Guillermo Guardia

Guillermo Guardia
Personal information
Full nameGuillermo Guardia Morales
Date of birthFebruary 27, 1960
Place of birthSan José, Costa Rica
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing positionStriker
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1978-1985Saprissa
1986San Carlos
1987-1988Alajuelense
1989-1990Uruguay de Coronado
1991-1992Turrialba
1992-1993Limonense(14)
1994-1996Pérez Zeledón
Total-(149)
National team
1983-1984Costa Rica
Teams managed
1997-2000Pérez Zeledón
2001-2002Santa Bárbara
2002Municipal Liberia
2003-2004San Carlos
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 June 2014
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Guardia and the second or maternal family name is Morales.

Guillermo Guardia Morales (born 27 February 1960) is considered one of the best Costa Rican soccer strikers during the 1980s.

Club career

Nicknamed Nica, Guardia played the greatest years of his career for Deportivo Saprissa, where he became the best goal scorer of the Costa Rica's first division during 1981, year when Saprissa finished being the champion. Later he played for Alajuelense and San Carlos among others, totalling 7 different clubs.[1] He is especially remembered for saving an Alajuelense penalty kick when Turrialba goalkeeper Miguel Segura was sent off in a league game and Guardia replaced him in goal on 31 May 1992.[2]

Guardia's great scoring talents and quickness, helped him and teammate Evaristo Coronado form a lethal duo in the early 80s in Saprissa. He scored a total of 149 league goals.[3]

International career

He played with the Costa Rica national football team as well, and was part of Costa Rican squad that played at the 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles.[4][5]

Managerial career

After retiring, he began his coaching career, and has managed several teams in Costa Rica's first division, such as Pérez Zeledón,[6] Municipal Liberia[7] and San Carlos.[8]

References

  1. Nuevo récord en futbol de Primera División Benwell: el de más equipos - Nación (Spanish)
  2. Guillermo Guardia El goleador que atajó un penal - Nación (Spanish)
  3. Club de los 100 - UNAFUT (Spanish)
  4. Guillermo GuardiaFIFA competition record
  5. "Guillermo Guardia". Sports Reference. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
  6. Guardia recrimina a su plantel - Nación (Spanish)
  7. Sótano perturba a Liberia - Nación (Spanish)
  8. Guardia dirige a San Carlos - Nación (Spanish)