 20th in the 2003 championship and 24th (relegation) Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2004 Baloy was signed by Clube Atlético Paranaense. However he participated in Copa Sudamericana with the Porto Alegre side in the 2004 season, but never made it past the first round. Baloy was also made capitain in Grêmio despite his young age.

In Clube Atlético Paranaense Baloy had little more success after finishing 6th in the 2005 season and playing on the side that finished runner-up in the 2005 season. However Baloy did not play the final because he was signed by Monterrey and had to depart to Mexico. He was also captain of the Curitiba side.

Mexico

Baloy arrived in 2005 to Mexico to play to Monterrey in the Primera División de México, he debuted on July 30, 2005 in the 1-2 CF Pachuca. However Baloy had trouble at first with the Mexican fans due to the fact that he was taking the place of the fan favorite Argentine Defender Pablo Rotchen. After a couple of good performances, Baloy was a fan favorite.

On 2005 "Pipe" had a good start with "rayados" where in the 2005 Apertura finished runner-up. However after that season, Baloy and the "rayados" have been passing through hard times where they haven't been the same competitive they where before. However Baloy manages to figure in the team and has been called numerous times one of the best defenders in Mexico.

In 2007 Baloy played in the 2007 season of the Copa Libertadores after he was loaned out to Club América for that competition.

In the recent years Baloy has been linked many times with clubs in Europe, recently in the 2007 winter transfer window he was pretended by Premier League side Derby County F.C., however the move never happened. In 2008 he was linked to also Premier League side Arsenal F.C. [ [http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=88966 Felipe Baloy Linked with a Move to Arsenal] ] .

International career

Baloy played in the Panama U-20 squad which attempted to qualify to the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina. However, Baloy never managed to qualify to the World Cup even though the team was considered as one of Panama's best. He played along side with Jose Luis Garces, Luis Tejada, Jaime Penedo among others.

In the senior team he made his debut on February 21, 2001 in the 2-2 tie with Guatemala [ [http://www.futbolextremo.com/foro/viewtopic.php?t=49378 Baloy Debut Information] ] . "Pipe" has played more than 70 representing Panama participating in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification. He is currently the captain of the national team. He was also part of the 2005 and 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI. He also was part of the side that finished runner-up on both 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup and UNCAF Nations Cup 2007.

2006 Santos Laguna controversy

On August 2006 in a Monterrey game against Santos Laguna in the Corona Stadium, Baloy scored a goal which contributed to the 2-2 tie. However during the game Santos Laguna's fans chanted racial slurs towards Baloy, these slurs included "chango" (monkey) and "come platano" (banana eater) [ [http://www.mediotiempo.com/noticia.php?id_noticia=23981 2006 Santos Laguna Racism Controversy] ] . Santos Laguna was fined for the racist comments.

Personal life

Felipe Baloy is married and has two children. He currently lives in Mexico with this family. He also holds a close friendship with fellow team mates Blas Perez and Gabriel Gomez.

Quotes

* "I still can remember my first years. I was mischievous. I did things that would anger my mother and other people, but what I remember the most is that in those days at 6 a.m. where the Torneos de Barrios (District Tournaments), and at that time I was in the field. I was the first to arrive and the last to leave" Baloy in his biography in his website

References

External links

* [http://felipebaloy.com/ Felipe Baloy's Official Website]