José Luis Chilavert

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José Luis Félix Chilavert González (born July 27, 1965 in Luque, Departamento Central) is a Paraguayan former football goalkeeper and free kick specialist. He was voted "World's Best Goalkeeper" in 1995, 1997, & 1998.

Besides being one of the best goalkeepers of his time, Chilavert was also known for his skills as a free kick specialist, and often took penalties. His pioneering of this expertise in his position made him the all-time leading scorer among professional keepers until Brazilian Rogério Ceni passed him in 2006. He scored 62 goals in his professional career, many of them crucial, including eight in international matches. Four of his international goals were scored during Paraguay's qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Chilavert was also known for his eccentricity and at times fiery temper, which brought him his fair share of controversies; most notorious among which was being sent off for brawling with ex-Newcastle player 'Tino' Asprilla.

[edit] Club career

Chilavert made his debut as a football player at the age of 17, with the team Sportivo Luqueño, who were a second division team at that time. In 1989, he played for the Paraguayan national team for the first time. By then he had already reached division one football, with Argentina's San Lorenzo.

He later moved to Spain, where he played with for Real Zaragoza. He then returned to Argentina, where he played with Vélez Sársfield, helping them win the Argentine championship four times as well as the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup, both in 1994. In 1999, he became the first goalkeeper to score a hat-trick in the history of football, while playing for Vélez against Ferro Carril Oeste, scoring all three goals through penalties. He also scored a memorable free-kick from behind the half-way line against River Plate. (Watch video)

[edit] International career

He was voted World Goalkeeper of the Year by the IFFHS in 1995, 1997, and 1998. In 1998, he participated in the World Cup, where he became the first goalkeeper ever to take a direct free kick in World Cup finals (almost scoring), against Bulgaria; he received an ovation when he crossed the pitch to try to score. With two clean sheets in the first round, he helped take Paraguay to the round of sixteen, where the team lost to France on a golden goal. Chilavert had made boasts about being the Cup's best goalkeeper before the tournament.

After a qualifying game for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he spat on Brazil's player Roberto Carlos, an action which caused FIFA to give him a three-match suspension and forced him to watch the first game of the World Cup from the stands.

He has 74 international caps for Paraguay and a goalkeeper-record of 8 international goals.

[edit] Retirement and post-career

Chilavert announced his retirement from all football in December 2003, but decided to come out of retirement to return to Vélez. He finally retired permanently in 2004, playing his last match, a farewell testimonial, on November 11 of that year (fittingly, he scored a goal).^[1]

In 2005, Chilavert was sentenced to six months in prison in France for the use of false documents about the compensation for the end of his contract with Racing Club de Strasbourg.^[2]

Chilavert was a commentator for American television network Univision during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He is expected to commentate on future tournaments for them.

[edit] Honours

Team titles

• Liga Paraguaya 1984 (with Club Guaraní)
• Primera División Argentina 1993 Clausura (with Vélez Sársfield)
• Copa Libertadores 1994 (with Vélez Sársfield)
• Intercontinental Cup 1994 (with Vélez Sársfield)
• Primera División Argentina 1995 Apertura (with Vélez Sársfield)
• Primera División Argentina 1996 Clausura (with Vélez Sársfield)
• Copa Interamericana 1996 (with Vélez Sársfield)
• Supercopa Sudamericana 1996 (with Vélez Sársfield)
• Recopa Sudamericana 1997 (with Vélez Sársfield)
• Primera División Argentina 1998 Clausura (with Vélez Sársfield)
• Coupe de France 2001 (with RC Strasbourg)
• Primera División Uruguaya 2003 (with Peňarol)

Individual awards

• IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year 1995
• Argentine League Player of the Year 1996
• South American Footballer of the Year 1996
• IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year 1997
• IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year 1998
• Ranked 55th on the World Soccer players of the 20th century

[edit] Career statistics

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Chilavert Tribute (from Vélez Sársfield's website)
• IFFHS Top Division goal scorer ranking among Goalkeepers
• IFFHS' World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year
• RSSSF detail of international appearances

Awards
Preceded by Michel Preud'homme	IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper 1995	Succeeded by Andreas Köpke
Preceded by Enzo Francescoli	South American Footballer of the Year 1996	Succeeded by Marcelo Salas
Preceded by Andreas Köpke	IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper 1997 – 1998	Succeeded by Oliver Kahn

v • d • e Paraguay squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 Chilavert • 2 Arce • 3 Rivarola • 4 Gamarra • 5 Ayala • 6 Aguilera • 7 Yegros • 8 A. Rojas • 9 Cardozo • 10 Acuña • 11 Sarabia • 12 Aceval • 13 Paredes • 14 R. Rojas • 15 Benítez • 16 Enciso • 17 Brizuela • 18 Ramírez • 19 Morales • 20 Caniza • 21 Campos • 22 Ruiz Díaz • Coach: Carpegiani

v • d • e Paraguay squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Chilavert • 2 Arce • 3 Sarabia • 4 Gamarra • 5 Ayala • 6 Struway • 7 Báez • 8 Alvarenga • 9 Santa Cruz • 10 Acuña • 11 Campos • 12 Villar • 13 Paredes • 14 Gavilán • 15 Bonet • 16 Morínigo • 17 Franco • 18 Cáceres • 19 Sanabria • 20 Cardozo • 21 Caniza • 22 Tavarelli • 23 Cuevas • Coach: Maldini