Déiber Caicedo

Déiber Jair Caicedo Mideros (born 25 March 2000) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Categoría Primera A club Atlético Junior, on loan from Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Déiber Caicedo
Caicedo in 2014
Personal information
Full name Déiber Jair Caicedo Mideros[1]
Date of birth (2000-03-25) 25 March 2000
Place of birth Barbacoas, Nariño, Colombia
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Atlético Junior
(on loan from Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Youth career
Sanín
Pance
2013–2018 Deportivo Cali
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 Deportivo Cali 65 (7)
2021– Vancouver Whitecaps FC 64 (6)
2023 Whitecaps FC 2 1 (1)
2023– → Atlético Junior (loan) 6 (4)
International career‡
Colombia U15
2017 Colombia U17 3 (1)
2019 Colombia U20 2 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 August 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 August 2020

Club career

Early career

Born in Barbacoas in the Nariño Department of Colombia, Caicedo moved to Cali to pursue a football career, playing for local sides Sanín and Pance.[2] During his youth, he also represented the Valle del Cauca Department.[2]

Deportivo Cali

Caicedo joined the academy of professional side Deportivo Cali in 2013.[3] In a May 2023 interview with Caracol Televisión, Caicedo stated that the academy was very competitive, and due to his height he had to adapt to stand out, but that the experience ultimately made him a better footballer.[4]

On 3 February 2018, Caicedo was given his debut by first-team manager Gerardo Pelusso, when he came on as a second-half substitute for Fabián Sambueza in a 0–0 Categoría Primera A draw with Envigado.[5] On his third start for the club, he scored the second goal in a 4–0 win against Boyacá Chicó; after asking teammate Jhon Mosquera to take a free kick just outside the penalty area, he lifted the ball over the wall and beyond Boyacá Chicó goalkeeper Sérgio Avellaneda. He dedicated the goal to his sister, María José, who had died at the age of eleven in a robbery.[6]

Vancouver Whitecaps

Following a good start to his career with Deportivo Cali, he was linked to Mexican sides Club América and Atlas in mid-2020.[7] Despite the links, he remained with Deportivo Cali until the conclusion of the 2020 season. On January 26, 2021, Canadian side Vancouver Whitecaps acquired Caicedo from Deportivo Cali, the club announced they acquired his discovery rights from Nashville SC for $75,000 General Allocation Money.[8][9] It was also announced that Caicedo signed a contract with Vancouver through 2023 with a club option for 2024.[10]

His maiden season in the MLS ended with five goals and five assists, and he received some criticism from fans for his decision to move to Canada.[11] Caicedo himself said that he was "adapting day by day", and though the tactics in the MLS were "very different formations are used to those in Colombia", he did not "regret having made this decision [to move to Canada], as it had "has made [him] grow".[11] A serious injury suffered in the 2022 season ruled him out for eight months; having notched a goal and two assists in his first fifteen games, he tore the meniscus in his right knee in a match against the New England Revolution on 27 June 2022.[12] On 8 July, the Vancouver Whitecaps confirmed that Caicedo would undergo surgery, and he was placed on the MLS disabled list.[12]

He returned to the Vancouver Whitecaps first team for the 2023 season,[13] but due to the form of forwards Simon Becher and Brian White, as well as new signing Sergio Córdova, Caicedo found himself struggling for starts, mostly featuring as a substitute. He was added to the roster of Whitecaps FC 2, and scored on his debut for the side in a 5–2 MLS Next Pro win against Minnesota United FC 2.

Loan to Atlético Junior

On 3 August 2023, Caicedo signed a new contract with the Vancouver Whitecaps, through 2024 with an option for a further year, before being loaned to Categoría Primera A side Atlético Junior on a one-year deal with a purchase option.[14]

International career

Caicedo represented Colombia at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, scoring in a 3–1 victory against the United States.[15] He was called up for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, stating that he wanted to "demonstrate all [his] abilities".[16]

Style of play

Standing at 1.65 metres, Caicedo was given the nickname La Nigua (the chigger) by commentator Giovanni Tolozza, due to his short stature, speed and ability to 'sting' defences.[17]

Personal life

He is currently in a relationship with María José Casab.

Career statistics
As of 15 July 2023[18][19]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[lower-alpha 1] Continental[lower-alpha 2] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Deportivo Cali 2018 Categoría Primera A 1210000121
2019 3437000413
2020 1930060253
Total 6577060787
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2021 Major League Soccer 3351000345
2022 1613000191
2023 1503010190
Total 6577010737
Whitecaps FC 2 2023 MLS Next Pro 1100–11
Atlético Junior (loan) 2023 Categoría Primera A 10000010
Career total 131141407015214
Notes
  1. Includes Copa Colombia and U.S. Open Cup
  2. Includes Copa Sudamericana and CONCACAF Champions Cup

Honours

    References
    1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019: List of Players: Colombia" (PDF). FIFA. 13 June 2019. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2020.
    2. "Deiber Jair Caicedo Mideros". dxtcapital.com (in Spanish). 28 October 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
    3. Guerra, Benjamín (27 January 2021). "5 cosas que no sabías de Deiber Caicedo, el joven futbolista colombiano que llega a la MLS" [5 things you didn't know about Deiber Caicedo, the young Colombian soccer player who joins the MLS]. 90min.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
    4. Sotelo, Gianmarco (24 May 2023). "Deiber Caicedo: "Sufrí, aguanté mucha hambre y ahora se valoran las cosas conseguidas en el fútbol"" [Deiber Caicedo: "I suffered, I endured a lot of hunger and now the things achieved in football are valued"]. gol.caracoltv.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
    5. Escobar Martinez, Mauricio Fernando (27 January 2021). "El fútbol de Deiber Caicedo se va para Norteamérica" [Deiber Caicedo's football goes to North America]. vavel.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
    6. "Deiber Caicedo anotó y entre lágrimas le dedicó el gol a su hermana fallecida" [Deiber Caicedo scored and tearfully dedicated the goal to his deceased sister]. colombia.com (in Spanish). 15 February 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
    7. Bastidas, Juan Miguel (20 June 2020). "Deiber Caicedo, la joya colombiana por la que América puja con Atlas como refuerzo para el Apertura 2020" [Deiber Caicedo, the Colombian jewel for which America is bidding with Atlas as a reinforcement for the Opening 2020]. americamonumental.bolavip.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
    8. Bogert, Tom (26 January 2021). "Vancouver Whitecaps sign Colombian youth international Deiber Caicedo". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
    9. Karstens-Smith, Gemma (26 January 2021). "Vancouver Whitecaps sign young Colombian winger Deiber Caicedo". thestar.com. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
    10. Williams, Rob (26 January 2021). "Whitecaps sign talented 20-year-old Colombian winger Deiber Caicedo". dailyhive.com. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
    11. Valderrama, Felipe (20 October 2021). "Caicedo: "No es lo que la gente piensa, no me arrepiento de esta decisión"" [Caicedo: "It's not what people think, I don't regret this decision"]. caracol.com.co (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
    12. Puerto, Guillermo (17 July 2022). "La lesión por la que Deiber Caicedo se perderá el resto de la temporada" [The injury for which Deiber Caicedo will miss the rest of the season]. futbolete.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
    13. Vallejo, Felipe (2 March 2023). "Exclusive Interview with Deiber Caicedo – His Recovery Journey". lastwordonsports.com. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
    14. "Whitecaps FC loan forward Déiber Caicedo to Colombian side Junior FC". whitecapsfc.com. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
    15. "USA 1 – 3 Colombia". FIFA. 12 October 2017. Archived from the original on September 26, 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
    16. "Deiber Caicedo: "Quiero demostrar todas mis capacidades"" [Deiber Caicedo: "I want to demonstrate all my abilities"]. occidente.co (in Spanish). 3 May 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
    17. Ocampo, Rodrigo (15 February 2018). "Deiber Caicedo: ¡Una Nigua Anda Suelta!" [Deiber Caicedo: A Chigger is on the Loose!]. vivalasnoticias.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
    18. Déiber Caicedo at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
    19. "Deiber Caicedo - MLS Stats".
    20. "Whitecaps FC announce 2021 BMO Player Awards".
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