Juan Eduardo Simián Gallet (16 November 1915 − 14 December 1995) was a Chilean footballer and politician who served as minister of State during Eduardo Frei Montalva's government.[1] Simián is considered a historical player of Club Universidad de Chile.[2]
Eduardo Simián | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Minister of Mining | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 3 November 1964 – 21 October 1966 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President | Eduardo Frei Montalva | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Luis Palacios Rossini | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Alejandro Hales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 16 November 1915 Santiago, Chile | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 15 December 1995 (aged 80) Santiago, Chile | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Christian Democratic Party (1991−1995) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Eliana Díaz Lemonon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | Five | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent(s) | María Luisa Gallet Emilio Simián | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Footballer Politician | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profession | Mining engineer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Football career
editClub career
editSimián began his career at Club Universidad de Chile aged 20 while he was doing his BA in mining engineering at the University of Chile,[3] where he graduated in 1938.
During the 1938 Primera División de Chile season, he was part of the Universidad de Chile champion team which obtained the First Division title under the orders of the player-coach Luis Tirado. Simian's impressive performances led the press to consider him as one of the best players of early Chilean football.[4]
In 1940, Simián stopped his football career after obtaining a scholarship from the Production Development Corporation (Corfo) to research in the US on geological exploration, geophysics, and drilling of exploration wells.[5] Once ended his spell in the US, in 1942, he returned to play in Universidad de Chile, but only for the Clásico Universitario.[4]
In 1946, Simián definitely retired from football aged 31 after playing another Clásico Universitario with Universidad de Chile. In total, he made fifty two appearances for them between 1938 and 1946.[4]
International career
editHe played in three matches for the Chile national football team in 1939.[6] He was also part of Chile's squad for the 1939 South American Championship.[7]
Political career
editBeginnings at ENAP
editAfter his experience in the US, the Corfo hired him in the early 1940s to plan operations in southern Chile. As head of the drilling team, on 29 September 1945, Simián participated in the discovery of the first oil well in the Magallanes Region.
In 1950, the president Gabriel González Videla—from the Radical Party (PR)—appointed him as the production manager of the state-owned company Empresa Nacional del Petróleo (ENAP).
1958 parliamentary campaign
editIn 1958, Simián failed to reach a seat in the Senate after losing the elections of the 8th District of San Miguel. During his campaign, he was supported by Sergio Livingstone.[8][9]
Minister of Mining
editIn 1964, the elected president Eduardo Frei Montalva called him to serve as Minister of Mining, an office he accepted and served until 1966.
During Simián's administration occurred the first stage of the Chilean nationalization of copper. The official initiative—also known as 'agreed nationalization'—was sent by Frei to the National Congress in September 1965. After an arduous debate, the text was approved in January 1966, giving rise to Law N°16.425 and the creation of the Chilean Copper Corporation, the seed of Codelco (National Copper Corporation of Chile). Similarly, in 1966, was enacted Law N°16.624. It created mixed companies owned in a 51% by the Chilean State.
Late career
editIn 1973, he became General Manager at ENAP (Empresa Nacional del Petróleo).
In 1988, he was one of the founders of the political movement Independientes por el Consenso Democrático.
References
edit- ^ Adriazola, Renato (30 December 2013). "Del "Pulpo" Simián a Kaladze: Conoce a los futbolistas que han llegado a la política". La Tercera. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
- ^ "Los jugadores históricos de los 93 años de Universidad de Chile". ANFP. 24 May 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "In Memoriam, Eduardo Simian Gallet". Instituto de Ingenieros en Minas en Chile. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ a b c Azul Azul S.A. (April 2017). 90 AÑOS 1927 – 2017 MÁS QUE UNA PASIÓN (PDF) (in Spanish) (1 ed.). Santiago, Chile: Ediciones Babieca. pp. 20–21, 25–27, 32, 39, 306, 312, 332. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
- ^ Barros, María Celia (29 July 2012). "Enap y el petróleo en Chile". Revista Electricidad. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "Eduardo Simián". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ "South American Championship 1939". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ Elsey 2011, p. 204.
- ^ El Mercurio, 5 March 1958, page 15. See also the section «Notes» in Brenda Elsey's book Citizen & Sportsmen". Fútbol & Politics in 20th-Century Chile.
Works cited
edit- Elsey, Brenda (2011). Citizens and Sportsmen: Fútbol and Politics in Twentieth-Century Chile. University of Texas Press. doi:10.7560/726307. ISBN 978-0-292-72630-7. JSTOR 10.7560/726307.
External links
edit- Eduardo Simian at WorldFootball.net
- Eduardo Simian at National-Football-Teams.com
