Andrés Salazar

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Salazar and the second or maternal family name is Osorio.

Andrés Salazar

Personal information
Full name	Andrés Salazar Osorio[1]
Date of birth	(2003-01-15) 15 January 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth	Guarne, Colombia
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s)	Left-back
Team information
Current team	Heart of Midlothian (on loan from Atlético Nacional)
Number	80
Youth career
	Manantiales
	Atlético Nacional
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–	Atlético Nacional	22	(1)
2021	→ Valledupar (loan)	9	(1)
2022	→ Fortaleza CEIF (loan)	26	(1)
2024–	→ Heart of Midlothian (loan)	1	(0)
International career^‡
2021–	Colombia U20	30	(1)
2023–	Colombia	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 September 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:36, 16 June 2023 (UTC)

Andrés Salazar Osorio (born 15 January 2003) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Scottish Premiership club Heart of Midlothian, on loan from Categoría Primera A club Atlético Nacional. He has also represented Colombia at senior international level.

Early life

Salazar was born in Guarne in the Antioquia Department, and grew up in the Camilo Torres de Guarne neighbourhood.^[2]

Club career

Salazar started his career with grassroots side Manantiales, before moving to professional side Atlético Nacional.^[2] While in the academy, he suffered a potentially career-threatening injury, but was able to overcome it to continue his development.^[3] He was loaned to Categoría Primera B sides Valledupar and Fortaleza C.E.I.F. for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, respectively.^[2]

In a Categoría Primera A match between Atlético Nacional and América de Cali, Salazar injured América de Cali's Spanish forward Iago Falque with a strong challenge. He received criticism for the perceived malice in his challenge, which Salazar denied, stating that there was "no bad intention" and that he hoped Falque "recovers soon".^[4] Falque himself would go on to state that Salazar had sent him a message to apologise, and that he had forgiven him for the incident, describing the injury as "involuntary".^[5]

Following impressive performances with the Colombia under-20 squad, Salazar was linked with a move to Mexican side Club América.^[6]

On 15 August 2024, Salazar joined Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian on a season-long loan deal.^[7]

International career

Salazar has represented Colombia at under-20 level.^[1] He made his debut for the senior team on 16 June 2023 in a 1–0 win against Iraq.

Career statistics

Club

As of 2 June 2023.^[8]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Atlético Nacional	2023	Categoría Primera A	7	0	0	0	[a]4	0	0	0	11	0
	2024	Categoría Primera A	15	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	1
	total		22	1	0	0	4	0	0	0	26	1
Valledupar (loan)	2021	Categoría Primera B	9	1	2[b]	0	–		0	0	11	1
Fortaleza C.E.I.F. (loan)	2022		26	1	4[b]	0	–		0	0	30	1
Career total			57	3	6	0	4	0	0	0	67	3

Notes

1. Appearances in the Copa Libertadores
2. Appearances in the Copa Colombia

References

1. Andrés Salazar at WorldFootball.net
2. Álvarez Serrano, Juan Camilo. "Andrés Salazar, un sub 20 que pide pista en Atlético Nacional" [Andrés Salazar, a sub 20 who asks for a clue in Atlético Nacional]. nacionalespasion.com.co (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 June 2023.
3. Sanchez, Jairo (30 May 2023). "Nacional saca pecho con Andrés Salazar, pero estuvo a punto de salir por esto" [Nacional sticks out his chest with Andrés Salazar, but he was about to leave for this]. soyverdolaga.com.co (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 June 2023.
4. Sierra, Jeimmy Paola (5 May 2023). "Salazar sobre lesión de Falque: "No hubo mala intención"" [Salazar on Falque's injury: "There was no bad intention"]. colombia.as.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 June 2023.
5. "Falque defiende a Salazar: "Fue involuntario, no hay maldad"" [Falque defends Salazar: "It was involuntary, there is no evil"]. colombia.as.com (in Spanish). 5 May 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
6. Gómez, Marco (1 June 2023). "Andrés Salazar está volando en el Mundial Sub 20 y en México ya le siguen los pasos" [Andrés Salazar is flying in the Sub 20 World Cup and in Mexico they are already following in his footsteps]. nacionfutbol.co.co (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 June 2023.
7. "Hearts seal loan deal for Colombia defender Salazar". BBC. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
8. Andrés Salazar at Soccerway