Julio César Cortés
Encyclopedia
Julio César "El Pocho" Cortés (born March 29, 1941) is an Uruguay
an football
coach
and former midfielder
who participated in three World Cups
with the Uruguayan national team
.
At the club level, Cortés was most successful during the time he played for Uruguayan club Peñarol
, winning two league titles and the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup
in 1966.
He has spent the majority of his coaching career in Central America
, managing several clubs, and having two tenures as coach of the Guatemala national team
, which he led to win the 2001 UNCAF Nations Cup tournament.
, and in 1962 he joined C.A. Cerro
. He left the club in 1965 to play in Argentina
for Rosario Central
.
in 1966, and became part of a first team that included players like Pedro Rocha
, Alberto Spencer
, Julio César Abbadie, and Omar Caetano. The team went on to win the Copa Libertadores in 1966, with Cortés scoring a decisive goal against arch-rivals Nacional
in the semifinal playoff on April 23, 1966, which allowed the team to reach the final where they defeated Argentine's River Plate
after three matches, obtaining their third Copa Libertadores. Later that year, Cortés helped Peñarol to defeat Spanish
champions Real Madrid
to win the Intercontinental Cup
title. While Cortés was playing for the club, Peñarol also won the domestic league championship
in 1967 and 1968.
in Glasgow
shortly before the 1962 World Cup
, at which he played in one match. He also appeared at the 1966
and 1970
finals, being one of six Uruguayan players to be part of three World Cup squads.
At the 1966 World Cup, Cortés scored the eventual match-winning goal against France
, one of the two goals Uruguay scored in that match and in the entire tournament. Uruguay was eliminated in quarterfinals by West Germany
.
Four years later in Mexico
, he played all of Uruguay's six matches, as the team reached semifinals, where they lost to Brazil
. With the consolation match against West Germany, Cortés reached an overall total of 11 World Cup matches played, Uruguay's second-highest mark behind goalkeeper and Peñarol teammate Ladislao Mazurkiewicz
's 13. The match against the Germans was also his last international match.
, Guatemala
, and El Salvador
.
In 1983, Cortés led Deportivo Suchitepéquez
to their only national title to date. Other Guatemalan clubs he coached in the 1980s and 1990s are Juventud Retalteca
, CSD Comunicaciones, Xelajú MC
, and Aurora FC
. In Costa Rica, he coached Turrialba F.C and Deportivo Saprissa in the 1990s, and in the 2000s, he has coached C.D. Águila
of El Salvador, Deportivo Jalapa
of Guatemala, and A.D. San Carlos
of Costa Rica (2007)He is currently coaching football classes on the "San Jose Indoor Club" Costa Rica .
, which he managed at that year's Pan American Games
. His second period as Guatemala's manager began in June 2000, and ended three years later, in what is one of the longest uninterrupted tenures for a coach of the Guatemalan team. During that time, Guatemala failed to qualify to the 2002 World Cup
, but won the 2001 UNCAF Nations Cup – its first international title in 34 years – and finished runner up of that tournaments two years later.
Dispute with the Guatemalan Federation
After being removed from the charge of national coach in April 2003, Cortés sued the Guatemalan football federation
(FEDEFUT) for breach of contract
, demanding payment of part of his remuneration as national team coach. The coach took the case before FIFA
, whom in 2006 ruled that the FEDEFUT pay him part of what he demanded. In September 2006, the FEDEFUT reacted against the coach, accusing him of fraud before a local court
, whom dictated that Cortés – who was at the time living in Costa Rica and was at the moment in Guatemala – remained in the country.
Manager
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
and former midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who participated in three World Cups
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
with the Uruguayan national team
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
.
At the club level, Cortés was most successful during the time he played for Uruguayan club Peñarol
C.A. Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
, winning two league titles and the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup
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...
in 1966.
He has spent the majority of his coaching career in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, managing several clubs, and having two tenures as coach of the Guatemala national team
Guatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
, which he led to win the 2001 UNCAF Nations Cup tournament.
Playing career
Cortés began his career with Sud AméricaSud América
Institución Atlética Sud América, usually known as Sud América or IASA is a football club from Montevideo in Uruguay. They currently play in the Uruguayan 2nd Division.- History :...
, and in 1962 he joined C.A. Cerro
C.A. Cerro
Club Atlético Cerro, usually known simply as Cerro is an Uruguayan football club based in Montevideo. They currently play in the Uruguayan 1st Division....
. He left the club in 1965 to play in 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...
for Rosario Central
Rosario Central
Club Atlético Rosario Central is a sports club based in Rosario, Argentina. Its football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional, the second tier of the Argentine football league system, after being relegated in the 2009-10 season....
.
Peñarol and international success
After one season with Rosario, Cortés returned to Uruguay to join PeñarolC.A. Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
in 1966, and became part of a first team that included players like Pedro Rocha
Pedro Rocha
Pedro Virgilio Rocha Franchetti is a former Uruguayan footballer who played 52 games for the Uruguay national team between 1961 and 1974....
, Alberto Spencer
Alberto Spencer
Alberto Pedro Spencer Herrera was an Ecuadorian football player, regarded as the best of his country. He is probably best known for his still-standing record for scoring the most goals in the Copa Libertadores, the most important club tournament in South America...
, Julio César Abbadie, and Omar Caetano. The team went on to win the Copa Libertadores in 1966, with Cortés scoring a decisive goal against arch-rivals Nacional
Club Nacional de Football
Club Nacional de Football is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo. It is best known for its professional football team, which plays in the Uruguayan Primera División....
in the semifinal playoff on April 23, 1966, which allowed the team to reach the final where they defeated Argentine's 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....
after three matches, obtaining their third Copa Libertadores. Later that year, Cortés helped Peñarol to defeat Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
champions Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
to win the Intercontinental Cup
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...
title. While Cortés was playing for the club, Peñarol also won the domestic league championship
Primera División Uruguaya
The Liga Profesional de Primera División , also known as the Primera División Uruguaya or Primera División de Uruguay , is a professional football league in Uruguay at the top of the country's football league system. It is organized by the Uruguayan Football Association and is contested by 16 teams...
in 1967 and 1968.
Uruguay national team (1962–1970)
From 1962 to 1970, Cortés appeared in 30 international matches for Uruguay, scoring 3 goals. He made his international debut on May 2, 1962 in a 3–2 victory against ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
shortly before the 1962 World Cup
1962 FIFA World Cup
The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final...
, at which he played in one match. He also appeared at the 1966
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
and 1970
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
finals, being one of six Uruguayan players to be part of three World Cup squads.
At the 1966 World Cup, Cortés scored the eventual match-winning goal against France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
, one of the two goals Uruguay scored in that match and in the entire tournament. Uruguay was eliminated in quarterfinals by West Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
.
Four years later 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 played all of Uruguay's six matches, as the team reached semifinals, where they lost to Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
. With the consolation match against West Germany, Cortés reached an overall total of 11 World Cup matches played, Uruguay's second-highest mark behind goalkeeper and Peñarol teammate Ladislao Mazurkiewicz
Ladislao Mazurkiewicz
Ladislao Mazurkiewicz Iglesias is an Uruguayan former football goalkeeper of the 1960s and 1970s. He helped the Uruguay national team to qualify to the semifinals of the 1970 World Cup, where the charrúas were stopped by the eventual champions, Brazil. He was elected the best goalkeeper of that...
's 13. The match against the Germans was also his last international match.
Coaching career
After having played in Costa Rica in the late 1970s, Cortés became a coach, and has spent since almost three decades managing several clubs in Costa RicaCosta Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, and El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
.
In 1983, Cortés led Deportivo Suchitepéquez
CD Suchitepéquez
Club Deportivo Suchitepéquez are a Guatemalan professional football club that competes in the Liga Nacional, the top division in the nation. They are based in Mazatenango, Department of Suchitepéquez, and their home stadium is the Estadio Carlos Salazar Hijo...
to their only national title to date. Other Guatemalan clubs he coached in the 1980s and 1990s are Juventud Retalteca
Juventud Retalteca
Club Social y Deportivo Juventud Retalteca is a Guatemalan professional football club based in Retalhuleu and who compete in the Liga Nacional, the nation's top footballing division. They play their home games at the Estadio Dr...
, CSD Comunicaciones, Xelajú MC
Club Xelajú MC
Club Social y Deportivo Xelajú Mario Camposeco, commonly known as Xelajú MC or just Xela and nicknamed Superchivos are a Guatemalan professional football club competing in the Liga Nacional, the country's top footballing division. They are located in Quetzaltenango, Department of Quetzaltenango,...
, and Aurora FC
Aurora FC
Aurora Fútbol Club are a Guatemalan professional football club. Once one of the most powerful teams in the country, the team has now been relegated to a lower division...
. In Costa Rica, he coached Turrialba F.C and Deportivo Saprissa in the 1990s, and in the 2000s, he has coached C.D. Águila
C.D. Águila
Club Deportivo Águila is a Salvadoran football club based in San Miguel. They currently play in the Primera División de Fútbol Profesional, and are one of the most prestigious teams in the country along with long-time rivals Club Deportivo FAS...
of El Salvador, Deportivo Jalapa
Deportivo Jalapa
Jalapa is a Guatemalan professional football club who play in the Liga Nacional, the top level division in the country. They are based in Jalapa and their home stadium is the Estadio Las Flores.-History:The team was founded on July 10, 1978....
of Guatemala, and A.D. San Carlos
Asociacion Deportiva San Carlos
Asociación Deportiva San Carlos is a Costa Rican football team playing at the top levelin the Primera Division. It is based in Ciudad Quesada, north of Alajuela...
of Costa Rica (2007)He is currently coaching football classes on the "San Jose Indoor Club" Costa Rica .
Guatemala national team (1987 and 2000–2003)
In 1987, Cortés was named head coach of the Guatemala national teamGuatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
, which he managed at that year's Pan American Games
Football at the 1987 Pan American Games
The tenth edition of the Men's Football Tournament at the Pan American Games was held at the William Kuntz Soccer Center in Indianapolis, United States from August 9 to August 21, 1987. Twelve teams competed, with title defender Uruguay missing...
. His second period as Guatemala's manager began in June 2000, and ended three years later, in what is one of the longest uninterrupted tenures for a coach of the Guatemalan team. During that time, Guatemala failed to qualify to the 2002 World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, but won the 2001 UNCAF Nations Cup – its first international title in 34 years – and finished runner up of that tournaments two years later.
Dispute with the Guatemalan Federation
After being removed from the charge of national coach in April 2003, Cortés sued the Guatemalan football federation
Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala
The Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala , also known by the former acronym FENAFUTG, is the governing body of Football in Guatemala. It organizes the football league, Liga Nacional de Guatemala, Primera División de Ascenso, Segunda División de Ascenso, the Copa Centenario and the Guatemala...
(FEDEFUT) for breach of contract
Breach of contract
Breach of contract is a legal cause of action in which a binding agreement or bargained-for exchange is not honored by one or more of the parties to the contract by non-performance or interference with the other party's performance....
, demanding payment of part of his remuneration as national team coach. The coach took the case before FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
, whom in 2006 ruled that the FEDEFUT pay him part of what he demanded. In September 2006, the FEDEFUT reacted against the coach, accusing him of fraud before a local court
Court
A court is a form of tribunal, often a governmental institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law...
, whom dictated that Cortés – who was at the time living in Costa Rica and was at the moment in Guatemala – remained in the country.
Honours
Player- Copa Libertadores winner: 1966
- Uruguayan Primera DivisiónPrimera División UruguayaThe Liga Profesional de Primera División , also known as the Primera División Uruguaya or Primera División de Uruguay , is a professional football league in Uruguay at the top of the country's football league system. It is organized by the Uruguayan Football Association and is contested by 16 teams...
winner: 1967, 1968 - FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
fourth place: 1970
Manager
- Guatemalan Liga MayorLiga Nacional de GuatemalaLiga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala , formerly known as Liga Mayor "A" is a professional football division in Guatemala, the highest one in the country. It is sanctioned by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala...
winner: 1983 (with SuchitepéquezCD SuchitepéquezClub Deportivo Suchitepéquez are a Guatemalan professional football club that competes in the Liga Nacional, the top division in the nation. They are based in Mazatenango, Department of Suchitepéquez, and their home stadium is the Estadio Carlos Salazar Hijo...
) - Guatemalan domestic cup winner: 1984–85 (with Juventud RetaltecaJuventud RetaltecaClub Social y Deportivo Juventud Retalteca is a Guatemalan professional football club based in Retalhuleu and who compete in the Liga Nacional, the nation's top footballing division. They play their home games at the Estadio Dr...
) and 2005 (with JalapaDeportivo JalapaJalapa is a Guatemalan professional football club who play in the Liga Nacional, the top level division in the country. They are based in Jalapa and their home stadium is the Estadio Las Flores.-History:The team was founded on July 10, 1978....
) - 2001 UNCAF Nations Cup winner (with the Guatemala national teamGuatemala national football teamThe Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
)