Greatest Guatemalan players of all-time

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

  1. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    Segun entiendo, decidió retirarse, ya a cierta edad. Tomando en cuenta que se inicio como entrenador en 1974, y que todavia (si mal no recuerdo) entrenaba equipos mayores al final de la decada de los 1990s, ademas de haber trabajado en el proceso de Maradiaga en 2004-2005. Fueron poco mas de 30 años de carrera de entrenador solamente. Si le sumamos el tiempo que fue futbolista de primer nivel, fueron mas de 45 años en el futbol organizado. No descarto que tambien esté decepcionado del futbol guatemalteco en general.
     
  2. edcalvi

    edcalvi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Olimpia
    Guatemala
    May 1, 2005
    US
    Ya lleva demasiado tiempo en el ámbito nacional. Que triste q él ha sido el último D.T. nacional en ganar un titulo de liga y ya hace casi 20 AÑOS. :eek: :eek:
     
  3. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
  4. edcalvi

    edcalvi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Olimpia
    Guatemala
    May 1, 2005
    US
    Anderson was a GREAT player but not memorable with the NT.

    And he came back from Mexico because his team mates disliked for being Guatemalan (y negrito)?

     
  5. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    Agreed. His club career vastly outshined his international one, to the point that he was almost a bust with the NT (although not too far from others players of his generation IMO).

    Diario de Centro America quotes 'racism', and the other source cited in the Wiki article is a transcript of an interview with him. I recommend reading both for more details.
     
  6. edcalvi

    edcalvi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Olimpia
    Guatemala
    May 1, 2005
    US
    Yeah, I assumed it was more because of his race and not his nationality or a combination of both. Well other Guatemalans never got any racism in Mexico, I'll read the source later.
     
  7. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    Please do post your thoughts after you do read it. :)
     
  8. edcalvi

    edcalvi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Olimpia
    Guatemala
    May 1, 2005
    US
    I think it was more jealousy than racism. Because he was a successful Non-Mexican and obviously that jealousy would turned to racism/nationalism because he was foreigner of Indigenous/Black descent. Mexicans discriminate against their own people so him being a foreigner made big a bigger target.

    I would have never left. Just let the haters hate.
     
  9. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    So let me ask you now (and everyone else on the Guate's forum!) what do you think of my initial ranking of him as the 10th best player ever? :confused: Too high? Too low? Who's better or worse?
     
  10. edcalvi

    edcalvi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Olimpia
    Guatemala
    May 1, 2005
    US
    I edited my comment.. check it.

    He definitely belongs in the top 10..I think at #8.
     
  11. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    Continuing with the work on Wiki articles, I am pleased to bring you:

    [​IMG]

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberto López Oliva

    El "Cuqui" López Oliva, outstanding executor of the Folha Seca, was a key member of the great national side of the 1960s and start of the 1970s, and easily the best fullback the country has ever produced. He is also one of only three Guatemalan players to win the CONCACAF Championship at both club and NT level (the others being his long time defensive partner Lijón León, and Rolando Valdez).

    IMO Lopez Oliva is one of the most complete players Guatemala has ever had, and perhaps the most underrated. He did it all: was good in the air, owned the right wing, was an excellent crosser and set piece specialist, and scored more goals than any other Guatemalan defender (I believe he is also the highest scoring defender ever from Central America, but this needs confirmation).

    He has said that he had the opportunity to play outside of Guatemala, but back then it didn't make sense, since salaries were not better ($=Q), and the level of competition of the local league was superior than it is now -- which sounds about right, as evidenced by the international success of our clubs and national team in that era.

    ---

    Also just to give an update, I am currently at 45% logging historical lineups of the Guatemala NT matches. Looks like at best I'll get to 75% or 80% due to lack of access to information (for the time being) on many older and friendly matches.
     
  12. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    45 years ago today, the Guatemala National Team played a high stakes match against Mexico during the III CONCACAF Championship (precursor of the Gold Cup) which was also called NORCECA Championship.

    The match was won by Guatemala with a late goal, 1-0, a result which was key for Guatemala to win the tournament, as they finished one point ahead of Mexico who where the defending champions and favorites to keep the title.

    [​IMG]

    The goal scored by the late Dr. Manuel Lisandro "Escopeta" Recinos gave Guatemalan football one of its most historic victories. Famously narrated by "Neto" Ponce Saravia on the radio, the win in Tegucigalpa was followed and celebrated by the entire nation, while some 5000 fans had traveled to Honduras to witness La Sele beat the best of the area.

    Here's the translation of an interview given by the national coach Rubén Amorín many years later:

    Innovative or unorthodox tactics? No. Luck? No. A team of well-prepared, highly disciplined individuals? Yes.
    ...

    MATCH REPORT
    Tournament: 1967 CONCACAF Championship (III NORCECA), Final Group

    Date: Friday, 10.3.1967 Time: Evening
    Venue: Tegucigalpa, Estadio Nacional de Tegucigalpa Att.: ~ 10000

    Guatemala 1-0 (0-0) Mexico
    Goal: 85' Manuel "Escopeta" Recinos [Assist Rolando Valdez (other sources list Tin Tan Peña)]

    Referee: Walter Jose Maria Van Rosberg (AHO)

    Radio transmission: Radio Nuevo Mundo PBP: Prof. Ernesto "Neto" Ponce Saravia

    MEX: Javier Vargas (Atlas); Juan Manuel Alejandrez (Cruz Azul), Gustavo Peña (Oro), Jesús del Muro (Cruz Azul), Mario "Pichojos" Pérez (Necaxa); Héctor Pulido (Cruz Azul), Jesús Prado (Cruz Azul), Fernando Bustos (Cruz Azul); Raúl "Pecas" Arellano (Cruz Azul), Manuel Lapuente (Monterrey) Manuel Cerda Canela(Toluca). D.T.: Ignacio Trelles (MEX)

    GUA: "Nixon" García (Municipal); López Oliva (Municipal), David Molina (Comunicaciones?), Hasse Ovalle (Cobán?), Roberto Ochoa (Aurora?); "Grillo" Roldán (Aurora), "Mapache" Hurtarte (Aurora), Guayo de León (Universidad?) (Rolando Valdez (Municipal)); "Cochita' Godoy (Municipal), "Escopeta" Recinos (Universidad), "Tin Tan" Peña (Universidad). D.T.: Rubén Amorín (URU)

    --------------García--------------
    López O.--Molina--Hasse O.--Ochoa
    Roldán-------Hurtarte------de León
    Godoy--------Recinos---------Peña

    Source: http://www.rsssf.com/tablesm/mex-intres6069.html
    (other sources state Hugo Torres started)


    [​IMG]
     
    BallinBear repped this.
  13. edcalvi

    edcalvi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Olimpia
    Guatemala
    May 1, 2005
    US
    Epic victory for Guate, CONCACAF Champion.
     
  14. BallinBear

    BallinBear Member

    May 31, 2009
    Very interesting stuff. I don't really know too much about the history of Chapin futbol but reading all these stories is fascinating. Good stuff ChaCha.

    Does Fedefut have a hall of fame?
     
  15. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    Thank you, I am too fascinated by the history of futbol in Guate and the world.

    The Fedefut doesn't even track statistics or other individual accomplishments. The closest thing to a hall of fame of guatemalan football would be the work of a few journalists in magazines or newspapers mentioning the great players of the past, or lists made online such as this one.
     
  16. BallinBear

    BallinBear Member

    May 31, 2009
    You can take Pando and Cabrera off this list. :sick:
     
  17. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    This is an interesting comment because they are the two most capped players ever for Guate, and like them, many players throughout the years who accomplished a lot have come to a point in the end of their careers where they lost the respect they once earned, and i think this is a reflection of both poor competitive level which has allowed them to continue playing at top flight way past their time, and lack of individual pride and work ethic. If they would just retire with dignity, the way a few have (Plata, Byron, Roldán).
     
  18. BallinBear

    BallinBear Member

    May 31, 2009
    I think you're right it has to do with poor competitive level that has limited options for replacements and lack of personal pride by the players. But I think what keeps them around is necessity, they need the money. They become staples of the national team and the organization feels bad taking away that supplemental income they get from the national team and think twice before replacing them with someone younger who may or may not perform at a higher level. This is the same thing that goes on with club teams and it's bullshit.

    It goes back to the fundamental problem in Guatemalan football: a mismanaged national league. With a well run league that pulls in diversified revenue sources and increases wages across the board we wouldn't have national team players worried about money. Not only that, players would be able to retire earlier and we wouldn't have 40 year old strikers taking up a starting spot on one of the two most important clubs in the country while letting the young players to rot on the bench.
     
  19. edcalvi

    edcalvi Moderator
    Staff Member

    Olimpia
    Guatemala
    May 1, 2005
    US
    Lástima q el General Jorge Ubico ya no es predisente para que los mandara a fusilar.
     
    ChaChaFut repped this.
  20. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    Feliz 15 de Septiembre!

    Feliz cumpleaños Pescadito! - casi tan viejo como yo ;)

    One year later, here is a revised list. El Pescado at the top. Marco Pappa climbing positions. New additions in bold, including El Loco Rodriguez at #73. Discuss.

    [​IMG]

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

    barnabyjonez Member

    May 28, 2011
    The Valley, Saba
    Club:
    Vancouver Whitecaps
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Jorge Schippers
     
  22. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    Ha. I vaguely remember that name. What ever happened to him?
     
  23. barnabyjonez

    barnabyjonez Member

    May 28, 2011
    The Valley, Saba
    Club:
    Vancouver Whitecaps
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    In 1996, I was his Grade six teacher at Colegio Interamericano in Guatemala City. Later on, I googled him and he played for Notre Dame. I don't know if he ever made the full national team, so obviously he was not one of the greatest ever, but to make a major US university, he had to be pretty good.
     
  24. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    I don't believe he was ever part of the senior NT but I do seem to recall he was a U-17 or U-20 international.
     
  25. ChaChaFut

    ChaChaFut Member

    Jun 30, 2005
    Want to see some highlights of El Grillo Roldán, Mincho Monterroso, David Stokes and others in action? Here is footage of the WCQ Final round match of December 1973 in Port-au-Prince lost to the local team 1-2.

    This is likely the earliest Guatemala NT match of which there is video online. It was uploaded to Youtube just over a year ago. An gem for those of us who like football history. I found it by accident while looking up yesterday's U20 highlights.

    The style of play is not much different than that of today if you ask me. Not sure if that's a good thing though. Also, you can see Roldán was, even though at the end of his career, the go-to guy and main ball distributor.

    Actual match footage starts at 8:23. I hope you enjoy watching it as much as i have.

     

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