Esteban Paredes life and biography

Esteban Efraín Paredes Quintanilla (born August 1, 1980 in Santiago, Chile) is a Chilean footballer who plays as Attacking midfielder or Second Striker for Colo-Colo in Chilean Primera División.

This striker first broke into the Chilean national team in 2006, only to be ignored for the next three years. In August 2009, coach Marcelo Bielsa decided to bring him back for a trip to Scandinavia and Paredes repaid him with a goal in a 2-1 victory over Denmark.

Paredes was the top marksman in the 'Apertura' (Opening) Chilean championship of 2009, with 17 goals for Santiago Morning. That same year, he transferred to national institution Colo Colo, keeping the strike-rate high as the club claimed the Closing championship.

He is famous for scoring four times in a 5-4 win against Universidad de Concepcion in 2009 and if he repeats that trick in South Africa this summer, his place in Chilean sporting folklore will be assured. "We are going to South Africa with limited expectations from the people outside Chile, but big hopes from our supporters at home," he says. "This team believe everything is possible."

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