José Luis Calderón
Encyclopedia
José Luis Calderón is an Argentine former football striker
. He played for 17 years between 1989 and 2006 without winning a trophy, but since then, between the ages of 36 and 39 he won four major championships with three different teams.
Nicknamed Caldera, he is remembered for a 48-metre goal he scored against Boca Juniors
in 1999 and for his hat-trick against Estudiantes
' derby rivals Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata on October 15, 2006. He retired in 2010, with almost 40 years of age.
. His scoring helped the team return from relegation in 1994. Later, he played for Independiente
and Arsenal de Sarandí
in Argentina, as well as Atlas and América
in Mexico
. He also played for Italian
side S.S.C. Napoli
during the 1997–98 season.
Calderón has had multiple spells with Estudiantes, Independiente and Arsenal de Sarandí. He did not win any major honours until late in his career, winning the 2006 Apertura with Estudiantes and the 2007 Copa Sudamericana with Arsenal.
In July 2008 he rejoined Estudiantes for the third time in his career. He was runner-up with the team in the 2008 Copa Sudamericana, and was part of the squad that won 2009 Copa Libertadores, where he was used exclusively as a substitute.
On November 25, 2009, Calderón announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 39. He explained that his decision came after coach Alejandro Sabella
informed him that he was not being considered for the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup
. Sabella denied that this was indeed the case.
On January 4, 2010, Calderón announced that Argentinos Juniors
coach Claudio Borghi
convinced him to return to football, after a brief retirement from the game. In an article, Calderón stated, "El Bichi (Borghi) has given me the chance to retire from within a football field". He agreed to play for Argentinos for six months and then possibly retire.
Calderón was one of the key players in the Argentinos' team that won the 2010 Clausura championship. He played in 18 of the clubs 19 games and scored 3 goals during their championship winning campaign. He also assisted Matías Caruzzo
in a vital 93rd minute winner goal against Independiente in the penultimate fixture of the campaign.
After winning the 2010 Clausura, Calderón played one last professional game with his first team, Defensores de Cambaceres, in which he scored one last goal from a penalty kick
.
. He played in the 1997 Copa América, but a fight with the then coach Daniel Passarella
diminished his chances of ever playing for the national team again.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He played for 17 years between 1989 and 2006 without winning a trophy, but since then, between the ages of 36 and 39 he won four major championships with three different teams.
Nicknamed Caldera, he is remembered for a 48-metre goal he scored against Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
in 1999 and for his hat-trick against Estudiantes
Estudiantes de La Plata
Club Estudiantes de La Plata , simply referred to as Estudiantes, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Plata. The club's football team currently competes in the Primera División, where it has spent most of its history....
' derby rivals Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata on October 15, 2006. He retired in 2010, with almost 40 years of age.
Club career
After a promising spell in the youth system of Defensores de Cambaceres, he was transferred to the team he is a fan of, Estudiantes de La PlataEstudiantes de La Plata
Club Estudiantes de La Plata , simply referred to as Estudiantes, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Plata. The club's football team currently competes in the Primera División, where it has spent most of its history....
. His scoring helped the team return from relegation in 1994. Later, he played for Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....
and Arsenal de Sarandí
Arsenal de Sarandí
Arsenal Fútbol Club, usually referred as Arsenal de Sarandí, is a football club from the Sarandí neighbourhood in the city of Avellaneda, Argentina, which was founded in 1957 by the Grondona brothers. Arsenal currently plays in the top tier of Argentine football, the Primera División Argentina....
in Argentina, as well as Atlas and América
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He also played for Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
side S.S.C. Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....
during the 1997–98 season.
Calderón has had multiple spells with Estudiantes, Independiente and Arsenal de Sarandí. He did not win any major honours until late in his career, winning the 2006 Apertura with Estudiantes and the 2007 Copa Sudamericana with Arsenal.
In July 2008 he rejoined Estudiantes for the third time in his career. He was runner-up with the team in the 2008 Copa Sudamericana, and was part of the squad that won 2009 Copa Libertadores, where he was used exclusively as a substitute.
On November 25, 2009, Calderón announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 39. He explained that his decision came after coach Alejandro Sabella
Alejandro Sabella
Alejandro Sabella is an Argentine football manager and former player. He is currently the coach of the Argentina national football team.-Early career:...
informed him that he was not being considered for the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup
2009 FIFA Club World Cup
-Play-off for Quarter-finals:-Quarter-finals:-----Semi-finals:-----Match for fifth place:-Match for third place:-Final:-Scorers:4 goals Denilson...
. Sabella denied that this was indeed the case.
On January 4, 2010, Calderón announced that Argentinos Juniors
Argentinos Juniors
Asociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors is an Argentine football club based in La Paternal, Buenos Aires. Founded on August 15, 1904, the club was originally called the “Martyrs of Chicago”, in homage to the eight anarchists imprisoned or hanged after the 1886 Haymarket Riot in Chicago.-Early...
coach Claudio Borghi
Claudio Borghi
Claudio Daniel Borghi Bidos, , nicknamed Bichi, is an Argentine former footballer and current football manager of Chile.-Club:Borghi started his career as an Attacking midfielder for Argentinos Juniors in the early 1980s...
convinced him to return to football, after a brief retirement from the game. In an article, Calderón stated, "El Bichi (Borghi) has given me the chance to retire from within a football field". He agreed to play for Argentinos for six months and then possibly retire.
Calderón was one of the key players in the Argentinos' team that won the 2010 Clausura championship. He played in 18 of the clubs 19 games and scored 3 goals during their championship winning campaign. He also assisted Matías Caruzzo
Matías Caruzzo
Matías Nicolás Caruzzo is an Argentine football defender who plays for Boca Juniors in the Argentine Primera División.- Club :...
in a vital 93rd minute winner goal against Independiente in the penultimate fixture of the campaign.
After winning the 2010 Clausura, Calderón played one last professional game with his first team, Defensores de Cambaceres, in which he scored one last goal from a penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
.
International career
Calderón only had a brief interlude with the Argentina national football teamArgentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
. He played in the 1997 Copa América, but a fight with the then coach Daniel Passarella
Daniel Passarella
Daniel Alberto Passarella is a former Argentine football centre back and former manager of the Argentine and Uruguayan national football teams. He was captain of the Argentina team that won the 1978 World Cup...
diminished his chances of ever playing for the national team again.
Club
- Estudiantes de La PlataEstudiantes de La PlataClub Estudiantes de La Plata , simply referred to as Estudiantes, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Plata. The club's football team currently competes in the Primera División, where it has spent most of its history....
- Primera División: 2006 Apertura
- Copa Libertadores: 2009
- Arsenal de SarandíArsenal de SarandíArsenal Fútbol Club, usually referred as Arsenal de Sarandí, is a football club from the Sarandí neighbourhood in the city of Avellaneda, Argentina, which was founded in 1957 by the Grondona brothers. Arsenal currently plays in the top tier of Argentine football, the Primera División Argentina....
- Copa SudamericanaCopa SudamericanaThe Copa Bridgestone Sudamericana de Clubes , known simply as the Copa Sudamericana , is an annual international club football competition organized by the CONMEBOL since 2002. It is the second most prestigious club competition in South American football. CONCACAF clubs were invited between 2004...
: 2007
- Copa Sudamericana
- Argentinos JuniorsArgentinos JuniorsAsociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors is an Argentine football club based in La Paternal, Buenos Aires. Founded on August 15, 1904, the club was originally called the “Martyrs of Chicago”, in homage to the eight anarchists imprisoned or hanged after the 1886 Haymarket Riot in Chicago.-Early...
- Primera División: 2010 Clausura
Individual
- Primera División top-scorer: 1995 Apertura (13 goals), 1999 Clausura (17 goals)
External links
- José Luis Calderón's goals in Arsenal Futbol Club Of Sarandí (Argentina)
- ESPN statistics
- Profile at Football-Lineups Argentine Primera statistics at Futbol XXI