Luis Gabelo Conejo

Luis Gabelo Conejo Jiménez (born 1 January 1960) is a retired Costa Rican footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Football career

Born in San Ramón, Alajuela, Conejo started his career in his country with C.S. Cartaginés, moving in 1985 to hometown's Asociación Deportiva Ramonense. He subsequently joined Spanish side Albacete Balompié, quickly becoming an idol as the Castile-La Mancha side reached La Liga for the first time ever in 1991;[1] he made his debut in the competition on 1 September 1991 in a 0–2 away loss against CA Osasuna,[2] and finished the season with 33 appearances for a club final seventh place.

After two years as a backup at Albacete, Conejo returned to Costa Rica with C.S. Herediano, retiring the following year after one season with Ramonense, aged 37. He received international recognition during the 1990 FIFA World Cup: appearing in three matches with two goals conceded, his heroic saves against Scotland, Brazil and Sweden helped Costa Rica reach the second round, but he did not appear in the round of 16 encounter against Czechoslovakia because of an injury, and his team was eliminated; France Football magazine named him the best goalkeeper of the tournament.

Subsequently, Conejo worked with the national team as goalkeepers' coach. In his country, he is highly regarded by fans, even though he never played for any of the top clubs in the nation. Most of them consider him the best Costa Rican goalkeeper ever.

In 2009, IFFHS named Conejo the 34th best goalkeeper of the world for the period 1987–2008, and the seventh in Latin America.[3]

References

  1. ^ Conejo, the Tico talisman
  2. ^ Osasuna 2 - Albacete 0
  3. ^ All-Time World Goalkeeper Ranking

External links