Juan Pablo Angel, the former Aston Villa striker, has undergone a dramatic transformation since his Premier League days, now appearing as a pundit for Fox Sports Colombia during the World Cup. The Colombian, who once sported long locks and a headband, now has a short back and sides haircut and a bushy grey beard.
From Prem Cult Hero to TV Analyst
Angel, now 50, is part of the World Cup coverage for the Colombian branch of Fox Sports. He scored 62 goals in six years for Aston Villa and also provided 14 assists. His performances made him a fan favourite at Villa Park.
Reflecting on his time with the club, Angel told FourFourTwo: "My time at Villa was very special. I loved the club from day one because of the affection from the fans, who even made up a song dedicated to my name."
Impact in Colombia
South American football expert Tim Vickery noted that Angel's move to Aston Villa put the club on the map in Colombia. "Villa are well known in Colombia because of the time that Juan Pablo Angel, the top-scoring Colombian in Premier League history, spent there," Vickery said.
Angel is from Medellin but, as Vickery added, "Angel was an upper-middle-class kid, well-educated, well-disciplined and coming out of an excellent finishing school, Argentina’s River Plate."
Good Luck Charm for Colombia
Angel has been somewhat of a good luck charm for Colombia, who started the World Cup with two wins in their opening matches. The country has a strong contingent of pundits, with Angel joining the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Javier Hernandez, and Thierry Henry covering the tournament for US broadcasters.
