Carlos Fernando Navarro Montoya
Encyclopedia
Carlos Fernando Navarro Montoya (born 26 February 1966 in Medellín
) is a retired Colombia
n-Argentine
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
During a professional career which spanned 25 years, he represented teams in Argentina, Colombia, Spain
, Chile
, Brazil
and Uruguay
, appearing for 15 different clubs, namely Boca Juniors
, and totalling 752 official matches.
d El Mono (Monkey
) whilst in Argentina
, Montoya started playing professionally in the country at only 18, with Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield
. In 1988, after one year in his country with Independiente de Santa Fe, he joined Boca Juniors
, where he would rarely miss a game in nearly ten years - never played in less than 35 matches in his full seasons - also setting club records of consecutive games (180) and minutes without conceding a goal (824), and eventually appearing in 396 official matches for the Xeneizes. His last game, however, ended in defeat, 1–3 at Club Atlético Banfield
.
In January 1997, aged almost 31, Montoya joined CF Extremadura
in La Liga
, suffering relegation with that and his following two teams, CP Mérida
and CD Tenerife
, also in the first division. After a brief spell in Chile
with Club de Deportes Concepción
, he returned to Argentina and played topflight football for Chacarita Juniors
, Club Atlético Independiente
- after the promotion of youngster Óscar Ustari
, the 39-year old did not see his contract renewed - and Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
, during five seasons combined.
Montoya rarely settled with a team in the following years, playing in his country of adoption but also in Brazil
and Uruguay
. On 10 July 2009, at the age of 43, he announced his retirement from professional football, stating: "It is 'goodbye', but also 'thank you'".
, but was denied from doing so by FIFA
because he had already played for Colombia
in three 1986 FIFA World Cup
qualifiers
- two against the same opponent, Paraguay
- conceding four goals.
In 1998, FIFA relented and allowed the player a special dispensation to play for Argentina but, at the age of 32, he was considered too old and never represented his adopted nation.
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
) is a retired Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n-Argentine
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...
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
During a professional career which spanned 25 years, he represented teams in Argentina, Colombia, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, 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...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, appearing for 15 different clubs, namely Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
, and totalling 752 official matches.
Club career
Navarro, nicknameNickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d El Mono (Monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
) whilst in Argentina
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...
, Montoya started playing professionally in the country at only 18, with Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield is a sports club based in the Liniers neighborhood of western Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vélez is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División, the top level of the Argentine league system...
. In 1988, after one year in his country with Independiente de Santa Fe, he joined Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
, where he would rarely miss a game in nearly ten years - never played in less than 35 matches in his full seasons - also setting club records of consecutive games (180) and minutes without conceding a goal (824), and eventually appearing in 396 official matches for the Xeneizes. His last game, however, ended in defeat, 1–3 at Club Atlético Banfield
Club Atlético Banfield
Club Atlético Banfield is an Argentine sports club located in the city of Banfield, part of Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires province. Founded on 21 January 1896 by residents of the town of British origin , its main activity is football...
.
In January 1997, aged almost 31, Montoya joined CF Extremadura
CF Extremadura
Club de Fútbol Extremadura was a Spanish football team based in Almendralejo, in the autonomous community of Extremadura. Founded in 1924, it played two seasons in La Liga, and held home games at Estadio Francisco de la Hera, with a capacity of 11,580 seats.-History:Extremadura was founded in 1924,...
in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, suffering relegation with that and his following two teams, CP Mérida
CP Mérida
Club Polideportivo Mérida was a Spanish football team based in Mérida, in the autonomous community of Extremadura.Having played twice in La Liga , the club disappeared in 2000, due to serious economic debts...
and CD Tenerife
CD Tenerife
Club Deportivo Tenerife, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in Tenerife . Founded in 1922, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, with a 24,000-seat capacity.-History:Club Deportivo Tenerife was founded in...
, also in the first division. After a brief spell 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...
with Club de Deportes Concepción
Club de Deportes Concepción
Club Deportes Concepción, is a Chilean football club based in the city of Concepción.The club was founded on February 29, 1966 by the orgia of several amateur clubs such as Galvarino, Liverpool, Juvenil Unido, Santa Fe and Club Lord Cochrane. The club is one of the most popular in the VIII region...
, he returned to Argentina and played topflight football for Chacarita Juniors
Chacarita Juniors
Club Atlético Chacarita Juniors is an Argentine sports club from Villa Maipú, General San Martín Partido in Greater Buenos Aires, which football squad is currently playing in the Primera B Nacional, the second division of the Argentine football league system.The club was founded on May 1, 1906, in...
, Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....
- after the promotion of youngster Óscar Ustari
Oscar Ustari
Oscar Alfredo Ustari is an Argentine professional footballer who plays for Getafe CF in Spain, as a goalkeeper.-Club career:Ustari arrived in Club Atlético Independiente's youth system at the age of 14...
, the 39-year old did not see his contract renewed - and Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata Gimnasia y Esgrima was promoted to the first division after becoming champions of the División Intermedia of Argentine football in 1915. Later, in 1929, the club would become champions of the Primera División...
, during five seasons combined.
Montoya rarely settled with a team in the following years, playing in his country of adoption but also in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. On 10 July 2009, at the age of 43, he announced his retirement from professional football, stating: "It is 'goodbye', but also 'thank you'".
International career
As a naturalized Argentine, Navarro wanted to represent its national teamArgentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
, but was denied from doing so by FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
because he had already played for Colombia
Colombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
in three 1986 FIFA World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
qualifiers
1986 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the South American zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification....
- two against the same opponent, Paraguay
Paraguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
- conceding four goals.
In 1998, FIFA relented and allowed the player a special dispensation to play for Argentina but, at the age of 32, he was considered too old and never represented his adopted nation.
Boca Juniors
- Argentine League: AperturaApertura and ClausuraThe Apertura and Clausura tournaments are a relatively recent innovation for many Latin American football leagues in which the traditional European football season from August to May is divided in two sections per season, each with its own champion. Apertura and Clausura are the Spanish words for...
1992 - South American SupercupSupercopa SudamericanaThe Supercopa Sudamericana , also known as the Supercopa Libertadores João Havelange, Supercopa Libertadores, Supercopa João Havelange or simply Supercopa, was a football club competition contested annually by the past winners of the Copa Libertadores...
: 1989 - South American Cup Winners' CupRecopa SudamericanaThe Recopa Sudamericana is an annual football match-up between the reigning champions of the previous year's Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana, South America's premier club competitions....
: 1990 - Masters SupercupSupercopa MastersThe Supercopa Masters, also known as Copa Master de Supercopa, was a football tournament for clubs that had previously won the Supercopa Sudamericana. It was only played in 1992 and 1995.-1992 Supercopa Masters:...
: 1992 - Golden CupCopa OroThe Copa de Oro , or Copa de Oro Nicolás Leoz, was a football club competition contested annually by the winners of the Copa Libertadores de América, the Supercopa Sudamericana, the Copa CONMEBOL, and the Supercopa Masters...
: 1993