Juan Gilberto Funes

Football player infobox
playername = Juan Gilberto Funes


fullname = Juan Gilberto Funes Baldovino
height =
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date|1963|3|8
cityofbirth = San Luis
dateofdeath = death date and age|1992|1|11|1963|3|8
cityofdeath = Buenos Aires
countryofdeath = Argentina
countryofbirth = Argentina
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1981
1982
1983
1983-1984
1984-1986
1986-1988
1988
1988-1989
1989
1989-1990
clubs = Huracán de San Luis
Sarmiento de Junín
Jorge Newberry
Gimnasia y Esgrima (M)
Millonarios
River Plate
Olympiakos
FC Nantes
OGC Nice
Velez Sarsfield
caps(goals) =
nationalyears =
nationalteam = Argentina
nationalcaps(goals) = 4 (0)

pcupdate = January 2008

Juan Gilberto Funes (March 8 1963-January 11 1992), nicknamed "El Búfalo" (The Buffalo) was an Argentinian football player. He was born in the province of San Luis, Argentina. Known for his physical type of play, he was the terror of any defensive player he ever faced.

He was a vital part of the 1986 River Plate team that won the Copa Libertadores for the first time, in which he score a goal in the first match in Colombia, which River won by the score of 2-1 and at home in Buenos Aires, for the 1-0 victory against America de Cali [ [http://www.terra.com.ar/ctematicos/river/17/17712.html Libertadores 86 Article] ] . Ironically, this wasn't the first time Colombian teams and fans saw his moves: in the glory days of the Colombian league in the 1980s, Funes played for Millonarios -the team with the most championships in Colombia-, where he simply "schooled" other forwards with his opportunistic technique and his attitude.

He first played football for local club Huracan, then Estudiantes de La Plata, Sarmiento de Junin, Jorge Newbery and Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza, and then for Millonarios Bogotá in 1984. In that year, his team became runner-up of Colombia, and the following year he achieved a record of 33 goals in a single season.

After Colombia, he moved to Greece and played for Olympiacos. With the Piraeus club Funes scored some very important goals (2 goals in the 1988 Greek Cup semifinal against OFI FC, etc.).

After Olympiacos, he went to France and played for AS Nancy and Nantes, but because of health problem he stopped his career in Europe.

He returned to his homeland for second time, but sadly he was rejected by Boca Juniors due to his illness. But this did not end his professional career, he joined Velez Sarsfield. However, his health forced him to retire shortly afterwards. He died of a heart attack on January 12, 1992 and a few years later until today the Estadio de San Luis carries his name.

He is considered today one of the great legends of the Millonarios of Bogotá where is one of their greatest idols and the River Plate fans remember his goals in the Copa Libertadores Final.

During his career, Funes was capped 4 times by the Argentina National Team.

Titles

References