# Mauricio Molina

Mauricio Alejandro Molina Uribe (Latin American Spanish:; born 30 April 1980) is a Colombian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

## Club career

Molina started his career in Colombian side Envigado at the age of 16. He soon made his way up to the first team and was transferred to Independiente Santa Fé. around his stint through Santa Fe, After a serious injury he returned to the pitch in 2002 playing for Independiente Medellín where he led the team to its first national championship in 45 years and the third overall. In 2003, he helped the team reach the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores. After the successful campaign with Independiente Medellín he moved to CA Morelia of Mexico until 2004. After Morelia, Molina went to the United Arab Emirates to play for Al Ain FC where he stayed for a semester, after which he returned to his best memories with Independiente Medellin for another semester. Molina then played for San Lorenzo de Almagro of Argentina from 2005 to 2006. In 2007, Molina signed with Paraguayan Club Olimpia de Asunción where he played the first semester of the year. After a very successful campaign with the team in which he was the co-scorer with 10 goals, Molina was transfer for the second semester of 2007 to Red Star Belgrade, his first European club.
Molina prepared to include himself in the lines of Pelé's Santos. He made his debut as a Santos player on 13 February 2008, starting against Cúcuta Deportivo of Colombia in the 2008 Copa Libertadores.
In July 2009, Molina moves to South Korean club Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma for $1,275,000. He scored in his debut against the Pohang Steelers. In all K-League competitions, Molina scored 22 goals along with 11 assists in 50 appearances for Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma and in 2010 Molina and Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma won the AFC Champions League 2010.
On 24 January 2011, Molina signed for K League Classic side FC Seoul on a three-year contract.
On 31 December 2015, Molina returned to Independiente Medellín, where he played for two more seasons before finally retiring from professional football, tenure during which he acted as a co-captain for the team and helped them win the 2016 Torneo Apertura, his second with the club and their 6th league title overall.

## International career

At international level, Molina was part of the Colombia national team that won the 2001 Copa América.

## Career statistics
### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | KFA Cup | KFA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | 2009 | K League 1 | 17 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 11 |
| Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | 2010 | K League 1 | 29 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 7 | — | — | 47 | 21 |
| Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | Total | Total | 46 | 21 | !5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 7 | — | — | 66 | 32 |
| FC Seoul | 2011 | K League 1 | 29 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | — | — | 39 | 13 |
| FC Seoul | 2012 | K League 1 | 41 | 18 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 43 | 19 |
| FC Seoul | 2013 | K League 1 | 35 | 9 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 13 | 1 | — | — | 49 | 11 |
| FC Seoul | 2014 | K League 1 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 5 |
| FC Seoul | 2015 | K League 1 | 35 | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 7 | 1 | — | — | 47 | 6 |
| FC Seoul | Total | Total | 159 | 46 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 4 | — | — | 205 | 54 |
| Medellín | 2016 | Categoría Primera A | 39 | 9 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 8 | 0 | — | — | 51 | 11 |
| Medellín | 2017 | Categoría Primera A | 21 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 3 |
| Medellín | Total | Total | 60 | 11 | 9 | 3 | — | — | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 83 | 14 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 265 | 78 | 28 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 55 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 354 | 100 |

### International

    Scores and results list Colombia's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Final | Competition |
| 1. | 17 July 2003 | Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, United States | Guatemala | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup |

## Honours

Independiente Medellin
* Categoría Primera A: 2002-II, 2016-I
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
* AFC Champions League: 2010
FC Seoul
* K League: 2012
* Korean FA Cup: 2015
Colombia
* Copa América: 2001
Individual
* FIFA Club World Cup top scorer: 2010 (three goals)
* K League Best XI: 2010, 2012
* K League Top Assists Award: 2012, 2013