Guillermo Guardia Morales (born 27 February 1960) is considered one of the best Costa Rican soccer strikers during the 1980s.
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Guillermo Guardia Morales | ||
Date of birth | (1960-02-27) February 27, 1960 (age 62) | ||
Place of birth | San José, Costa Rica | ||
Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1978–1985 | Saprissa | ||
1986 | San Carlos | ||
1987–1988 | Alajuelense | ||
1989–1990 | Uruguay de Coronado | ||
1991–1992 | Turrialba | ||
1992–1993 | Limonense | (14) | |
1994–1996 | Pérez Zeledón | ||
Total | - | (149) | |
National team‡ | |||
1983–1984 | Costa Rica | ||
Teams managed | |||
1997–2000 | Pérez Zeledón | ||
2001–2002 | Santa Bárbara | ||
2002 | Municipal Liberia | ||
2003–2004 | San Carlos | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 June 2014 |
Nicknamed Nica, Guardia played the greatest years of his career for Deportivo Saprissa, where he became the best goal scorer of the Costa Rica's first division during 1981, year when Saprissa finished being the champion. Later he played for Alajuelense and San Carlos among others, totalling 7 different clubs.[1] He is especially remembered for saving an Alajuelense penalty kick when Turrialba goalkeeper Miguel Segura was sent off in a league game and Guardia replaced him in goal on 31 May 1992.[2]
Guardia's great scoring talents and quickness, helped him and teammate Evaristo Coronado form a lethal duo in the early 80s in Saprissa. He scored a total of 149 league goals.[3]
He played with the Costa Rica national football team as well, and was part of Costa Rican squad that played at the 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles.[4][5]
After retiring, he began his coaching career, and has managed several teams in Costa Rica's first division, such as Pérez Zeledón,[6] Municipal Liberia[7] and San Carlos.[8]
Costa Rica squad – 1984 Summer Olympics | ||
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Costa Rican Primera División Top goalscorers | |
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