Justo Villar

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Villar and the second or maternal family name is Viveros.
Justo Villar

Villar with Valladolid in 2009
Personal information
Full nameJusto Wilmar Villar Viveros
Date of birth30 June 1977
Place of birthCerrito, Paraguay
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current team
Colo-Colo
Number1
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1996–2000Sol de América103(0)
2001–2004Libertad109(0)
2004–2008Newell's Old Boys135(0)
2008–2011Valladolid44(0)
2011–2012Estudiantes18(0)
2013Nacional13(0)
2013–Colo-Colo54(0)
National team‡
1997Paraguay U20
2000Paraguay U234(0)
1999–Paraguay107(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 April 2015

Justo Wilmar Villar Viveros (born 30 June 1977) is a Paraguayan professional footballer who plays for Chilean club Colo-Colo as a goalkeeper.

A Paraguayan international on more than 100 occasions, he represented the nation in three World Cups and five Copa América tournaments.[2][3]

Club career

Born in Cerrito, Ñeembucú Department, Villar started his career at Club Sol de América where he was coached by legendary Ever Hugo Almeida, also a goalkeeper, as the side also included another famed player in that position as the keepers' coach, Modesto Sandoval.

In 2001 he moved to bigger club Club Libertad, where he was reunited with Sandoval: he won back-to-back national championships with the team, in 2002 and 2003, signing the following year with Argentina's Newell's Old Boys.

As an undisputed starter, Villar helped Newell's to the 2004 Apertura championship, also being considered by the press as the Goalkeeper of the Year – previously, he had won the Paraguayan Footballer of the Year award (2004).

In January 2008, terms were agreed upon between Newell's and Real Valladolid of Spain for Villar's transfer, effective in the summer. On 14 July, he was officially presented by his new team; due to starter Sergio Asenjo's injury, he was able to appear in 15 La Liga matches in his first year.

During the 2009–10 season, Villar constantly battled for first-choice status with Jacobo, featuring in 23 games as the Castile and León side returned to Segunda División after a three-year stay. He was released in June 2011 at the age of 34, mainly due to his high salary.[4]

The following month Villar moved back to Argentina, signing a three-year deal with Estudiantes.[5] In 2013 he returned to his homeland, joining Club Nacional.

International career

Villar represented Paraguay at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, and received his first cap for the full side two years later. He also appeared with the under-23 team at the 2000 CONMEBOL Men Pre-Olympic Tournament, making four appearances.[6][7][8][9]

Having been selected for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, backing up legendary José Luis Chilavert, Villar was already a starter in the 2006 edition, but had a brief participation: during the first seven minutes of the opener against England, just after Carlos Gamarra's own goal, he got injured, was replaced by Aldo Bobadilla and subsequently sidelined for the rest of the tournament,[10] in which the national team was eliminated in the first round.

In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa Villar played all the matches for the eventual quarterfinalists, only conceding two goals, against Italy in the group stage (1–1) and Spain in the last-eight match (0–1, also saving a Xabi Alonso penalty[11]), and was selected as team captain. During the 2011 Copa América he was again first-choice and captain, and helped his team reach the final, notably saving a penalty in the quarter-finals shootout against Brazil (0–0 after 120 minutes);[12] he was named the Best Goalkeeper for his outstanding displays during the competition, keeping clean sheets in three games.

Honours

Club

Libertad
Newell's Old Boys

Country

Individual

References

  1. ↑ http://www.tablesleague.com/teams/colo_colo1/justo_villar/
  2. ↑ "Justo Wilmar Villar – Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "Paraguay – Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "El Valladolid decide que Justo Villar no seguirá" [Valladolid decides Justo Villar will not continue] (in Spanish). Marca. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Justo Villar puso la firma y Estudiantes se aseguró al héroe guaraní" [Villa signed and Estudiantes confirmed guaraní heroe] (in Spanish). Cancha Llena. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  6. ↑ Argentina v Paraguay, 18 January 2000; at 11V11
  7. ↑ Paraguay v Bolivia, 20 January 2000; at 11V11
  8. ↑ Paraguay v Peru, 22 January 2000; at 11V11
  9. ↑ Uruguay v Paraguay, 25 January 2000; at 11V11
  10. ↑ "Villar's World Cup could be over". BBC Sport. 10 June 2006. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  11. ↑ Fletcher, Paul (29 June 2010). "Paraguay 0–0 Japan (5–3 pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  12. ↑ "Justo Villar, el héroe de Paraguay: 'Iremos raspando hasta la final'" [Justo Villar, Paraguay's heroe: 'We will push through until the final'] (in Spanish). El Mundo. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2013.

External links