Juan Gilberto Funes
Encyclopedia
Juan Gilberto Funes nicknamed "El Búfalo" (The Buffalo) was an Argentine
football player, known for his physical style of play. He was born in the province of San Luis
, Argentina
.
Funes was a key player in the 1986 River Plate
team that won the Copa Libertadores
for the first time, in which he score a goal in the first match in Colombia
, which River won by the score of 2–1 and at home in Buenos Aires
, for the 1–0 victory against América de Cali
. Ironically, this was not the first time Colombian teams and fans saw his moves; in the glory days of the Colombian league in the 1980s, Funes played for Millonarios
, the team with the most championships in Colombia, where he simply "schooled" other forwards with his opportunistic technique and his attitude.
He first played football for local club Huracán, then Estudiantes de La Plata
, Sarmiento de Junin
, Jorge Newbery and Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza
, and then for Millonarios Bogotá in 1984. In that year, his team became runner-up of Colombia, and the following year he achieved a record 33 goals in a single season.
After Colombia, he moved to Greece and played for Olympiacos. With the Piraeus club Funes scored some very important goals (2 goals in the 1988 Greek Cup semifinal against OFI FC, etc.).
He returned to his homeland for second time, but sadly he was rejected by Boca Juniors
due to his illness. But this did not end his professional career, he joined Vélez Sársfield
. However, his health forced him to retire shortly afterwards. He died of a heart attack
on January 12, 1992 and a few years later until today the Estadio de San Luis carries his name.
He is considered today one of the great legends of the Millonarios of Bogotá
, where is one of their greatest idols, and the River Plate fans remember his goals in the Copa Libertadores Final.
Funes was capped four times by the Argentina National Team.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
football player, known for his physical style of play. He was born in the province of San Luis
San Luis Province
San Luis is a province of Argentina located near the geographical center of the country . Neighboring provinces are, from the north clockwise, La Rioja, Córdoba, La Pampa, Mendoza and San Juan.-History:...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Funes was a key player in the 1986 River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
team that won the Copa Libertadores
1986 Copa Libertadores
The 1986 Copa Libertadores was the 27th edition of the Copa Libertadores, CONMEBOL's annual international club tournament. River Plate won the competition for the first time ever.- Group 1 :- Group 2 :- Group 3 :- Group 4 :- Group 5 :...
for the first time, in which he score a goal in the first match in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, which River won by the score of 2–1 and at home in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, for the 1–0 victory against América de Cali
América de Cali
Corporación Deportiva América, commonly known as América de Cali or simply América is a Colombian football club based in Cali. They currently play in the Categoría Primera A, the top-flight professional league in the country....
. Ironically, this was not the first time Colombian teams and fans saw his moves; in the glory days of the Colombian league in the 1980s, Funes played for Millonarios
Millonarios
Millonarios Fútbol Club is a Colombian football club based in Bogotá. As of 2011, Millonarios shares with rivals América de Cali the most Fútbol Profesional Colombiano championships, 13 in total, although Millonarios haven't won this tournament since 1988. They are also the third Colombian team to...
, the team with the most championships in Colombia, where he simply "schooled" other forwards with his opportunistic technique and his attitude.
He first played football for local club Huracán, then Estudiantes de La Plata
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....
, Sarmiento de Junin
Club Atlético Sarmiento
Club Atlético Sarmiento is a sports club from the city of Junín in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The football currently plays in Primera B Metropolitana, which is the regionalised third division of the Argentine Football Association....
, Jorge Newbery and Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza
Club Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza
Club Gimnasia y Esgrima is an Argentine football club located in the city of Mendoza. Its first division team currently plays in the Torneo Argentino B, the regionalised 4th division of Argentine football league system.The club has played 121 games in the Argentine Primera División totalizing 122...
, and then for Millonarios Bogotá in 1984. In that year, his team became runner-up of Colombia, and the following year he achieved a record 33 goals in a single season.
After Colombia, he moved to Greece and played for Olympiacos. With the Piraeus club Funes scored some very important goals (2 goals in the 1988 Greek Cup semifinal against OFI FC, etc.).
He returned to his homeland for second time, but sadly he was rejected by 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....
due to his illness. But this did not end his professional career, he joined Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield is a sports club based in the Liniers neighborhood of western Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vélez is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División, the top level of the Argentine league system...
. However, his health forced him to retire shortly afterwards. He died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on January 12, 1992 and a few years later until today the Estadio de San Luis carries his name.
He is considered today one of the great legends of the Millonarios of Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, where is one of their greatest idols, and the River Plate fans remember his goals in the Copa Libertadores Final.
Funes was capped four times by the Argentina National Team.
Titles
| Season | Club | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 |  River PlateClub Atlético River Plate Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football.... |
Copa Libertadores |
| 1986 | River Plate Club Atlético River Plate Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football.... |
Copa Intercontinental Intercontinental Cup (football) The European/South American Cup, commonly referred to as the World Club Championship, Intercontinental Cup or Toyota Cup, was a football competition endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested between the winners of the European Cup and the South American Copa Libertadores... |