Alejandro Villanueva
Encyclopedia
For the stadium by this name in Peru, see Estadio Alejandro Villanueva
Carlos Alejandro Villanueva Martinez (June 4, 1908 – April 11, 1944) was a Peru
vian football (soccer)
player, considered one of the most important Alianza strikers in the 1920s and 1930s.
. For the Peruvian national team
he participated at the 1930 FIFA World Cup
and at 1936 Summer Olympics
. He died aged 35 of tuberculosis
.
He is known to be Peru's historic bicycle kick
figure. Alejandro Villanueva was noted to have an extraordinary handling the football, and his many outrageous moves won him the nickname "Manguera
." Among his many exploits, the bicycle kick was one of the moves that won him widespread recognition. While playing for Alianza Lima
, Villanueva's fame increased as he made international appearances such as in 1933 when Alianza Lima
made a tour in Chile
and, with fellow Peruvians such as Teodoro Fernandez
, delighted the audiences with his skill and defeated a series of important Chilean clubs of that time such as Club Deportivo Magallanes
, Santiago Wanderers, Audax Italiano, and Colo-Colo
. In Peru, Villanueva is often remembered as one of the finest exponents of that nation's association football and as the player that amazed the crowds with his bicycle kicks. Interestingly, the people of Lima
at first thought the bicycle kick was his invention when he executed it in 1928, and commonly called it "tiro caracol." Later, the name would change to "chalaca" when people began to favor the idea that the move was invented in Callao several decades earlier. As a result of these achievements, Villanueva remains a famous figure in Peru to the point that several songs have been made about him and his eternal club, Alianza Lima
.
Alianza Lima's stadium, located in the La Victoria district of Lima, is named after him. It is also known as "Manguera" or "Maestro" ("Master").
Estadio Alejandro Villanueva
Estadio Alejandro Villanueva is a stadium located in the neighborhood of Matute in La Victoria District in Lima, Peru. The stadium is the home field of the football club Alianza Lima. The stadium has a capacity of 40,000 people.-History:...
Carlos Alejandro Villanueva Martinez (June 4, 1908 – April 11, 1944) was a Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian football (soccer)
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...
player, considered one of the most important Alianza strikers in the 1920s and 1930s.
Career
Born in Lima, he played his entire career for Alianza LimaAlianza Lima
Club Alianza Lima is a Peruvian First Division football club who plays at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in the La Victoria District of Lima, Peru. They are one of the most famous and well supported clubs in the country and the oldest team in the Peruvian First Division.Alianza enjoyed success...
. For the Peruvian national team
Peru national football team
The Peru national football team, known as 'el equipo inca', represents Peru in international football competition and is managed by the Peruvian Football Federation . The team competes against the other nine members of FIFA's CONMEBOL conference, which encompasses the countries of South America...
he participated at the 1930 FIFA World Cup
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...
and at 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
. He died aged 35 of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
.
He is known to be Peru's historic bicycle kick
Bicycle kick
A Bicycle kick or Scissor kick is a physical move made by throwing the body up into the air, making a shearing movement with the legs to get one leg in front of the other without holding on to the ground. The move can either be done backwards or sideways...
figure. Alejandro Villanueva was noted to have an extraordinary handling the football, and his many outrageous moves won him the nickname "Manguera
Hose (tubing)
A hose is a hollow tube designed to carry fluids from one location to another. Hoses are also sometimes called pipes , or more generally tubing...
." Among his many exploits, the bicycle kick was one of the moves that won him widespread recognition. While playing for Alianza Lima
Alianza Lima
Club Alianza Lima is a Peruvian First Division football club who plays at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in the La Victoria District of Lima, Peru. They are one of the most famous and well supported clubs in the country and the oldest team in the Peruvian First Division.Alianza enjoyed success...
, Villanueva's fame increased as he made international appearances such as in 1933 when Alianza Lima
Alianza Lima
Club Alianza Lima is a Peruvian First Division football club who plays at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in the La Victoria District of Lima, Peru. They are one of the most famous and well supported clubs in the country and the oldest team in the Peruvian First Division.Alianza enjoyed success...
made a tour in 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...
and, with fellow Peruvians such as Teodoro Fernandez
Teodoro Fernández
Teodoro Fernández Meyzán , nicknamed "Lolo", was a Peruvian football striker...
, delighted the audiences with his skill and defeated a series of important Chilean clubs of that time such as Club Deportivo Magallanes
Club Deportivo Magallanes
Deportes Magallanes are a Chilean Football club based in Maipu, Santiago. They currently play at the second level of Chilean football, the Primera B....
, Santiago Wanderers, Audax Italiano, and Colo-Colo
Colo-Colo
Club Social y Deportivo Colo-Colo is a Chilean football club based in the commune of Macul, Santiago. It competes in the Primera División, the top-flight football league in the country, from which they have never been relegated. Their home ground is the Estadio Monumental David Arellano.Colo-Colo...
. In Peru, Villanueva is often remembered as one of the finest exponents of that nation's association football and as the player that amazed the crowds with his bicycle kicks. Interestingly, the people of Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
at first thought the bicycle kick was his invention when he executed it in 1928, and commonly called it "tiro caracol." Later, the name would change to "chalaca" when people began to favor the idea that the move was invented in Callao several decades earlier. As a result of these achievements, Villanueva remains a famous figure in Peru to the point that several songs have been made about him and his eternal club, Alianza Lima
Alianza Lima
Club Alianza Lima is a Peruvian First Division football club who plays at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in the La Victoria District of Lima, Peru. They are one of the most famous and well supported clubs in the country and the oldest team in the Peruvian First Division.Alianza enjoyed success...
.
Alianza Lima's stadium, located in the La Victoria district of Lima, is named after him. It is also known as "Manguera" or "Maestro" ("Master").
Club
Alianza LimaAlianza Lima
Club Alianza Lima is a Peruvian First Division football club who plays at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in the La Victoria District of Lima, Peru. They are one of the most famous and well supported clubs in the country and the oldest team in the Peruvian First Division.Alianza enjoyed success...
-
- Peruvian LeaguePrimera División PeruanaThe Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano...
: 1927, 1928, 1931, 1932, 1933
- Peruvian League