Gabriel Mendoza

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Mendoza and the second or maternal family name is Ibarra.
Gabriel Mendoza
Personal information
Full nameGabriel Rafael Mendoza Ibarra
Date of birth22 May 1968
Place of birthGraneros, Chile
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing positionRight back
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1986–1990O'Higgins78(4)
1991–1996Colo-Colo163(6)
1997São Paulo17(0)
1998–1999Tigres UANL19(1)
2000Santiago Wanderers25(0)
2001Colo-Colo13(1)
2001Shandong Luneng6(0)
2002Santiago Morning17(0)
National team‡
1991–1997Chile36(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 January 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 October 2010

Gabriel Rafael Mendoza Ibarra (born 22 May 1968 in Graneros), commonly known as Coca Mendoza for his similarity with the television actress Coca Guazzini, is a former Chilean footballer that played in the position of right back and central midfielder.

Mendoza was member of Colo-Colo's historic squad that achieved 1991 Copa Libertadores.

Biography

Playing career

Mendoza arrived to Colo-Colo, after of made a recognized season with O'Higgins. In the Cacique, he immediately was won the position of right back in the squad of the coach Mirko Jozic, European style assiduously defensive, but with very vertigo in the sidebands.

He was one of key players of the club in the squad that Colo-Colo achieved the Copa Libertadores 1991, after of defeat to Olimpia for 3–0 in the final, however he also was included in the best team of South America. Mendoza also won the Chilean Primera Division with the club in the same year. In the match against Puebla for Recopa Sudamericana of 1992, he scored one of three goals of Colo-Colo, in the 3–1 victory. After of four good seasons, he was signed by Tigres UANL of Mexico.

After of made a irregular season with Tigres, he return to Chile, for play at Santiago Wanderers in 2000. One year later, he returned to Colo-Colo. After of his spent for Colo-Colo, he joined to Shandong Luneng of Chinese Super League. Finally in 2002, he return to Chile for finish his career at Santiago Morning.

Post-playing career

In 2005, Gabriel Mendoza participated in the reality show La Granja VIP. During the reality, he was the runner-up of the contest, after of loss in a mourning of force at final against the Spanish singer Javier Estrada. After of his participation in this reality, he was invited to many stellars of the Chilean TV. In 2009, Mendoza once appeared in a TV serie, the reality show 1810 of Canal 13. He had his personal revenge, because he won the final of the reality, winning a reward of 50 million pesos (US$ 80.000).

Currently Mendoza plays in the Chilean national team of Showbol, tournament of futsal played for all South America. He also has a football school in Viña del Mar, called Gabriel "Coca" Mendoza.

Honours

Club

Colo-Colo

International

Chile

Individual

References

    External links