World Cup Cult Heroes: Jorge Campos

Illustration by Mathew Kurian / The National

In the run-up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, The National’s Gary Meenaghan looks back at the figures of World Cups past who, while not necessarily the greatest the game has ever seen, were among football’s most interesting characters.

JORGE CAMPOS

At 5 foot 8 inches, Jorge Campos should never have made it as an international goalkeeper. The fact he became Mexico’s fourth most-capped player should act as motivation for anybody with self-doubt. Switching between roles as a striker and a goalkeeper, he played professionally for 16 years and appeared at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.

The Hidden Striker

Having signed a professional contract with local side Pumas in 1988, he soon discovered the team had a trusted goalkeeper but lacked a striker. Keen for game time, he volunteered and scored 14 league goals in his second season. After shifting to nets, he would regularly be called upon if his team were struggling – an outfield player being swapped for the substitute keeper, Campos reverting to his place up top.

Getting Shirty

Call them garish or call them great, there was no ignoring the eye-popping, phosphorescent baggy shirts that Campos designed with his own hands. Inspired by a childhood growing up on the sun-drenched coastline of Acapulco, where he was a keen surfer, Campos wore short sleeves while other goalkeepers were demanding padded elbows. Greens, neon yellows, hot pinks, he certainly stood out – and it made him all the more popular.

Fast Feet, Fast Food

After hanging up his shirt in 2004 – following spells at LA Galaxy and Chicago Fire – he opened his own chain of fast food restaurants, called Sportortas-Campos. Specialising in burgers, the menu features a selection of sandwiches named after famous players including Pele and Maradona. The signature sandwich is, of course, “La Jorge Campos”: a combination of breaded chicken, ham, three types of cheese and a slice of pineapple.

Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE