Mario Méndez (Mexican footballer)

Mario Méndez Olagüe (born 1 June 1979) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played as a right-back.

Mario Méndez
Personal information
Full name Mario Méndez Olagüe[1]
Date of birth (1979-06-01) 1 June 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Right-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2003 Atlas 195 (11)
2004–2005 Toluca 71 (2)
2006 Monterrey 10 (0)
2006 Tigres UANL 15 (0)
2007–2008 Vélez Sársfield 29 (0)
2008–2012 Toluca 68 (4)
2009–2010Atlas (loan) 26 (0)
2011–2012Irapuato (loan) 25 (0)
2013 San Luis 1 (0)
International career
2000–2008 Mexico 37 (1)
Medal record
Representing  Mexico
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2003
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 October 2012
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 June 2011

Career

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Mario Méndez started his career with Club Atlas in the year 1998, in the golden age that included many (at the time, promising) players like Rafael Márquez, Daniel Osorno, Juan Pablo Rodriguez and Miguel Zepeda. With Atlas he got a sub-championship in the year of 1999 having been a vital part in the defense. He stayed with this club until 2004. In 2004 Mario Mendéz was bought by Deportivo Toluca F.C., where he was an important player in the squad playing 49 games and scoring one goal.

Méndez would be sent to Monterrey to play in the Rayados of Monterrey. His time there was limited as he was in the Mexico national team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de México) in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup. Later that year he was transferred to Tigres on 29 May 2006. He previously played on loan for the Tigres' arch-rival Rayados of Monterrey, and was signed with Club Toluca who negotiated the transference with Tigres.

He was called up to the Mexico national team at the 2006 World Cup. He started for Mexico's first two games against Iran, Angola and later, in the Elimination Round of 16 against Argentina. In the game against Iran he made an assist in the goal of Zihna. Although he had been criticized for his occasional careless plays and teamwork abilities on the national team, he continuesd to be one of Mexico's important talented players.

During the Winter Transfer period, Ricardo Lavolpe, head coach of the Argentine Vélez Sársfield, called on the talents of Mario Méndez for Vélez Sársfield

After Lavolpe's resignation as coach Mendez returned to Mexico, joining Club Toluca.

During the Hugo Sanchez era, Mendez was not called up for Mexico. Méndez returned to the team under the new manager Sven-Göran Eriksson. He appeared in the September 2008 friendly match against Chile (a 1–0 defeat), coming on as a substitute for Jaime Correa Córdoba. He was loaned out to CD Irapuato on 12 June 2011 after being transferred from Club Toluca. He retired in 2013.

Honours

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Toluca

Mexico

Individual

Career statistics

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International goals

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Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. January 19, 2000 Estadio Tecnológico, Monterrey, Mexico   Romania 2–1 3–1 Friendly

References

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  1. ^ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Mexico" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
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