| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | José Luis Zalazar Rodríguez | ||
| Date of birth | October 26, 1963 | ||
| Place of birth | Montevideo, Uruguay | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1982–1986 | Peñarol | ? | (?) |
| 1986–1987 | Tecos UAG | 20 | (11) |
| 1987–1988 | Cádiz | 33 | (6) |
| 1988–1990 | Español | 16 | (1) |
| 1990–1996 | Albacete | 218 | (72) |
| 1996–1997 | Racing Santander | 39 | (4) |
| 1997 | Nacional | ? | (?) |
| 1997 | Bella Vista | 13 | (3) |
| 1998–1999 | Albacete | 12 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 1984–1993 | Uruguay | 29 | (3) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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José Luis Zalazar Rodríguez (born October 26, 1963) is a retired Uruguayan footballer. He played mostly as an attacking midfielder.
Nicknamed El Oso (Bear), he played most of his career in Spain, especially with Albacete Balompié, being part of the club's most long tenure in the Spanish first division. Zalazar was also notable for his strong and accurate right-foot shot, as demonstrated with several goals from long distance, particularly from free kicks.[1]
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Born in Montevideo, Zalazar started his career at local club C.A. Peñarol in 1982. After the 1986 FIFA World Cup, he joined Mexican club Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara where, in his first year, he was the highest goalscorer of the tournament with 23 goals. He then moved to Spain, where he played with Cádiz CF one season, before returning to Mexico for the 1988–89 season, again with the Tecos.
In 1989, Zalazar returned to Spain, playing one year in its second level with RCD Español; he then joined Albacete Balompié, where he would have his most successful period, playing six seasons and being part of the squad known as Queso Mecánico ("Mechanic Cheese"). He started his spell at the Castile-La Mancha team in the second division, scoring 15 times in all 38 matches in an eventual promotion - namely two crucial ones against UD Salamanca.[1]
During 1991–92's top level, Zalazar again played in all the games, adding 13 goals, helping Albacete finish in seventh place, the highest position ever reached by the club in the first division. The player's performances earned him the EFE Trophy by Spanish news agency EFE, awarded to the best Ibero-American player in La Liga every year.[2] During his career at Albacete, Zalazar also became the club's all-time leader in first division appearances, with 180 matches,[3] and goals, with 57.
After Albacete was relegated back to the second division in the 1995–96 season, Zalazar left for Racing de Santander for one single season. The following year, he returned to Uruguay, playing the 1997 Apertura tournament for hometown's Club Nacional de Football and the Clausura for Club Atlético Bella Vista. After a brief retirement, 35-year old Zalazar rejoined Albacete, still in the second level, leaving the game for good at the end of the season.
Zalazar obtained a total of 29 international caps for the Uruguay national team. Having made his official international debut on June 13, 1984 against England, in a 2–0 win, he was part of the Uruguayan squad at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, making his only appearance of the tournament during the second half of a group stage 1–6 loss to Denmark.
He also played six matches during the 1994 World Cup qualification process, his last representing Uruguay, which did not qualify.
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