Marco Antonio Figueroa
Marco Antonio Figueroa Montero (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈmaɾko anˈtonjo fiɣeˈɾo.a]; born 21 February 1962) is a Chilean former footballer, currently manager for Nicaragua. He is commonly known as "El Fantasma" (Spanish word: "The phantom"). Figueroa played as a striker and spent the majority of his playing career at Mexico, after retiring in 1998, at the Chilean powerhouse Universidad Católica, aged 36.
| Figueroa with O'Higgins in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marco Antonio Figueroa Montero | ||
| Date of birth | 21 February 1962 | ||
| Place of birth | San Felipe, Chile | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Nicaragua (manager) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1979–1983 | Unión La Calera | ||
| 1983–1985 | Everton | ||
| 1986–1990 | Morelia | 133 | (55) |
| 1990–1991 | América | 15 | (5) |
| 1992–1993 | Cobreloa | ||
| 1993–1997 | Morelia | 134 | (75) |
| 1997 | Celaya | 17 | (3) |
| 1998 | Universidad Católica | ||
| International career | |||
| 1987–1993 | Chile | 7 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2001 | Comunicaciones | ||
| 2002 | La Piedad | ||
| 2003 | Jaguares de Tapachula | ||
| 2004 | Petroleros de Salamanca | ||
| 2004–2005 | Celaya | ||
| 2005 | Querétano | ||
| 2006 | Lagartos de Tabasco | ||
| 2006 | Tecos | ||
| 2006–2007 | Morelia | ||
| 2008 | Cobreloa | ||
| 2009–2010 | Universidad Católica | ||
| 2010 | O'Higgins | ||
| 2011–2012 | Everton | ||
| 2012 | Unión San Felipe | ||
| 2013 | Cobreloa | ||
| 2013–2014 | Universidad de Chile | ||
| 2015 | Cobreloa | ||
| 2015–2016 | San Marcos | ||
| 2017 | Murciélagos | ||
| 2018–2019 | O'Higgins | ||
| 2020 | Cobreloa | ||
| 2022–2023 | Nicaragua | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career edit
Figueroa is considered an idol of Morelia after playing for the club between 1986 and 1990.[1] He and his Chilean fellows Juan Carlos Vera and Ángel Bustos are well remembered as a prolific attacking trident.[2]
Coaching career edit
In January 2001, he debuted as head coach at the Guatemalan successful club Comunicaciones, signing the next season for Atlético Celaya of the Liga de Ascenso, in where Figueroa had two spells, after of direct to Salamanca F.C. of the same country in the 2003 season. Three years later, with adobe steps at Querétaro and UAG Tecos, in September 2006, he signed a contract with Monarcas Morelia,[3] his old club when was player, team in where also was an historic goalscorer during the 1980s and 90s.
Figueroa came back to his homeland in July 2008 signing for Cobreloa,[4] another old club in his career, of this form returning to his country after ten years out in Mexico and Guatemala. After a successful season at the team of Calama, reaching the Clausura Tournament semi–finals, in December of that year, he reached an agreement with Universidad Católica for direct to that team in the next season.[5] At Católica, Figueroa was runner–up in the 2009 Clausura Tournament, after a regular season in the last semester, despite reaching the semi–finals of the Apertura Tournament, being also named as the coach of the year according to El Gráfico. The next season, after a regular campaign with Católica in the first part of the league tournament and in the 2010 Copa Libertadores, he was fired of the club, but signed months later for O'Higgins.
On 11 April 2011, Figueroa signed a contract with the Primera B side Everton, replacing to Diego Osella, because the bad results that the Argentine coach reached in the first weeks of the Apertura Tournament of that division.[6] At the club based in Viña del Mar, he was champion of the Clausura Tournament of that level, but not achieved the promotion, after of loss against Unión San Felipe and Rangers. The next season, he was fired from the club.
On 25 September 2018, Figueroa was re-appointed as head coach for O'Higgins.[7]
Personal life edit
His son, Mateo, is a player from the Atlético Morelia youth system.[8]
Honours edit
Player edit
- Cobreloa
Individual edit
- Primera División de Chile Top–scorer (1): 1993
- Monarcas Morelia all-time top scorer (130 goals)
Manager edit
- Universidad Católica
- Torneo Clausura (1): Runner–up 2009
- Everton
- Primera B (1): 2011 Apertura
- Promotion playoffs (1): Runner-up 2011
Individual edit
- ANFP Golden Ball (1): Best coach 2009
References edit
- ^ Salazar, Elías Leonardo (21 February 2021). "Amor, lo que se dice amor, es lo que existe entre Fantasma Figueroa y Morelia; los goles de 1988". Bolavip (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ Sánchez, Gabriel (9 June 2022). "Héroe por un gol". VAVEL (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "Vuelve El Fantasma". Mexico D.F.: Espn.go.com. 19 September 2006.
- ^ "Marco Antonio Figueroa será el entrenador de Cobreloa". Cooperativa.cl. 30 July 2008.
- ^ "Marco Antonio Figueroa es el nuevo técnico de la UC". Emol.com. 11 December 2008.
- ^ Beovic, Daniel (11 April 2011). "Marco Antonio Figueroa es el nuevo DT de Everton". Redgol.cl.
- ^ Bienvenido Marco Antonio Figueroa, ohigginsfc.cl, 25 September 2018
- ^ Lozano, Luis Esteban (24 January 2023). "Mateo Figueroa, hijo del Fantasma ya se prepara en Morelia". Futbol Total (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 June 2023.
External links edit
- Marco Antonio Figueroa (Marco Antonio Figueroa Montero) – Liga MX stats at MedioTiempo.com () (in Spanish)