José Pedro Fuenzalida

José Pedro Fuenzalida Gana (American Spanish: [xoˈse ˈpeðɾo fwensaˈliða]; born 22 February 1985) is a Chilean footballer who currently plays as forward for Universidad Católica of Chile and the Chilean national team.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Fuenzalida and the second or maternal family name is Gana.

José Pedro Fuenzalida
Fuenzalida with Universidad Católica in 2019
Personal information
Full name José Pedro Fuenzalida Gana
Date of birth (1985-02-22) 22 February 1985
Place of birth Las Condes, Chile
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Playing position(s)
Forward / Winger
Club information
Current team
 Universidad Católica
Number 19
Youth career
1996–2003 Universidad Católica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 Universidad Católica 96 (9)
2008–2014 Colo-Colo 155 (21)
2008–2009 → O'Higgins (loan) 51 (14)
2014–2015 Boca Juniors 25 (0)
2016– Universidad Católica 102 (27)
National team‡
2005 Chile U20 8 (3)
2008 Chile U23 4 (2)
2008– Chile 53 (5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 December 2018
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 3 July 2019

Club career

A product of the Universidad Católica youth set-up, Fuenzalida was promoted to the first-adult team in 2004, at the age of 19. He debuted in a 4–0 defeat with Unión Española at San Carlos de Apoquindo for a league game, during a moment considered as one of the club's biggest sports crises.[2]

During the winter of 2007, Fuenzalida aged twenty-two decided to take a break as footballer to study commercial engineering at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.[3]

After six month studying, he returned to professional football[4] and joined rivals Colo-Colo on a four-year deal. Fuenzalida debuted on 13 January 2008 against Universidad de Concepción[5] and scored his first goal in a 2–1 home win over Deportes Antofagasta.[6] In June, he joined O'Higgins on loan after an unsuccessful tournament where only scored one goal in seven games.[7]

In December 2009, it was reported that Fuenzalida finished his loan spell at O'Higgins and would return to Colo-Colo to face the next season. Seasons later, he helped the team to win the 2014 Torneo Apertura, being a key player in the title obtention which was his first honour playing for the club.

On 29 July 2014, Fuenzalida reached a one-and-half year with Argentine powerhouse Boca Juniors.[8]

Following an unsuccessful spell at Boca, he returned to Universidad Católica in 2016, signing for Las Condes-based club as a free agent.[9] He helped the team to win Torneo Clausura.

International career

Fuenzalida has played in the U-20 and U-23 levels of the Chilean national team in the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2008 Toulon Tournament respectively.

Usually called up by Marcelo Bielsa for the 2010 World Cup qualification, he was chosen by Jorge Sampaoli in Chile’s list of 23 for 2014 FIFA World Cup. In 2015, after being disaffected of the 30-man provisional list for the Copa América,[10] he was re-considered by Sampaoli in the definitive list following the withdrawal of the injured Carlos Carmona.[11]

International goals
Scores and results list Chile's goal tally first.[12]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.19 January 2013Estadio Municipal de Concepción, Concepción, Chile Haiti3–03–0Friendly
2.6 June 2016Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, United States Argentina1–21–2Copa América Centenario
3.22 June 2016Soldier Field, Chicago, United States Colombia2–02–0Copa América Centenario
4.6 June 2019Estadio La Portada, La Serena, Chile Haiti2–12–1Friendly
5.21 June 2019Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil Ecuador1–02–12019 Copa América

Honours

Club

Universidad Católica

Colo-Colo

Boca Juniors

International

Individual

References
  1. 26. José Pedro Fuenzalida - Club Atlético Boca Juniors sitio oficial
  2. "Unión Española le pegó en el suelo a Universidad Católica". Radio Cooperativa. 10 April 2004. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  3. "José Pedro Fuenzalida anuncia su retiro momentáneo del fútbol". Emol.com. Emol. 18 June 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  4. "José Pedro Fuenzalida regresa definitivamente al fútbol". Radio Cooperativa. 28 December 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  5. "Marcador Virtual: Colo-Colo v Universidad de Concepción". Radio Cooperativa. 13 February 2007. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  6. "Colo Colo impuso su jerarquía frente a un frágil Antofagasta". Radio Cooperativa. 23 March 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  7. "O'Higgins confirma llegada de Fuenzalida y Caroca". La Tercera. 16 June 2008. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  8. "Boca Juniors confirma el fichaje de Fuenzalida". Fichajes.net. 29 July 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  9. "José Pedro Fuenzalida: Quiero ganar títulos y volver a ser un jugador importante para la UC". Radio Cooperativa. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  10. "Sampaoli confirms final Chile squad for Copa America". goal.com. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  11. "Fuenzalida replaces injured Carmona in Chile's Copa América squad". ca2015.com. 7 June 2015. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  12. "José Pedro Fuenzalida". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
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