Cristian Gamboa, a charismatic Costa Rican defender, was born on 24 October 1989. Now 34, he primarily utilises his skills as a right back for Bochum. He stands at a modest 5ft 8in (1.75m) and weighs in at a lean 10st 7lb (67kg). Gamboa dons the number 2 jersey with pride.
The plucky right back hails from Liberia in Costa Rica's Primera División. July 2010 marked a turning point in his career when he swapped the tropical climes of his homeland for the cool Nordic breeze of Norway, signing for Eliteserien team Fredrikstad. During his time there, he made 27 appearances across two seasons and netted one goal.
Never one to shy away from new challenges, Gamboa moved to FC Copenhagen in Denmark's Superliga in August 2011 for an undisclosed fee. His stint in the Danish capital was short-lived, and the following August saw him return to Norway on loan to Rosenborg.
Come January 2013, Gamboa's loan was made permanent in exchange for around £350k, marking the start of a longer stint at Rosenborg. This period saw him make 40 first team appearances over three seasons.
August 2014 brought about a new chapter in Gamboa's career as he left Norway for the bustling metropolis of England, joining Championship side West Bromwich Albion. His time in England was relatively uneventful; he made 11 appearances across two seasons.
Arguably the highlight of Gamboa's career came in 2016, when he signed for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership for a fee approximately close to £1m. His tenure with the Hoops lasted for three seasons before moving on. Admittedly, his time on the pitch was limited, making only 20 first team appearances in total. However, he will be remembered by fans for his passion for the badge and his commitment to the team.
Finally, in August 2019, Gamboa made the move to the German Bundesliga and joined Bochum. His performances in Germany clearly resonated with the club and its fans, as he has remained there since. Now in his fifth season at Bochum, he has a tally of more than 100 appearances and two goals to his name.
