Carlos Chacana
Encyclopedia
Carlos Chacana is an Argentine
-Israel
i professional football (soccer)
player who is currently contracted to Hapoel Ramat Gan
.
in Argentina by his mother and grandfather, after his father left when he was a child. He says that after every goal he scores, he says a prayer for his grandfather. Chacana began to play football in his neighborhood and local tournaments. He was scared at first about playing actual club football though because he did not have enough money for shoes.
match. Slowly, he cracked the first team and started to score goals. During a league match against Club Atlético Tucumán
, officials from River Plate
were impressed by his play. The next day Chacana found himself on a bus to Buenos Aires
.
The players at River Plate gave him the nickname, "El Burrito de Tucumán" because of the resemblance between him and Ariel Ortega
. Because Chacana entered though in midseason, he could only take part in Copa Libertadores matches. At the end of the season, Ramón Díaz
was appointed manager and Chacana left for Quilmes
.
side Hapoel Nazareth Illit. Club officials told him that since his wife, Priscila Radusky, is Jewish, he would receive special benefits as a new immigrant under the Law of Return
. Originally, Chacana was not interested in immigrating, but was later convinced. After just one season, he was released by Nazareth Illit. He returned to San Martín de Tucumán but felt that he needed to return to Israel in order to prove people wrong. Israeli agent, Gilad Katsav, arranged for him to join Hapoel Ashkelon where he became an instant success and fan favorite. He was given a new nickname in Ashkelon, "El Loco Lindo" and achieved celebrity in the city. During his season at Ashkelon, the club reached the semi-final of the Israel State Cup
and gained promotion to the Liga Leumit
After a short term at Hapoel Kfar Saba, Chacana left for Ironi Kiryat Shmona
. When the season ended, Chacana signed a US $
50,000 contract with Hapoel Ramat Gan of the Liga Leumit, despite having an offer from F.C. Ashdod
in the Israeli Premier League. The primary reason for Chacana's signing with Ramat Gan, was because a fan of the club was willing to pay for the entire treatment of his sons bout with leukemia
.
When his contract ended with Hapoel Ramat Gan, he had an unsuccessful trial with Maccabi Petah Tikva. Though having more offers from Israeli clubs, Chacana signed a new one year deal with Slovenia
n side, NK MIK CM Celje. During his debut match against NK Maribor
, he scored his teams second goal in a 3:3 draw. His family remained in Israel though, where his son underwent further treatments at Sheba Medical Center
.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
-Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i professional 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 who is currently contracted to Hapoel Ramat Gan
Hapoel Ramat Gan
Hapoel Ramat Gan Giv'atayim F.C. is an Israeli football club from Ramat Gan and Giv'atayim. They play in an all-red strip, and are currently in the Israeli Premier League. Home matches are played at Winter Stadium, which has a capacity of around 8,000....
.
Early life
Carlos Chacana was raised in Tucumán ProvinceTucumán Province
Tucumán is the most densely populated, and the smallest by land area, of the provinces of Argentina. Located in the northwest of the country, the capital is San Miguel de Tucumán, often shortened to Tucumán. Neighboring provinces are, clockwise from the north: Salta, Santiago del Estero and...
in Argentina by his mother and grandfather, after his father left when he was a child. He says that after every goal he scores, he says a prayer for his grandfather. Chacana began to play football in his neighborhood and local tournaments. He was scared at first about playing actual club football though because he did not have enough money for shoes.
Start in Argentina
At the age of 16, Chacana began training with Club Atlético San Martín de Tucumán after being pressured to by his grandfather. The club supplied Chacana with a pair of football boots and occasionally with transportation to training. In 1997, he played his first professional match for San Martín in a Primera B NacionalPrimera B Nacional Argentina
Primera B Nacional is the second most important category of Argentine football organized by the Argentine Football Association.It is played by teams from all over the country...
match. Slowly, he cracked the first team and started to score goals. During a league match against Club Atlético Tucumán
Club Atlético Tucumán
Club Atlético Tucumán is a sports club from the city of San Miguel in Tucumán, Argentina. Its football team currently plays in the Primera B Nacional....
, officials from River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
were impressed by his play. The next day Chacana found himself on a bus to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
.
The players at River Plate gave him the nickname, "El Burrito de Tucumán" because of the resemblance between him and Ariel Ortega
Ariel Ortega
Arnaldo Ariel Ortega is an Argentine football attacking midfielder. His nickname is "El Burrito" , thus he is called "Burrito Ortega"....
. Because Chacana entered though in midseason, he could only take part in Copa Libertadores matches. At the end of the season, Ramón Díaz
Ramón Díaz
Ramón Ángel Díaz , is a former Argentine football player. For most of his career, he played for, and later coached, Club Atlético River Plate. He is also known by the nickname of El Pelado ....
was appointed manager and Chacana left for Quilmes
Quilmes Atlético Club
Quilmes Atlético Club is a sports clubs of Argentina, based on the Partido de Quilmes, Buenos Aires Province. Quilmes is one of the oldest clubs of Argentina, having been founded in 1887. Its football squad currently plays in the Primera B Nacional Division....
.
Kuwait
After a short time at Quilmes, Chacana made his first departure to the Middle East. His time at Al Arabi was cut short due to the Iraq War.Israel
In 2003, he arrived at Liga ArtzitLiga Artzit
Liga Artzit was the third tier of Israeli football after the Premier League and Liga Leumit, and was run by the Israel Football Association.-Structure:...
side Hapoel Nazareth Illit. Club officials told him that since his wife, Priscila Radusky, is Jewish, he would receive special benefits as a new immigrant under the Law of Return
Law of Return
The Law of Return is Israeli legislation, passed on 5 July 1950, that gives Jews the right of return and settlement in Israel and gain citizenship...
. Originally, Chacana was not interested in immigrating, but was later convinced. After just one season, he was released by Nazareth Illit. He returned to San Martín de Tucumán but felt that he needed to return to Israel in order to prove people wrong. Israeli agent, Gilad Katsav, arranged for him to join Hapoel Ashkelon where he became an instant success and fan favorite. He was given a new nickname in Ashkelon, "El Loco Lindo" and achieved celebrity in the city. During his season at Ashkelon, the club reached the semi-final of the Israel State Cup
Israel State Cup
The State Cup , is a knockout cup competition in Israeli football, run by the Israeli Football Association.The State Cup was first held in 1927–28 as the Palestine Cup...
and gained promotion to the Liga Leumit
Liga Leumit
Liga Leumit is the second tier in the Israeli football league system below the Premier League.-Structure:There are 16 clubs in the league. At the end of each season, the lowest-placed team are relegated to Liga Alef while the highest-placed team from Liga Alef are promoted in their place...
After a short term at Hapoel Kfar Saba, Chacana left for Ironi Kiryat Shmona
Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona F.C.
Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona Football Club is an Israeli football club based in Kiryat Shmona. The club are currently members of the Israeli Premier League and play at the Ironi Stadium...
. When the season ended, Chacana signed a US $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
50,000 contract with Hapoel Ramat Gan of the Liga Leumit, despite having an offer from F.C. Ashdod
F.C. Ashdod
F.C. Ashdod is an Israeli football club, playing in the port city of Ashdod. The unorthodox name of the team is the result of the union of two city rivals, Hapoel Ashdod and Maccabi Ironi Ashdod...
in the Israeli Premier League. The primary reason for Chacana's signing with Ramat Gan, was because a fan of the club was willing to pay for the entire treatment of his sons bout with leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
.
When his contract ended with Hapoel Ramat Gan, he had an unsuccessful trial with Maccabi Petah Tikva. Though having more offers from Israeli clubs, Chacana signed a new one year deal with Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n side, NK MIK CM Celje. During his debut match against NK Maribor
NK Maribor
Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from...
, he scored his teams second goal in a 3:3 draw. His family remained in Israel though, where his son underwent further treatments at Sheba Medical Center
Sheba Medical Center
The Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer , also Tel HaShomer Hospital, is the largest hospital in Israel.-Overview:The hospital was named after Chaim Sheba, the founding director. It was established in 1948 as the country's first military hospital to treat casualties of Israel's War of...
.
Club
- With Hapoel Ashkelon:
- Liga ArtzitLiga ArtzitLiga Artzit was the third tier of Israeli football after the Premier League and Liga Leumit, and was run by the Israel Football Association.-Structure:...
: 2004/05 - Toto Cup ArtzitToto CupThe Toto Cup is an association football tournament that exists separately in the two highest divisions in Israel: the Premier League and Liga Leumit....
: 2004/05
- Liga Artzit
- With Hapoel Ramat Gan:
- Toto Cup ArtzitToto CupThe Toto Cup is an association football tournament that exists separately in the two highest divisions in Israel: the Premier League and Liga Leumit....
: 2006/07
- Toto Cup Artzit