José Néstor Pékerman Krimen is an Argentine professional football coach. His last team managed was the Venezuela national team. As a youth level coach for Argentina, he won the FIFA World Youth Championship three times, and the U20 South American Youth Championship twice. He coached the Argentina national football team in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and became coach of the Colombia national team in 2012. He subsequently managed the Colombia national team during the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups where he led the team to their best result, the quarterfinals, in 2014, their first World Cup qualification after 16 years of absence.
Pékerman as Colombia manager in 2016
Pékerman in 2007
Colombia national football team
The Colombia national football team represents Colombia in men's international football and is managed by the Colombian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Colombia. They are a member of CONMEBOL and are currently ranked 14th in the FIFA World Rankings. The team are nicknamed Los Cafeteros due to the coffee production in their country. The national team has been a symbol of nationalism, pride, and passion for many Colombians worldwide. Colombia is known for having a passionate fan base, and the team's dances during goal celebrations have been symbolic.
Fernando Paternoster of Argentina became Colombia's first non-domestic coach in 1938.
Colombia at their first South American Championship in 1945
Rodolfo Orlandini, who represented Argentina at the first edition of the World Cup, managed Colombia during their first World Cup qualification campaign for Sweden '58.
Argentine Adolfo Pedernera helped Colombia to qualify and coached for them at their first World Cup in 1962.
