Carlos Alvarado (footballer, born 1927)

Carlos Alvarado Villalobos (19 December 1927 – 27 July 2024) was a Costa Rican footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He also represented the Costa Rica national team at international level.

Carlos Alvarado
Personal information
Full name Carlos Alvarado Villalobos
Date of birth (1927-12-19)19 December 1927
Place of birth Santa Bárbara, Heredia, Costa Rica
Date of death 27 July 2024(2024-07-27) (aged 96)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1944–1947 Alajuelense
1947–1948 América
1948–1950 Alajuelense
1950 América de Cali[1] 10 (0)
1950–1960 Alajuelense
International career
1946–1960 Costa Rica 25 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Known as "Aguilucho", he was born in Santa Bárbara, Heredia, Alvarado played as a goalkeeper. He began his career with Alajuelense, making his Costa Rican Primera División debut in 1945.[2] Alvarado spent most of his career with Alajuelense, winning six Primera División titles in the process.[3] There, he earned the nickname "Aguilucho" (hawk) for the aggressive manner in which he attacked opponents trying to score.[4] He would play 159 league games for Liga.[5]

Alvarado began playing professional football with Mexican Primera División side América in 1947. He returned to Alajuelense after one season, and would spend three months in Colombia with América de Cali during 1950.[2][6]

In a 1951 match against the Boca Juniors, Alvarado blocked a critical penalty shot in the 90th minute. Costa Rican president Otilio Ulate Blanco gave Alvarado his watch, which he stopped at the moment Alvarado blocked the shot.[4]

During his career, Alvarado turned down offers to play for Italy's Genoa and Argentina's Boca Juniors.[4]

International career

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Alvarado made 25 appearances for the Costa Rica national team, making his debut in 1946. He helped Costa Rica win the CCCF Championship three times (1953, 1955 and 1960).[2]

Death

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Alvarado died on 27 July 2024, at the age of 96.[7]

References

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  1. ^ América statistics @ Golgolgol.net
  2. ^ a b c Rivera Jiménez, Arnoldo (20 June 1999). "Carlos Alvarado marcó, para siempre, el puesto de guardameta" [Carlos Alvarado marked forever as a goalkeeper] (in Spanish). La Nacion. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  3. ^ Rivera Jiménez, Arnoldo (20 June 1999). "Alvarado, en breve" [Alvarado in brief] (in Spanish). La Nacion. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "Carlos Alvarado". Revista Oficial de Socios de LDA “En Rojo y Negro” (in Spanish). Alajuela, Costa Rica. June 2003. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  5. ^ Alejandro González es leyenda en Alajuelense Archived 4 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine - UNAFUT (in Spanish)
  6. ^ "Carlos Alvardo Villalobos" (in Spanish). Salón de la Fama del Deporte Costarricense. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  7. ^ Fallece uno de los jugadores más queridos y admirados de Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (in Spanish)
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