From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
José Luis Félix Chilavert González (born July
27, 1965 in Luque, Departamento
Central) is a Paraguayan former football goalkeeper and free kick
specialist. He was a three-time IFFHS World's Best
Goalkeeper award winner. Chilavert was also known for his
skills as a free kick specialist, and often took penalties. His
pioneering of this expertise in his position made him the highest
scoring professional goalkeeper ever. He scored 62 goals in his
professional career, many of them crucial, including eight in
international matches, his record was eventually surpassed by Brazilian keeper Rogerio Ceni. Four of his international
goals were scored during Paraguay's qualification
for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Chilavert was also known for his eccentricity and at times fiery
temper, which brought him his fair share of controversies; most
notorious among them was his being sent off for brawling with Colombian striker Faustino
Asprilla.
Club
career
Chilavert made his debut as a football player at the age of 17,
with the team Sportivo Luqueño,
who were a second division team at that time, he was trained by the
very well knowned goalkeeper Modesto Sandoval. In 1989, he played
for the Paraguayan national team for the first time. By then he had
already reached division one football, with Argentina's San Lorenzo.
He later moved to Spain,
where he played for Real Zaragoza. He then returned to
Argentina, where he played with Vélez Sársfield, helping
them win the Argentine championship four
times as well as the Copa
Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup,
both in 1994. In 1999, he became the first goalkeeper to score a hat-trick in the history of
football, while playing for Vélez against Ferro Carril
Oeste, scoring all three goals through penalties. He also
scored a memorable free-kick from behind the half-way line against
River Plate. [1]
International career
He was voted World Goalkeeper of the Year by the IFFHS in 1995,
1997, and 1998. He scored in the World Cup qualifying campaign of
1998. He had been briefly dropped before the tournament for his
criticism of the recall of Romerito by the Paraguay coach. In 1998,
he participated in the World Cup,
where he became the first goalkeeper ever to take a direct free
kick in World Cup finals (almost scoring), against Bulgaria; he received
an ovation when he crossed the pitch to try to score. With two
clean sheets in the first round, he helped take Paraguay to the
round of sixteen, where the team lost to France on a golden goal. Chilavert
had made boasts about being the Cup's best goalkeeper before the
tournament. FIFA named Chilavert on the tournament All Star Squad
for his performances alongside French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez.
Chilavert refused to take part in the Copa America of 1999,
angering the Paraguayan government as he claimed funding should be
used for education.
After a qualifying game for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he spat on Brazil's Roberto
Carlos, an action which caused FIFA to give him a three-match suspension and
forced him to watch the first game of the World Cup from the
stands. Chilavert accused Roberto Carlos of racism and obscene
gestures during the match. He also justified his action by saying
he had been provoked by the Brazilians who had called him the
weakest link of Paraguay before the match. Chilavert also claimed
the match was like a war and that Brazil should return land to
Paraguay lost in the 19th century.
Before the tournament, Paraguay manager Cesare Maldini
had faced criticism in Paraguay but Chilavert defended Maldini
respecting him for his experience. He also expressed great
confidence in the ability of the Paraguayan team and downplayed his
role to the whole team.
During the World Cup, Chilavert made an error against Spain as
Paraguay lost 3-1. Chilavert attempted a free kick against Casillas
but it was saved. Before the match, Chilavert claimed he would keep
a clean sheet against Spain and score 2 free kicks against their
keeper. Chilavert let a goal from Slovenia slide between his legs
in the next match but Paraguay recovered to defeat Slovenia 3-1. In
their second round match against Germany, despite several saves
from Chilavert, Paraguay lost 1-0.
He had 74 international caps for Paraguay and a
goalkeeper-record of eight international goals. Chilavert retired
from international football in 2003, after a feud with team
directors.
Retirement and
post-career
Chilavert announced his retirement from all football in December
2003, but decided to come out of retirement to return to Vélez.
Chilavert had just won the Uruguayan league with Penarol when he
initially retired. He finally retired permanently in 2004, playing
his last match, a farewell testimonial, on November 11 of that
year (fittingly, he scored a goal).[2]
In 2005, Chilavert was sentenced to six months in prison in
France for the use of false documents about the compensation for
the end of his contract with Racing Club de Strasbourg.[3]
Chilavert was a commentator for American television network Univision during the 2006 FIFA
World Cup. He is expected to commentate on future tournaments
for them. Recently, he has become involved investing in renewable
energy using seaweed. In a recent interview by the Argentine media,
Chilavert said that he has invited European firms to come to
Paraguay and invest in what he calls a very ambitious and
interesting project. He keeps a close watch on Paraguayan Football
Federation advising them in anything they have to do to take
Paraguay back to the World Cup Finals.
Honours
Guarani
Vélez
Sarsfield
Strasbourg
Peňarol
Individual
Career
statistics
References
External
links
José Luis Chilavert -
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