07/09/2026
Monday's = football foreign import legend day
Today Faustino "Tino" Asprilla
Faustino Asprilla had a legendary and eccentric football career spanning from 1988 to 2004, best known for his explosive skill, acrobatic goal celebrations, and cult-hero status at Parma and Newcastle United.
Early Career and Rise in Italy Colombia: Started professionally with Cúcuta Deportivo in 1988 before moving to Atlético Nacional, where he won major domestic titles.Parma: Transferred to the Italian club in 1992 for $10.9 million. He famously ended AC Milan's 58-match unbeaten run with a brilliant free-kick and won European trophies, finishing sixth in the 1996 FIFA World Player of the Year voting.
Newcastle United Tyneside Impact: Signed for Newcastle United in February 1996 for £6.7 million, making a thrilling debut off the bench in a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough. (https://thesefootballtimes.co/2019/06/28/the-magic-and-the-madness-of-faustino-asprillaBarcelona Hat trick: Produced his most iconic Newcastle moment in 1997 by scoring a legendary hat-trick in a 3-2 Champions League victory over Barcelona.
Later Career and Retirement return and Journeyman Stints: Returned to Parma in 1998, then played for Palmeiras, Atlético Nacional, Universidad de Chile, and Cortuluá before retiring in 2004.International: Earned 57 caps for the Colombia national team, playing in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.