José Pedro Fuenzalida
Encyclopedia
José Pedro Fuenzalida Gana (born February 22, 1985, in Chile
) is a Chilean footballer also known as "Chapita". Fuenzalida is a midfielder, who currently plays for Colo-Colo
. He went through the Universidad Católica
's youth system, until 2005 when he made his professional debut with the adult squad at the age of 19. In the summer of 2007 at the age of 22, Fuenzalida retired in order to concentrate on his school work. Therefore he did not play in the 2007 Chilean Clausura tournament. In January 2008, Fuenzalida returned to professional football and was expected to play for his team of always Universidad Católica. However in a surprise move he signed for archrival Colo-Colo, which angered Universidad Católica's management and caused them to ask for $210,000 for the signing ($30,000 for each year Fuenzalida was in the youth ranks).
Fuenzalida was an integral part of the Chilean squad at 2005 South American Youth Championship
in Colombia
, which qualified for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
in the Netherlands
. During the FIFA World Youth Championship, Fuenzalida scored two goals in Chile's 7–0 victory over Honduras.
Fuenzalida scored two goals the prestigious U-23 2008 Toulon Tournament
, where he scored one goal in the 5–3 win against France
and another in the 2-0 win against the Netherlands
. He then went on to start in the 2-0 win against Japan
. He played in all five of the team's games in the tournament playing many different positions.
For the 2008 Clausura tournament, Jose Pedro Fuenzalida was loaned to the O'Higgins, most likely because Colo Colo had too many players and had to send some players in a loan, even players as good and talented as Fuenzalida. Fuenzalida has already scored a pair of goals for O'Higgins, and has made some good plays for the team.
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...
) is a Chilean footballer also known as "Chapita". Fuenzalida is a midfielder, who currently plays for 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...
. He went through the Universidad Católica
Club Deportivo Universidad Católica
Club Deportivo Universidad Católica is a professional football club based in Santiago, Chile, which plays in the Primera División.Universidad Católica is one of the most successful and popular football clubs in Chile and considered one of the three "big teams"...
's youth system, until 2005 when he made his professional debut with the adult squad at the age of 19. In the summer of 2007 at the age of 22, Fuenzalida retired in order to concentrate on his school work. Therefore he did not play in the 2007 Chilean Clausura tournament. In January 2008, Fuenzalida returned to professional football and was expected to play for his team of always Universidad Católica. However in a surprise move he signed for archrival Colo-Colo, which angered Universidad Católica's management and caused them to ask for $210,000 for the signing ($30,000 for each year Fuenzalida was in the youth ranks).
Fuenzalida was an integral part of the Chilean squad at 2005 South American Youth Championship
South American Youth Championship
The South American Youth Championship, also known as U-20 South American Championship and Juventud de América is a South American football tournament organized by the CONMEBOL , for South American national teams of men under age 20.-History:The first South American Youth Championship was hosted by...
in 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...
, which qualified for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in The Netherlands between 10 June and 2 July 2005. The 2005 championship was the 15th contested.- Venues :- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. During the FIFA World Youth Championship, Fuenzalida scored two goals in Chile's 7–0 victory over Honduras.
Fuenzalida scored two goals the prestigious U-23 2008 Toulon Tournament
Toulon Tournament
The Toulon Tournament is a football tournament which traditionally features invited national teams composed of under-21 players, although the first tournament in 1967 featured club teams...
, where he scored one goal in the 5–3 win against France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and another in the 2-0 win against the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. He then went on to start in the 2-0 win against Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He played in all five of the team's games in the tournament playing many different positions.
For the 2008 Clausura tournament, Jose Pedro Fuenzalida was loaned to the O'Higgins, most likely because Colo Colo had too many players and had to send some players in a loan, even players as good and talented as Fuenzalida. Fuenzalida has already scored a pair of goals for O'Higgins, and has made some good plays for the team.