Sergio Livingstone
Encyclopedia
Sergio Roberto "Sapo" Livingstone Pohlhammer (born March 26, 1920 in Santiago, Chile
), affectionally called Sapito Livingstone, is a former Chile
an goalkeeper, considered the first great footballer in the country's history, who later became a well regarded journalist. He was called El Sapo (Spanish "The Frog") for his typical posture in the goal mouth. In his football career spanning from 1938 to 1959 he played mainly for CD Universidad Católica
in Santiago. With Chile he took part in seven South American Championship
s and one World Cup.
, is considered one of the major pioneers of the game in Chile. It is even said, that he brought the first football as such into the country.
The young Sergio Livingstone originally joined Unión Española
. As he hardly got any playing time he abandoned football to study law at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Soon he made acquaintance there with the university's football team, and from 1938 he began to establish himself as the goalkeeper of CD Universidad Católica
.
He debuted in the national team at the 1941 South American Championship which took place in Chile, winning 5-0 against Ecuador. By the end of the tournament Chile ended third, and Livingstone was considered the best player of the tournament. Altogether, Livingstone played between 1941 and 1954 in 52 matches for Chile, which made him the country's record international until 1962, participating in five more South American Championships, totalling 34 matches in this competition, which remains record. He also took part in the World Cup 1950 in Brazil, where Chile exited after the first group phase.
On club level he spent 1943 in Argentina playing 30 matches for Racing Club
. He cut short his his time in Argentina for sentimental resaons and rejoined Católica in 1944, winning the national championships of 1949 and 1954. After the second title the club had the misfortune to be relegated in the season immediately thereafter, but managed to return to the first division as quickly. After a brief spell on loan in 1957 with CSD Colo-Colo he once more returned to Católica where he finished his career in 1959.
After his football career Livingstone became a well-known sports journalist and a television figure with TVN
, where continues until today. Since 2009 a street in the district of Independencia in Santiago has been named after him.
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
), affectionally called Sapito Livingstone, is a former Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an goalkeeper, considered the first great footballer in the country's history, who later became a well regarded journalist. He was called El Sapo (Spanish "The Frog") for his typical posture in the goal mouth. In his football career spanning from 1938 to 1959 he played mainly for CD Universidad Católica
Club Deportivo Universidad Católica
Club Deportivo Universidad Católica is a professional football club based in Santiago, Chile, which plays in the Primera División.Universidad Católica is one of the most successful and popular football clubs in Chile and considered one of the three "big teams"...
in Santiago. With Chile he took part in seven South American Championship
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
s and one World Cup.
Career
Livingstone's family originated in Scotland, and his father John, who played for Santiago National FCSantiago National
Santiago National, is an extinct Chilean football club based in the city of Santiago. The club was founded October 10, 1900 and it was one of the 8 teams that founded the first division professional of the Chilean football league, in 1933....
, is considered one of the major pioneers of the game in Chile. It is even said, that he brought the first football as such into the country.
The young Sergio Livingstone originally joined Unión Española
Unión Española
Club Unión Española S.A.D.P is a professional Chilean football based in Independencia, Santiago de Chile. Founded by a Spanish immigrants on 18 May 1897, Unión Española have participated in the top-tier of Chilean football for all of their existence but two seasons in the late '90s .Unión Española...
. As he hardly got any playing time he abandoned football to study law at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Soon he made acquaintance there with the university's football team, and from 1938 he began to establish himself as the goalkeeper of CD Universidad Católica
Club Deportivo Universidad Católica
Club Deportivo Universidad Católica is a professional football club based in Santiago, Chile, which plays in the Primera División.Universidad Católica is one of the most successful and popular football clubs in Chile and considered one of the three "big teams"...
.
He debuted in the national team at the 1941 South American Championship which took place in Chile, winning 5-0 against Ecuador. By the end of the tournament Chile ended third, and Livingstone was considered the best player of the tournament. Altogether, Livingstone played between 1941 and 1954 in 52 matches for Chile, which made him the country's record international until 1962, participating in five more South American Championships, totalling 34 matches in this competition, which remains record. He also took part in the World Cup 1950 in Brazil, where Chile exited after the first group phase.
On club level he spent 1943 in Argentina playing 30 matches for Racing Club
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
. He cut short his his time in Argentina for sentimental resaons and rejoined Católica in 1944, winning the national championships of 1949 and 1954. After the second title the club had the misfortune to be relegated in the season immediately thereafter, but managed to return to the first division as quickly. After a brief spell on loan in 1957 with CSD Colo-Colo he once more returned to Católica where he finished his career in 1959.
After his football career Livingstone became a well-known sports journalist and a television figure with TVN
Televisión Nacional de Chile
TVN is Chile's state-owned television station. Its inaugural transmission took place on 1969. TVN is owned, but not funded, by the state, and it functions independently from it; a very particular case of public television in South America...
, where continues until today. Since 2009 a street in the district of Independencia in Santiago has been named after him.
Titles
Universidad Católica- National Championship: 1949, 1954
External links
- Sergio Livingstone FIFA Player Profile
- Claudio Pizarro: Sergio "Sapo" Livingstone, un crack de 89 años: "Si jugara ahora, sería farandulero" 18 September 2009, The Clinic
- Jorge Guerrero Cortés: El libro no escrito de Sergio Livingstone 4 June 2010, DOREMIFAGOL