Felipe Caicedo

At 36 years old, Felipe Caicedo has this physical status:

Felipe Salvador Caicedo Corozo (born 5 September 1988) is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Italian club Lazio. A full international since 2005, he has represented Ecuador at the Copa América in 2007 and 2011, as well as at the 2014 World Cup.

Caicedo is also Ecuador's fifth highest goalscorer of all-time with 23 goals to his name.

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Club career

Caicedo was signed by Swiss Super League team FC Basel from Rocafuerte in his native Ecuador during the 2005–06 season for an undisclosed sum when he was only 17 years old.

He wasn't trained in the minor divisions until making his first-team debut on September 10, 2006, defeating Zürich in the 80th minute of a 2–1 league victory. In a 4–0 Swiss Cup victory over Lugano on October 1, he scored his first professional goal. Caicedo was at halftime as Basel loses 2–0 to Baulmes in the Swiss Cup, and had scored a goal in the 3–2 extra time triumph. Basel defeated Luzern in the final on May 28th, his first professional title, the Swiss Cup, as Caicedo was included in the starting lineup.

In the 2006–07 season, he appeared in 30 games for the Swiss club in all competitions, scoring nine goals. Everton and Juventus expressed a keen interest in the player at the end of the season, with Milan confirming that a probe was launched in winter 2007.

Manchester City had agreed to Caicedo's services for four and a half years through a £5.2 million transfer fee (€7 million), making his sale one of the most expensive transfers in the Swiss Super League's history. After Caicedo was granted a work permit, his transfer to Manchester City was complete. Caicedo's manager referred to him as "one of the best South American talents" and he was also compared to Brazilian Adriano. In a 2–1 away victory over rivals Manchester United on February 10, he made his debut on February 10, 2008, before moving on to the second half. He finished the season with ten appearances in the Premier League, all of whom came as a replacement.

In a UEFA Cup group stage loss to Racing de Santander, Caicedo scored his first goal for City the following season. In a league match against West Bromwich Albion, he scored his second straight goal with a back heel, but the goal was initially determined as an own goal, then the goalkeeper, then eventually going in. After reconsideration by the Dubious Goals Committee, the goal was returned to Caicedo later. After those solid results, both coming off the bench, club manager Mark Hughes gave him the opportunity to start his first game in a row, this time scoring the first two goals in a 5–1 victory over Hull City on December 26, 2008.

Caicedo opened the scoring in the first leg of the UEFA Cup last 16 tie with Aalborg BK at the City of Manchester Stadium. Manchester City defeated the game 2–0. In the UEFA Cup quarter-finals against Hamburger SV on April 16, 2009, Caicedo scored his sixth goal of the season for the club. Although City won the match 2–1, they were disqualified from the cup 4–3 on aggregate. Caicedo's strong results as a single striker with the ability to hold the ball in key areas and shrug off defenders at Manchester City fans this season. Caicedo's seventh goal scored in City's 3–1 home victory over Blackburn Rovers on May 2nd, and his eighth goal in the 1–0 home win over Bolton Wanderers on the last day of the season.

Caicedo was expected to leave City in order to get more playing time, particularly after the club signed fellow forwards Roque Santa Cruz, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Carlos Tevez at the start of the 2009-2010 season. Sporting Clube de Portugal and Manchester City signed an initial one-year loan with the option of a permanent contract, potentially allowing Caicedo a year to develop himself as a forward before returning to Manchester City on July 23, 2009. Caicedo's debut for Sporting CP came as a substitute for an injured Hélder Postiga in the 38th minute of a 2–1 loss against Braga on August 22, 2009. Caicedo returned to Sport against Olhanense on September 21 after suffering a Stretched Ligament injury in a match against Braga that put him out of action for three weeks, winning by 32%. Caicedo, on the other hand, found it difficult to adjust at Sporting, and his loan agreement was cut short in January 2010. In total, the Ecuadorian played 11 games for the Portuguese club but failed to score in one.

Other clubs expressed an interest in Caicedo's loan stint at the club, including Málaga CF and Hull City. Caicedo decided to join Málaga on loan on January 8, 2010 after rejecting Hull City's bid.

He scored his first La Liga goal for Málaga against Racing de Santander in a spectacular solo effort against Racing de Santander, assisting Málaga in beating 3–0 on February 14, 2010. Caicedo's first goal in two months, his second in two months against Sevilla, and the first against Osasuna's 4 days later on April 14, 2010, Caicedo scored his second goal in a 2–2 draw. Málaga needed a point to remain above the relegation zone on the final matchday of the domestic season, where they met Real Madrid at home in La Rosaleda. In the ninth minute, Caicedo got off and gave Duda a big assist. Real Madrid was levelled up after the break through Rafael van der Vaart's demise, but Málaga's early goal was enough for the team to avoid relegation.

Caicedo completed a loan move to Levante UD just one hour before the season's deadline (24:00 CEST), which was less than one hour before the 2010-11 season. This revived his career, in which he had scored seven goals in 12 appearances by December 2010, was included in these seven goals; the brace scored against Racing de Santander on November 21, 2010 was included in these seven goals. After a miserable four-match losing streak, Levante defeated 3–1, along with a Christian Stuani attack, moving out of the relegation zone.

Levante lost by a score of 2–1. Caicedo scored the hosts' only goal. This was the last game for Levante before the winter break and they began a shaky five-game losing streak that put them at the bottom of the Liga table. When Levante welcomed Getafe CF on January 29, 2011, they turned it around. Caicedo beat the opposition 2–0 for their second goal and lifted the relegation strugglers from the bottom of the table.

Caicedo scored his 13th league goal of a fruitful season against FC Barcelona at the Estadi Ciutat de València on May 11th. Caicedo finished the game in fine fashion after capitalizing on defender Gerard Piqué's mistake. Barcelona lost their third straight La Liga title after the game ended in a 1–1 draw. With two games remaining, Levante's most important point put them five points over the relegation zone. Levante's appearance in La Liga for a second season was aided by Caicedo's thirteen league goals.

Levante's official announcement on May 30th that he had the right to sign him, and on June 29, 2011, Levante paid Caicedo for £880,000. It was announced in his move that Levante would cash in on the summer by selling Caicedo for a substantial sum since the club was in debt, owing to €12 million ($17 million) per year in repayments. Caicedo quotes: "I am cheap and very cheap at €1 million." Very, very cheap. He's a bargain, but only for Levante."

Following his time in Spain, reporter reports revealed that he travelled to Moscow out of fear for Russian Premier League clubs Lokomotiv Moscow and Anzhi Makhachachhachhichhu Makhachhachhi Makhachhichhachhachhi Makhachhachhachhachhichhachhi Makhachhachhachhachhi Makhachchachhi Makhachachhachhi Makhachhach

Caicedo signed a four-year deal with Lokomotiv Moscow for €7.5 million and was given the number 25 jersey on July 25. Previously, Lokomotiv Moscow had hoped to sign Caicedo in the Winter Transfer Window at Russia before it closed on March 10, 2011, after Lokomotiv Moscow refused to sign Stuttgart's striker Ciprian Marica. According to RIA Novosti : Following his transfer to Lokomotiv Moscow, Levante's president accused Levante of behaving unethically in the auction and fired Levante out for failing to collaborate during negotiations.

Caicedo made his Russian Premier League debut against Volga on August 14, 2011 after coming back at the 61st minute for Dmitri Loskov as Lokomotiv Moscow drew 0–0 against Volga. Caicedo's first goal, against Kuban Krasnodar, was on August 28, 2011. Caicedo, who scored for Lokomotiv Moscow, began scoring and giving assists on a weekly basis for four weeks, with three goals being included. In a 4–0 victory over FC Zenit Saint Petersburg on September 10, 2011, the first of these goals was scored in a 4–0 victory, and the third and final of the campaign against Anzhi. He had been assisting him in the game a week before, Caicedo playing the ball to Alberto Zapater, who scored his first goal for Lokomitiv Moscow in the 1–1 draw against Rubin Kazin on September 25, 2011. Caicedo made 13 league appearances in the first half of the Russian Premier League, scoring six goals.

Caicedo made his Europa League debut in the Play-off Round as Lokomotiv Moscow defeated Spartak Trnava 3-1 on aggregate on August 25, 2011. Caicedo scored his first Europa League goal in a 3–1 victory over AEK Athens on a Group Stage on October 20, 2011. Caicedo won by 2–1 in the first leg of the Europa League on February 16, 2012 in the Round of 32 of the Europa League, against Athletic Bilbao in the 71st minute. After Caicedo was fouled in the penalty box, Caicedo assisted Denis Glushakov to score a point in the 61st minute. Caicedo played in the second leg of the Europa League's second leg of the Europa League after Athletic Bilbao defeated Lokomotiv Moscow 1–0, winning on the away goals rule.

According to Brazil and Ecuador's reports, Caicedo was joining Série B side Boa Esporte on loan in January. However, Olga Smorodskaya said she had no intention in loaning him to Boa and that the bid was "nonsense."

Felipe Caicedo joined Al-Jazira in 2014. Mirko Vuini's arrival to the club, Al-Jazira and Caicedo held talks about ending his service, making him a Free agent.

After leaving UAE Arabian Gulf League club Al-Jazira, Caicedo signed for Espanyol on a Bosman transfer on July 15, 2014.

Caicedo was purchased by Lazio on August 2nd, 2017. By his new club, he had been given the number 20. Caicedo made his league debut against SPAL on August 20th minute, replacing Senad Luli in the 85th minute. In Lazio's 1–2 away victory over Sampdoria on December 3rd, he came off the bench to score his first Serie A goal in injury-time. Notably, he kept scoring a string of extra time goals, six in total, making him the player with the most goals after the 90-minute mark in Serie A's history. These include games against Cagliari (1-2), Sassuolo (1-2), Juventus (3-1), Torino (3-1), and Juventus (1-1), with the exception of the 1-1 win over Juventus. He won two Italian Supercup titles (2017, 2019) and one Coppa Italia (2018-2019) while working for Lazio. During the 2019-2020 Lazio season, he made the club for which he played the most in his career.

Caicedo joined Genoa on August 31, 2021, and it was the first time she had worked in Genoa.

Caicedo joined Inter Milan on loan until the 2021–22 season, which was on January 29.

Caicedo joined Saudi Arabian club Abha on a free transfer on August 28.

International career

Caicedo scored the winning goal in a 3–2 victory over England's U-21 team on February 10, 2009.

Following Agustn Castillo's words that the new Ecuador team is the "best Ecuador of the history," Caicedo scored twice against El Salvador on March 21.

Caicedo's boss, Gustavo Quinteros, was fired in September 2017, and Caicedo announced his departure from the national team.

Career statistics

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Ecuador's goal came first in the scores and results table.

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