After losing the title in 2009 against Universidad Católica at the Santa Laura Stadium, Colo Colo entered a cycle in which sports results did not arrive. Reinforcements that were not up to the task and technicians that lasted little or nothing, made the fans lose their heads who saw how the other clubs raised trophies and the Cacique continued to be sunk in bad seasons.
But there is no evil that lasts 5 years. Thus, 2014 arrived and it began with everything for the Albos. After two seasons in Mexico, the long-awaited return of Esteban Paredes came to fruition, after great insistence by Héctor Tapia for having him on his team. On January 13 of that year, the striker attended a press conference to be introduced as a new player and, without fear of success, chose the number 30 shirt. Why? Because I was convinced that that season would lower that star.
9 years of Colo Colo star number 30
And, as always, Paredes complied. Hand in hand with his goals, the Cacique little by little began to show that he was up for great things. A team led by Justo Villar, Julio Barroso, Gonzalo Fierro, Jaime Valdés and Tanque himselfthey feasted on the field of play and, on date four reached the lead, which they never let go.
The thing is the Eternal Champion, during that campaign, lost only one game. It was on date 13 against Universidad de Concepción at the Monumental Stadium (1-2), an issue that did not lower the spirits of a team that, the following date, achieved a new victory against Universidad de Chile thanks to Roberto Cereceda’s own goal. That Superclásico, in fact, left everything ready so that Colo Colo could celebrate the next weekend.
Three dates before the end of the tournament, April 13, Colo Colo received Santiago Wanderers at the Monumental Stadium which was packed to the brim. The game was complicated and, with solitary goal by Felipe Flores, the Cacique was able to celebrate, raise the trophy and lower the so elusive star number 30.
The figure of Esteban Paredes
This tournament would mark the definitive takeoff of Esteban Paredes as a legend of Colo Colo. As we mentioned above, he was not afraid to put on the 30 shirt and, furthermore, he promised to become the championship scorer with 15 goals. He fell short. It is that the former Visogol arrived with a debt to the last date played against Ñublense and needed 5 goals to be the top scorer of our football. Well, in said match, the Albos prevailed by 5 to 3 over the chillanejos, the striker being the exclusive figure when scoring all the conquests, managing to reach 16 goals with only 13 commitments played.
The champion squad of the 30 with Colo Colo
The formation that Héctor Tapia occupied was known almost by heart. justo villar in the bow; Gonzalo Fierro, Christian Vilches, Julio Barroso, Luis Pavez in defence; Esteban Pavez, Jaime Valdes and Emiliano Vecchio in midfield; José Pedro Fuenzalida, Esteban Paredes and Felipe Flores in the attack, they were accompanied by a bench that had big names such as Juan Delgado, Claudio Baeza or Sebastián Toro.
Thus, the champion squad has Esteban Pavez as the player with the most presence on the pitch (1,487 minutes) along with Julio Barroso (1,478), both with 17 games played. Then, they are followed by Kily Vilches (1,434 minutes), Luis Pavez (1,422), Justo Villar (1,382), José Pedro Fuenzalida (1,351) and Felipe Flores (1,278) with 16 games played. With 15 duels on the field, Jaime Valdés appears together with Emiliano Vecchio; Gonzalo Fierro with 14 and Esteban Paredes with 13.
Together with those named, they were part of that squad Juan Delgado, Claudio Baeza, and Sebastian Toro.Alvaro Salazar, Matthias Vidangossy, Camilo Rodriguez, Luis Mena, Emilio Hernandez, Mauro Olivi, Jason Silva, Bryan Carvalho, Nicolas Orellana and Dilan Zuniga.
Colo Colo scored 45 goals and conceded 20 during that tournament. Besides, andn the 17 dates, they won 13 games, drew 3 and lost only 1; accumulating 42 points, taking 9 away from Universidad Católica. In addition, they finished undefeated as visitors, getting 7 victories and, at home, they won 6 times, falling only once.
