Greatest Guatemalan players of all-time

Discussion in 'Guatemala' started by ChaChaFut, Sep 15, 2011.

  1. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    There isn't nearly enough documentation on the internet about the history of football in Guatemala. And there is a lot of history. The game has been played in the country for over a century, the national league has been running for nearly 70 years, and the national team has been competing internationally for over 50 years. Newspapers used to provide great coverage of the sport but now it's all sales and even with the power of the Web the quality of the coverage is less than fair.

    Some of the important events that have shaped our futbol have gone and are now forgotten, sadly. Likewise, many great players that entertained masses and played with true love for the game are virtually unknown since no one pays tribute to their contributions to the sport. Because of this, I've spent some time over the last few years researching footballing events and individuals from the past in Guatemala, making translations, and adding to, or creating, articles in the great resource that is Wikipedia. I chose the English Wikipedia since it is the one with the most content, development, traffic, and number of contributors, and I am pleased to report that several of the articles I worked on have been translated to several languages.

    Since this is a long-term exercise, in order to prioritize the work I wanted to make a list of the greatest Guatemalans ever to play the game, and eventually write player profiles with photos, stats, etc. similar to what was done here on BigSoccer and add or improve articles in Wikipedia. It will also be great to have a somewhat educated true ranking of the best players, not just a handful of names. However, the research has been limited to Internet sources and my memory from the 1980s and 1990s experiencing football in Guatemala. There are a few good books produced by journalists in Guatemala containing much more information which could surely add to this list. Unfortunately, it's proven difficult to get a hold of these books in the U.S., so for now, here's my preliminary list of a little over 100 of the greatest Guatemalan footballers, more or less in order; the ones that have a Wikipedia article are linked to it.

    I would like to come up with at top 50 list derived from this list. I would love it if posters of this forum would help with suggestions, additions, corrections, comments, and any info you may have. Also, if there is a player, team, or other subject of notability that you would like me to improve or add to Wikipedia, let me know and I'll be happy to work on it. Thanks.


    Rank Player
    1 . Oscar Enrique "El Conejo" Sánchez
    2 . Juan Carlos Plata
    3 . Jorge "El Grillo" Roldán
    4 . Carlos "El Pescadito" Ruiz
    5 . Martin Machón
    6 . Selvin Pennant
    7 . Byron Pérez
    8 . Juan Manuel "Memín" Funes
    9 . Guillermo "El Pando" Ramirez
    10 . Julio César Anderson
    11 . Allan Kenny Wellman
    12 . Victor Hugo Monzón
    13 . Mincho Monterroso
    14 . Carlos "Pepino" Toledo
    15 . Alberto López Oliva
    16 . Hugo "Tin Tan" Peña
    17 . Freddy García
    18 . Félix "La Polilla" McDonald
    19 . Julio Gómez
    20 . Luis Villavicencio
    21 . Julio Rodas
    22 . David Stokes
    23 . Dwight "El Tanque" Pezzarossi
    24 . Jorge Rodas
    25 . Mario Camposeco
    26 . Julio Rodolfo "Nixon" García Guzmán
    27 . Guillermo Enrique "El Gigante" Rodríguez
    28 . Carlos "El Chino" Castañeda
    29 . German "El Chino" Ruano
    30 . Joaquín "Tacuazín" Ortiz
    31 . Ricardo "El Muñecón" Piccinini
    32 . Francisco "Pinula" López Contreras
    33 . Gonzalo "Chalo" Romero
    34 . Edwin Westphal
    35 . Gustavo Cabrera
    36 . Eduardo "Gasparín" Acevedo
    37 . Juan Francisco "El Gringo" Aguirre
    38 . Marco Pappa
    39 . Ricardo Alexander Clark
    40 . René Arturo Morales
    41 . Mario Acevedo
    42 . Manuel Lisandro "Escopeta" Recinos
    43 . Edgar "El Camarón" Arriaza
    44 . Raúl "El Flaco" Chacón
    45 . Claudio Ariel Rojas
    46 . Julio Girón
    47 . Hermenegildo Pep Castro
    48 . Roderico "Lico" Mendez
    49 . Norman Delva
    50 . Augusto "Culiche" Espinoza
    51 . Juan Manuel "Magua" Dávila II
    52 . "El Chino" Iván León
    53 . Jose Emilio Mitrovich
    54 . Freddy Thompson
    55 . Efraín "Soldado" de León
    56 . Federico Revuelto
    57 . Rafael "Cochita" Godoy
    58 . Pablo Melgar
    59 . Henry Stokes
    60 . Marco Antonio Fion
    61 . Dionel Fulgencio Bordón
    62 . Erick Miranda
    63 . Manuel "El Moyo" Contreras
    64 . Pedro "Tarzán" Segura
    65 . Edgar Everaldo Valencia
    66 . Rudy Rolando Ramirez
    67 . Marvin Ceballos I
    68 . Alejandro Ortiz Obregón
    69 . Nelson Cáceres
    70 . Ricardo Jerez I
    71 . Selvyn Ponciano
    72 . Jorge "La Chana" Fernandez
    73 . Guillermo "La Pantera" Enríquez Gamboa
    74 . Jorge Vickers
    75 . Jesus "Chus" de Leon
    76 . Edgar "El Campeón" Bolaños
    77 . Victor Hugo "El Aguado" Méndez
    78 . Kevin Sandoval
    79 . Giovanni Hernández
    80 . Edgar "El Gato" Estrada
    81 . Jorge Arturo "El Indio" Perez
    82 . Adán Onelio Paniagua
    83 . Rony Archila
    84 . Leonel "El Machete" Contreras
    85 . Lijón León de León
    86 . Rogelio "El Colocho" Flores
    87 . Erwin "El Pollo" Donis
    88 . Cesar Aníbal "El Picho" Trujillo
    89 . Marvin Gordon
    90 . Sergio Rivera
    91 . Luis Rodolfo "El Chavo" López Meneses
    92 . Marvin Ávila
    93 . Mario Menjívar
    94 . Ricardo "El Loco" Medrano
    95 . Leonardo MacNish
    96 . Felipe Antonio Carías
    97 . Carlos "El Chatío" Martinez
    98 . Sergio "Chejo" Guevara
    99 . Fredy Masella
    100 . Engelvert Herrera
    101 . Luis "El Canche" Rodriguez
    102 . René Villavicencio
    103 . Nelson Armando Melgar
    104 . Carlos Enrique "El Ronco" Wellman
    105 . Miguel Estuardo Coronado
    106 . Juan Perez Monge
    107 . Rigoberto "La Chula" Gómez


    [​IMG]
     
  2. edcalvi

    edcalvi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Olimpia
    Guatemala
    May 1, 2005
    US
    Carlos Ruiz and Roldan >>> Juan Carlos Plata. Also Byron Perez deserves more love.
     
  3. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    Sounds good to me. The list is tentative and meant to be the draft of a better list.

    I had to start somewhere to rank players at the very top. I made the top 3 in accordance with the IFFHS century election: http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/iffhs-century.html#cnpoy . Of course that ranking was done prior to El Pescado becoming the player he became. Do you rank him ahead of el Grillo Roldan?

    Plata still has a case as he is the most prolific goalscorer ever in Guatemala. However, I can see him being ranked lower due the fact that he only played in the local league. His contributions to the national team, however, are as good as anyone's.
     
  4. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    Thanks for sticky.

    This is how goalkeepers are ranked on the above list:

    26 . Julio Rodolfo "Nixon" García Guzmán
    31 . Ricardo "El Muñecón" Piccinini
    47 . Hermenegildo Pep Castro
    64 . Pedro "Tarzán" Segura
    70 . Ricardo Jerez I
    73 . Guillermo "La Pantera" Enríquez Gamboa
    80 . Edgar "El Gato" Estrada
    93 . Mario Menjívar

    What do you guys think?
     
  5. BallinBear

    BallinBear Member

    May 31, 2009
    No love for Loco Rodriguez?
     
  6. edcalvi

    edcalvi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Olimpia
    Guatemala
    May 1, 2005
    US
    We currently suck at GK and from this list I only like the top 2.

    Check #94. :p


    ChaChafut, Why is la chula Gómez on this list? :eek:
     
  7. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    Ranking of defenders per above list:

    11 . Allan Kenny Wellman
    12 . Victor Hugo Monzón
    15 . Alberto López Oliva
    19 . Julio Gómez
    20 . Luis Villavicencio
    29 . German "El Chino" Ruano
    35 . Gustavo Cabrera
    36 . Eduardo "Gasparín" Acevedo
    51 . Juan Manuel "Magua" Dávila II
    52 . "El Chino" Iván León
    58 . Pablo Melgar
    59 . Henry Stokes
    60 . Marco Antonio Fion
    62 . Erick Miranda
    68 . Alejandro Ortiz Obregón
    69 . Nelson Cáceres
    71 . Selvyn Ponciano
    79 . Giovanni Hernández
    81 . Jorge Arturo "El Indio" Perez
    84 . Leonel "El Machete" Contreras
    85 . Lijón León de León
    100 . Engelvert Herrera
    102 . René Villavicencio
    104 . Carlos Enrique "El Ronco" Wellman
    105 . Miguel Estuardo Coronado
    106 . Juan Perez Monge

    The list of defenders may be the one that needs the most work. I feel I'm missing a bunch of good defenders, and it looks all over the place :eek:
     
  8. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    Whereabouts would you rank him? Top 50? Top 100? I never really liked him... but to be honest, I tend to underrate recent players and squads.
     
  9. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    We certainly do. The last decent keeper was probably Danny Ortiz (R.I.P).

    His long tenure with Comunicaciones... no other reason, really. Originally I wanted to list 100 players but I added a few more trying not to miss anyone. As you can see, he doesn't crack top 100 in my eyes.

    Please remember that this is a preliminary list, and the first one of this kind done in this forum. There are definitely players missing that could even be in the top 25 ever. I need to continue researching and will update the list as I do.

    At the same time I am working on a compilation of pure statistics and records at club and national team level (perhaps will start a thread on that too) that should help add objectiveness to the ranking of players.

    Everyone's input is much appreciated.

    Edit: Also Popol you didn't answer my question on whether you would put El Pescado ahead of El Grillo Roldan.
     
  10. jfcule

    jfcule Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 4, 2005
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    El Gato Estrada is too high at #80. He's probably the most overrated player in Guate's history.
    I still blame him for the 5-2 debacle vs Costa Rica @Miami that kept us out of the 2002 WC.

    Also, no Stanley Gardiner?
     
  11. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    Yes Estrada had his dark moments but at the same time he was consistently called up to the NT, becoming the most capped GK. He was also the "menos vencido" for several seasons at the league level. Strangely for a goalkeeper I think his better years were earlier in his career, around 1993-1998.

    I hesitated in adding Stanley Gardiner. He was a solid CB. I remember watching him partner with el Peruano Julian Vargas and also the Argentinian Alejandro Pacheco, both amazing players, In Municipal's backline in the early 90s. What a team that was. However, I thought his career was rather short an his international presence scarce. Still, I will further evaluate him. Thanks.
     
  12. Guatefc

    Guatefc New Member

    Jun 1, 2005
    Washington DC
    Nat'l Team:
    Guatemala

    Martin Machon?
     
  13. jfcule

    jfcule Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 4, 2005
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    El recien electo diputado esta en el #5
     
  14. Jfloalvarez88

    Jfloalvarez88 New Member

    Sep 18, 2011
    Club:
    CSD Comunicaciones
    El gato estrada was great, I am itzallboutgtown btw :cool:
     
  15. jfcule

    jfcule Moderator
    Staff Member

    Aug 4, 2005
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    What happened to your other account?:confused:
     
  16. edcalvi

    edcalvi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Olimpia
    Guatemala
    May 1, 2005
    US
    Definitely Carlos Ruiz since we're in more modern times and his outstanding NT scoring record even though he never played in a top European league.
     
  17. edcalvi

    edcalvi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Olimpia
    Guatemala
    May 1, 2005
    US
    Ya solucione su problema. ;)
     
  18. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    This list was missing the players in bold.
    Total 29 DF


    Ranking of MIDFIELDERS:

    3 . Jorge "El Grillo" Roldán
    5 . Martin Machón
    7 . Byron Pérez
    8 . Juan Manuel "Memín" Funes
    9 . Guillermo "El Pando" Ramirez
    13 . Mincho Monterroso
    17 . Freddy García
    18 . Félix "La Polilla" McDonald
    24 . Jorge Rodas
    27 . Guillermo Enrique "El Gigante" Rodríguez (*)
    28 . Carlos "El Chino" Castañeda
    30 . Joaquín "Tacuazín" Ortiz
    33 . Gonzalo "Chalo" Romero
    38 . Marco Pappa
    44 . Raúl "El Flaco" Chacón
    45 . Claudio Ariel Rojas
    46 . Julio Girón
    54 . Freddy Thompson
    63 . Manuel "El Moyo" Contreras
    65 . Edgar Everaldo Valencia
    67 . Marvin Ceballos I
    72 . Jorge "La Chana" Fernandez
    75 . Jesus "Chus" de Leon
    76 . Edgar "El Campeón" Bolaños
    77 . Victor Hugo "El Aguado" Méndez
    87 . Erwin "El Pollo" Donis
    88 . Cesar Aníbal "El Picho" Trujillo
    91 . Luis Rodolfo "El Chavo" López Meneses
    92 . Marvin Ávila
    94 . Ricardo "El Loco" Medrano
    98 . Sergio "Chejo" Guevara
    99 . Fredy Masella (*)
    101 . Luis "El Canche" Rodriguez
    107 . Rigoberto "La Chula" Gómez
    Total 34 MF

    *Inside forward on 3-2-5 system of the time (source); listed as MF for the purposes of comparison between eras.


    After I list the forwards, I will post a new master list with changes and additions.
     
  19. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    Bolded player was missing.
    Total 9 GK


    Ranking of FORWARDS:

    1 . Oscar Enrique "El Conejo" Sánchez
    2 . Juan Carlos Plata
    4 . Carlos "El Pescadito" Ruiz
    6 . Selvin Pennant
    10 . Julio César Anderson
    14 . Carlos "Pepino" Toledo
    16 . Hugo "Tin Tan" Peña
    21 . Julio Rodas
    22 . David Stokes
    23 . Dwight "El Tanque" Pezzarossi
    25 . Mario Camposeco
    32 . Francisco "Pinula" López Contreras (*)
    34 . Edwin Westphal
    37 . Juan Francisco "El Gringo" Aguirre
    39 . Ricardo Alexander Clark
    40 . René Arturo Morales
    41 . Mario Acevedo
    42 . Manuel Lisandro "Escopeta" Recinos
    43 . Edgar "El Camarón" Arriaza
    48 . Roderico "Lico" Mendez
    49 . Norman Delva
    50 . Augusto "Culiche" Espinoza
    53 . Jose Emilio Mitrovich
    55 . Efraín "Soldado" de León
    57 . Rafael "Cochita" Godoy
    61 . Dionel Fulgencio Bordón
    66 . Rudy Rolando Ramirez
    74 . Jorge Vickers
    78 . Kevin Sandoval
    82 . Adán Onelio Paniagua
    83 . Rony Archila
    89 . Marvin Gordon
    96 . Felipe Antonio Carías
    97 . Carlos "El Chatío" Martinez
    103 . Nelson Armando Melgar
    Total 35 FW

    * Winger (extremo) in the 3-2-5 system of his time.


    Total # of players selected to preliminary list by position:

    Goalkeepers: 9
    Defenders: 29
    Midfielders: 34
    Forwards: 35
    --------------
    Total: 107
     
  20. BKR inC

    BKR inC Member+

    Feb 9, 2007
    Australia
    Are their any players on the list that were naturalised guatemalans like they were born in another country but then went on to represent Guatemala or this just a list solely based on those born and raised in guatemala?
     
  21. edcalvi

    edcalvi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Olimpia
    Guatemala
    May 1, 2005
    US
    The only ones I think of is #31 goalkeeper Ricardo Piccinini (ARG). But he made his life in Guatemala, his daughter was elected Miss Guatemala around 5 years ago. And José Emilio Mitrovich (ARG).

    ChaChaFut might know of more.

    Don't be fooled by the English/German surnames.
     
  22. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    That is correct Popol, and actually, also GK José Pedro "Tarzán" Segura was born in El Salvador and naturalized, and like him Dionel Fulgencio Bordón (Argentine, 1990s) and Rigoberto "La Chula" Gómez (Honduras, 1990s and 2000s) -- the latter whom will be cut off the upcoming updated list (top 100).

    Honorable mention (not on the list) for Hector Tambasco (1970s), Marcelo Ferreira and Marcelo Bauzá (both 1980s), all from Argentina, who stood out in the Guatemalan league and were naturalized. I might be forgetting others but in any case they probably don't make the list.

    A different scenario but worth mentioning is that one of Claudio Ariel Rojas, one of the best offensive midfielders in the Guatemalan league in the 1990s and beginning of the 2000s, who was born in Guatemala, but was basically made in Argentina in the lower divisions of River Plate. A comparable, more recent case is Willie Sims (not on the list) who was formed in the U.S. and then played for the Guatemala NT but I believe only earned 1 cap. Does he speak Spanish? :D

    The list is not meant to exclude any naturalized players but it will base their ranking on their club and NT contributions occurring only after they were naturalized.
     
  23. edcalvi

    edcalvi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Olimpia
    Guatemala
    May 1, 2005
    US
    This guy was totally out of my memories until now that you mentioned him. Too bad he was only more of a club player.
     
  24. lguti9

    lguti9 Member

    Aug 5, 2008
    virginia
    Club:
    CSD Comunicaciones
    Nat'l Team:
    Guatemala
    Re: Leyendas del fútbol guatemalteco

    Popol can you combine this thread with the one that was made recently
     
  25. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    Re: Leyendas del fútbol guatemalteco

    Yes, I remember reading this thread before. Do merge it with the other one as it contains some info about two of the players in the list.

    lguti9 , did you get to take a picture with/of La Pantera Gamboa? and do you know whether he is still involved with football in any way? and please do comment on the preliminary ranking of players.
     

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