Jefferson Farfán Hija

Early Life and Career

Jefferson Agustín Farfán Guadalupe was born on October 26, 1984, in Lima, Peru. Son of Rosana Guadalupe and Luis Farfán, he played youth soccer for his local club, Deportivo Municipal. At the age of 16, he joined the Peruvian First Division club Alianza Lima, where he made his professional debut in 2001.

Farfán quickly became a key player for Alianza Lima, helping the club win the Apertura and Clausura tournaments in 2001 and 2003. His performances attracted the attention of several European clubs, and in 2004, he was signed by PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands.

European Success

Farfán enjoyed a successful spell at PSV, winning the Eredivisie title in 2005 and 2006. He also helped the club reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2005.

In 2008, Farfán moved to Schalke 04 in Germany. He spent five seasons at Schalke, making over 150 appearances and helping the club win the DFB-Pokal in 2011.

Farfán's impressive performances in Europe earned him a move to one of the world's biggest clubs, Real Madrid, in 2013. He spent two seasons at Real Madrid, making 31 appearances and winning the UEFA Champions League in 2014.

International Career

Farfán has been a vital player for the Peruvian national team, making his debut in 2003. He has represented Peru at four Copa América tournaments, helping the team reach the final in 2019.

Farfán is Peru's all-time leading scorer with 39 goals in 102 appearances. He retired from international football in 2021.

Retirement and Legacy

Farfán retired from professional football in 2022. He is considered one of Peru's greatest ever players and is widely respected throughout the football world.

After retiring, Farfán announced his intention to pursue a career in coaching. He is currently working as an assistant coach for the Peruvian national team.

Personal Life

Farfán has been married twice. His first marriage was to Melissa Klug from 2005 to 2016, with whom he has three children, Valery, Jeremy, and Maialen. In 2022, he married Valeria Roggero.