Walter Centeno
Encyclopedia
Wálter Centeno Corea, is a Costa Rica
n midfielder
, who currently plays for C.D. Saprissa
. He is one of Costa Rica's
best players in the past decade. He has sublime vision and passing skills. He also has good dribbling abilities, great technique and a top eye for goal. He dictates play for the National Team. He holds the record for appearances with the Costa Rican national team, having gained 137 caps ( 135 FIFA official caps) and scored 24 goals along the way.
of Greece. He was named the best player of the 2003-04 Costa Rican season by the Costa Rican sports media, after scoring 9 goals while orchestrating Saprissa's offense, helping the team to win the league.
With Saprissa, he has won 10 national championships and 1 CONCACAF Champions Cup, won the title with a 3-2 aggregate win over Mexico
's UNAM Pumas in the final, and was part of the team that played the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship Toyota Cup, where Saprissa finished third behind São Paulo Futebol Clube
and Liverpool F.C.
. His appearance at this tournament was considered as outstanding by FIFA
experts.
of Greece
, he participated in the UEFA Champions League
Group Stage managing to score in the team's away home draws against Real Madrid
at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu (2-2) and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico
(1-1).
on September 27, 1995 against Jamaica
. He has been a fixture for the team for the last thirteen years, playing in the Pan American Games
held in Mar del Plata
, Argentina
, in 1995
; the Copa America
tournaments of 1997
, 2001
and 2004
; plus the FIFA World Cup
in 2002 and 2006. On April 1, 2009, he surpassed the record of caps for Costa Rica (held then by Luis Marín, 124 caps, 5 goals) as at November 18, 2009 he has 137 caps and 24 goals. He was the captain of Costa Rica national football team for the last part of 2010 Fifa World Cup qualifications. Rodrigo Kenton
, the appointed manager replacing the fired Hernan Medford
, chose him for covering this important role in the team because of his experience, hardening and leadership. Centeno played his last game on the national team on November 18, 2009, where they tied 1-1 to Uruguay. The game meant that Costa Rica will not be in World Cup 2010.
Shortly after that game, he announced his quitting from national team.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
n midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, who currently plays for C.D. Saprissa
C.D. Saprissa
Deportivo Saprissa S.A.D. is a Costa Rican sports club, mostly known for its football team. The club is located in San Juan de Tibás, San José, and plays their home games at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá....
. He is one of Costa Rica's
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
best players in the past decade. He has sublime vision and passing skills. He also has good dribbling abilities, great technique and a top eye for goal. He dictates play for the National Team. He holds the record for appearances with the Costa Rican national team, having gained 137 caps ( 135 FIFA official caps) and scored 24 goals along the way.
Saprissa
Before joining Saprissa, Centeno played for Belén, also Costa Rican to loan of Saprissa, and AEK Athens FCAEK Athens FC
AEK Athens F.C. , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. Outside Greece, the club is also known as AEK Athens, however, the word Athens is not part of the club's official title.Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees...
of Greece. He was named the best player of the 2003-04 Costa Rican season by the Costa Rican sports media, after scoring 9 goals while orchestrating Saprissa's offense, helping the team to win the league.
With Saprissa, he has won 10 national championships and 1 CONCACAF Champions Cup, won the title with a 3-2 aggregate win over Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
's UNAM Pumas in the final, and was part of the team that played the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship Toyota Cup, where Saprissa finished third behind São Paulo Futebol Clube
São Paulo Futebol Clube
São Paulo Futebol Clube , commonly known as São Paulo, is a professional football club based in São Paulo, Brazil. They play in the Campeonato Paulista, São Paulo's state league, and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or Brasileirão, Brazil's national league, and are one of the only five clubs to...
and Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. His appearance at this tournament was considered as outstanding 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...
experts.
AEK Athens
While playing for AEK Athens FCAEK Athens FC
AEK Athens F.C. , the Athletic Union of Constantinople, is a Greek association football club based in the city of Athens, Greece. Outside Greece, the club is also known as AEK Athens, however, the word Athens is not part of the club's official title.Established in Athens in 1924 by Greek refugees...
of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, he participated in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
Group Stage managing to score in the team's away home draws against Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu (2-2) and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico
Stadio Olimpico
The Stadio Olimpico is the main and largest sports facility of Rome, Italy. It is located within the Foro Italico sports complex on the north of the city. An asset of the Italian National Olympic Committee, the structure is intended primarily for football...
(1-1).
International career
Centeno played his first game for the Costa Rican national teamCosta Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
on September 27, 1995 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...
. He has been a fixture for the team for the last thirteen years, playing in the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
held in Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...
, 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...
, in 1995
1995 Pan American Games
The 12th Pan American Games were held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, from March 12 to March 26, 1995. After 44 years, this was the Pan American Games first return to the country that hosted the first Games, in 1951.-Overview:...
; the Copa America
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
tournaments of 1997
Copa América 1997
Bolivia hosted the Copa América for the second time in its 38th edition. It was held from June 11 to June 29, 1997. It was organised by CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body.There is no qualifying for the final tournament...
, 2001
Copa América 2001
The Copa América 2001 was held in Colombia, from July 11 to July 29, 2001. It was organised by CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body....
and 2004
Copa América 2004
The Copa América 2004 was the 41st edition of the Copa América, the South-American championship for international association football teams. The competition was organized by CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body, and was held in Peru, who hosted the tournament for the sixth time,...
; plus the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
in 2002 and 2006. On April 1, 2009, he surpassed the record of caps for Costa Rica (held then by Luis Marín, 124 caps, 5 goals) as at November 18, 2009 he has 137 caps and 24 goals. He was the captain of Costa Rica national football team for the last part of 2010 Fifa World Cup qualifications. Rodrigo Kenton
Rodrigo Kenton
Rodrigo Kenton Johnson is a Costa Rican football coach and former player. He is known as "La Bomba" Kenton .- Career :...
, the appointed manager replacing the fired Hernan Medford
Hernán Medford
Hernán Evaristo Medford Bryan is a Costa Rican football player and coach.Nicknamed "Pelicano", or "Pelican", he played in several different leagues worldwide, including Serie A of Italy , the Yugoslav First League , the Austrian Bundesliga , La Liga in Spain playing for Rayo Vallecano, and the...
, chose him for covering this important role in the team because of his experience, hardening and leadership. Centeno played his last game on the national team on November 18, 2009, where they tied 1-1 to Uruguay. The game meant that Costa Rica will not be in World Cup 2010.
Shortly after that game, he announced his quitting from national team.
International goals
- Scores and results list. Costa Rica's goal tally first.
Goal Date Venue Opponent Result Competition 1 7 Setiembre 2003 
San JoséSan José, Costa RicaSan José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
9 - 0 Friendly Exhibition gameAn exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...2 19 Noviembre 2003 AlajuelaAlajuelaAlajuela is the second largest city in Costa Rica after the capital, San José. It is also the capital of the namesake province. Because of its location in the Costa Rican Central Valley, Alajuela is nowadays englobed in the conurbation of Great Metropolitan Area...
4 - 0 Friendly Exhibition gameAn exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...3 12 Junio 2004 AlajuelaAlajuelaAlajuela is the second largest city in Costa Rica after the capital, San José. It is also the capital of the namesake province. Because of its location in the Costa Rican Central Valley, Alajuela is nowadays englobed in the conurbation of Great Metropolitan Area...
5 - 1 Friendly Exhibition gameAn exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...4 4 Setiembre 2005 
San Pedro SulaSan Pedro SulaSan Pedro Sula is a city in Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country, in the Valle de Sula , about 60 km south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean. With an estimated population of 638,259 people in the main municipality, and 802,598 in its metro area , it is the second...
2 - 1 2001 UNCAF Nations Cup 5 4 Setiembre 2005 San Pedro SulaSan Pedro SulaSan Pedro Sula is a city in Honduras. It is located in the northwest corner of the country, in the Valle de Sula , about 60 km south of Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean. With an estimated population of 638,259 people in the main municipality, and 802,598 in its metro area , it is the second...
1 - 1 2001 UNCAF Nations Cup 6 7 Setiembre 2005 
Miami 2 - 1 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup 2002 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the sixth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....7 9 Noviembre 2005 
San SalvadorSan SalvadorThe city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
1 - 2 Friendly Exhibition gameAn exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...8 11 Febrero 2006 
Panama CityPanama CityPanama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...1 - 1 2003 UNCAF Nations Cup 9 2 Setiembre 2006 BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
3 - 0 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup 2003 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the seventh edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....10 2 Setiembre 2006 BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
5 - 2 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup 2003 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the seventh edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....11 24 Marzo 2007 BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...5 - 2 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup 2003 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the seventh edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....12 24 Marzo 2007 BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
5 - 2 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup 2003 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the seventh edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....13 21 Junio 2008 San JoséSan José, Costa RicaSan José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
3 - 3 Friendly Exhibition gameAn exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...14 20 Agosto 2008 Panama CityPanama CityPanama is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. It has a population of 880,691, with a total metro population of 1,272,672, and it is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of the same name. The city is the political and administrative center of the...
3 - 1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF) 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for North, Central America and the Caribbean. A total of 34 teams took part , competing for 3.5 places in the World Cup.The qualification process was divided in three stages...15 3 Junio 2009 San JoséSan José, Costa RicaSan José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
2 - 0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF) 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for North, Central America and the Caribbean. A total of 34 teams took part , competing for 3.5 places in the World Cup.The qualification process was divided in three stages...16 6 Junio 2009 Miami 1 - 2 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup 2007 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the ninth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean , and was won by the United States over Mexico. It was contested in the United States from June 6 to June 24, 2007.This competition was the third...17 27 Junio 2009 Miami 1 - 1 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup 2007 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the ninth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean , and was won by the United States over Mexico. It was contested in the United States from June 6 to June 24, 2007.This competition was the third...18 19 Julio 2009 Miami1 - 0 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup 2007 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the ninth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean , and was won by the United States over Mexico. It was contested in the United States from June 6 to June 24, 2007.This competition was the third...19 19 Julio 2009 
ParamariboParamariboParamaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 250,000 people, more than half of Suriname's population...
4 - 1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF) 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)The CONCACAF qualification stage for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa consisted of 35 national teams competing for the three berths given automatically to CONCACAF by FIFA. The United States, Mexico and Honduras qualified...20 3 Junio 2009 San JoséSan José, Costa RicaSan José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
1 - 0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF) 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)The CONCACAF qualification stage for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa consisted of 35 national teams competing for the three berths given automatically to CONCACAF by FIFA. The United States, Mexico and Honduras qualified...21 6 Junio 2009 FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
2 - 2 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup 2009 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the tenth edition of the Gold Cup competition, and the twentieth association football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested from 3 July to 26 July 2009 in the United States. This competition was the fourth tournament...22 27 Junio 2009 San JoséSan José, Costa RicaSan José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
4 - 0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF) 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)The CONCACAF qualification stage for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa consisted of 35 national teams competing for the three berths given automatically to CONCACAF by FIFA. The United States, Mexico and Honduras qualified...23 19 Julio 2009 
MontevideoMontevideoMontevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...1 - 1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF) 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)The CONCACAF qualification stage for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa consisted of 35 national teams competing for the three berths given automatically to CONCACAF by FIFA. The United States, Mexico and Honduras qualified...
Club
Deportivo Saprissa-
- Primera División de Costa RicaPrimera División de Costa RicaPrimera División de Costa Rica is a professional league for association football clubs in Costa Rica. At the top of the Costa Rican league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 12 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Segunda División...
(10)Titles :- 1997-98, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007 Apertura, 2008 Clausura-Invierno, Verano-Apertura 2008, Campeonato de Verano-Clausura 2010
- CONCACAF Champions' Cup (1):
- 2005CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2005The 2005 CONCACAF Champions' Cup was the 40th edition of the annual international club football competition held in the CONCACAF region , the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. The tournament was also a qualifying event for the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship...
- 2005
- Copa Interclubes UNCAFCopa Interclubes UNCAFThe UNCAF Club Tournament was an annual international football competition held in the UNCAF region . The competition was open to the leading domestic club teams in the region. The winners of each national league qualified automatically. It also provided qualification places for the CONCACAF...
(2): - FIFA Club World CupFIFA Club World CupThe FIFA Club World Cup is a football competition between the champion clubs from all six continental confederations.The first FIFA Club World Championship took place in Brazil in January 2000...
:- Third Place: 2005 FIFA Club World Championship2005 FIFA Club World Championship-Quarter-finals:-----Semi-finals:-----Fifth Place:-Third Place:-Final:-Scorers: 2 goals Amoroso Peter Crouch Mohammed Noor Alvaro Saborio...
- Third Place: 2005 FIFA Club World Championship
- Primera División de Costa Rica
Country
Costa RicaCosta Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
-
- CONCACAF Gold CupCONCACAF Gold CupThe CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF, determining the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.The Gold Cup is held every two years and when it does not fall the same year as an...
:- Runner-up: Details2002 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the sixth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....
- Runner-up: Details
- UNCAF Nations CupUNCAF Nations CupThe Copa Centroamericana is a biennial association football tournament, held for the CONCACAF national teams of Central America: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The tournament has been held since 1991 as the UNCAF Nations Cup and doubles as a...
:- Winner: 1999, 2003, 2007
- Runner-up: 2001
- CONCACAF Gold Cup