“The unforgettable hero”
Ex-international died after heart attack
07.04.2025 – 9:22 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
He celebrated his first championship title at the age of 17. Now the former international Jorge Bolaño died.
The Italian club Parma Calcio mourns the loss of his former midfielder Jorge Bolaño. According to South American media, the Colombian collapsed after a heart attack at a birthday party in the city of Cúcuta. Despite quick medical help, he could not be revived. Bolaño was only 47 years old.
He started his career in 1993 in his home country at Atlético Junior. There Bolaño won his first championship title as early as the 17-year-old. Only two years later he debut in the Colombian national team. At the 1998 World Cup he was part of the “Cafeteros” line -up and was used in the group phase against Tunisia.
A year after the World Cup tournament, Bolaño moved to Europe. In the 1999/2000 season he joined Parma in Italian series A. After an early period characterized by injuries, he fought back to the stordents after loan stations at Sampdoria Genoa and US Lecce and became a fixture there – especially in difficult phases of the club.
In the 2004/05 season, Bolaño played an important role in the fight against relegation and was one of the club’s top performers, with which he triumphed in the cup in 2002. His former club said goodbye in emotional words: “It feels surreal that you left us so suddenly. You were the unforgettable hero of our survival in the 2004/05 season and you played a central role in our playoffs against Bologna.”
Gianluigi Buffon, who played together with Bolaño in Parma, also commented on Instagram: “Jorge was an unforgettable friend and teammate, a cornerstone in a changing room of exceptional champions. We played and won a large parma in the golden years.”
And Buffon also wrote: “On the field, he fought without being spare, and apart from the field, I remember his friendliness and humanity with affection, which made him a role model for everyone. We will always carry you with us. Peace in peace, my friend.” In addition to his sporting successes, Bolaño was also socially committed. Among other things, he supported Cúcuta Deportivo with financial means.