Edwin Westphal
Encyclopedia
Edwin Rodolfo Westphal Véliz (born 4 March 1966) is a Guatemala
n former professional football forward
.
As a member of several clubs, he was a prolific goalscorer in the Guatemalan top-flight
, especially during the 1990s. He was also a member of the Guatemala national team
.
, Westphal began his career playing for local club Bandegua (Bananera de Guatemala, later renamed DelMonte), making his Liga Mayor
debut in 1985 at the age of 18. While playing for Bandegua, the big striker was the top scorer of the 1987 championship. Later, he played for Izabal JC, where he won another goalscoring title. In the 1993-94 season, he played for Aurora FC
, and after that he joined Comunicaciones
, where he was part of three championship-winning teams. After an unsuccessful stint with USAC, he returned to Comunicaciones, before ending his career playing for Antigua GFC
. He retired from professional football in 2004 and had a farewell match in 2005. With 201 career league goals, he is the fourth-highest goalscorer in the history of the Guatemalan league.
for more than a decade, representing the country in three World Cup qualification
processes (1990, 1994, and 1998). He also played at the Gold Cup tournaments of 1991, 1996, and 1998. Overall, he scored 16 international goals.
His final international was a February 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup
match against Jamaica
.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n former professional football forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
As a member of several clubs, he was a prolific goalscorer in the Guatemalan top-flight
Liga Nacional de Guatemala
Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala , formerly known as Liga Mayor "A" is a professional football division in Guatemala, the highest one in the country. It is sanctioned by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala...
, especially during the 1990s. He was also a member of the Guatemala national team
Guatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
.
Club career
A native of Puerto BarriosPuerto Barrios
Puerto Barrios is a city in Guatemala, located within the Gulf of Honduras at. The bay in which the harbour is located is called Bahia de Amatique. Puerto Barrios is the departmental seat of Izabal department and the administrative seat of Puerto Barrios municipality.Puerto Barrios was named after...
, Westphal began his career playing for local club Bandegua (Bananera de Guatemala, later renamed DelMonte), making his Liga Mayor
Liga Nacional de Guatemala
Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala , formerly known as Liga Mayor "A" is a professional football division in Guatemala, the highest one in the country. It is sanctioned by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala...
debut in 1985 at the age of 18. While playing for Bandegua, the big striker was the top scorer of the 1987 championship. Later, he played for Izabal JC, where he won another goalscoring title. In the 1993-94 season, he played for Aurora FC
Aurora FC
Aurora Fútbol Club are a Guatemalan professional football club. Once one of the most powerful teams in the country, the team has now been relegated to a lower division...
, and after that he joined Comunicaciones
Comunicaciones
Club Social y Deportivo Comunicaciones is a Guatemalan football club located in Guatemala City.The club is currently playing in the highest Guatemalan league, the Liga Nacional. Their home venue is the Estadio Cementos Progreso in the nation's capital. Nicknamed Cremas , they are the second-most...
, where he was part of three championship-winning teams. After an unsuccessful stint with USAC, he returned to Comunicaciones, before ending his career playing for Antigua GFC
Antigua GFC
Antigua Guatemala Fútbol Club is a Guatemalan professional football team based in Antigua Guatemala. They play their home games at the Estadio Pensativo which has a capacity of 9,000. They are nicknamed Los Antigueños , Los Panzas Verdes and Los Aguacateros .-History:The club was founded in 1958...
. He retired from professional football in 2004 and had a farewell match in 2005. With 201 career league goals, he is the fourth-highest goalscorer in the history of the Guatemalan league.
International career
Westphal was a member of the Guatemala national teamGuatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
for more than a decade, representing the country in three World Cup qualification
FIFA World Cup qualification
The FIFA World Cup qualification is the process that a national association football team goes through to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals. The FIFA World Cup is a global event, so qualification is required to reduce the large field of participants from about 200 to 32.Qualifying tournaments...
processes (1990, 1994, and 1998). He also played at the Gold Cup tournaments of 1991, 1996, and 1998. Overall, he scored 16 international goals.
His final international was a February 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the fourth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....
match against Jamaica
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
.