César Cueto

César Cueto

Personal information
Full name	César Augusto Cueto Villa
Date of birth	June 6, 1952 (1952-06-06) (age 59)
Place of birth	Lima, Peru
Height	1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1968–1971	Alianza Lima
1972–1973	José Gálvez
1974	Deportivo Municipal
1975–1978	Alianza Lima
1979–1983	Atlético Nacional
1984–1985	América de Cali
1986	Deportivo Pereira
1987	Cúcuta Deportivo
National team
1972–1985	Peru	51	(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of April 2008. † Appearances (Goals).

César Augusto Cueto Villa (born 6 June 1952 in Lima) is a Peruvian former football midfielder who played 51 times for the Peru national team between 1972 and 1987^[1] and was part of the squad that won the Copa América 1975.^[2] He also competed for Peru at the 1978 and 1982 FIFA World Cup.

Biography

Cueto, nicknamed el Poeta de la Zurda (the Left-footed Poet), he is one of the most revered footballers in the history of his club Alianza Lima, and Peruvian football.^{[citation needed]} He is also considered Atlético Nacional's most renowned player,^[3] and was Carlos Valderrama's favorite player and initial inspiration.^[4]

Club career

He started his professional career with a local club Alianza Lima in 1969, and between 1973 and 1974 he was on loan with the teams José Galvez and Deportivo Municipal. After Cueto's return to Alianza Lima in 1975, the club won the league titles of 1975, 1977, and 1978.

In 1979, he moved to Colombia to play for Atlético Nacional, where he became the team captain, and won the national title in 1981 with great performances. The press praised his soccer playing qualities^[5][6] and he was elected "Mustang Cup best player on the Year": 1980, 1981. He signed with América de Cali in 1984, winning another league title that year with the club. also as captain and team leader.^[7]

After an injury in 1985, he retired from the national team but returned to play for Alianza after the 1987 air disaster; another injury struck him in 1988, forcing him away from playing. He played irregularly until his definite retirement in 1991.

International career

Also a member of the Peru national team, he earned 51 caps and scored 6 goals for Peru. He was part of the Peru squad that won the Copa America 1975 and represented it in the World Cups of 1978 – scoring in the opening match against Scotland – and 1982.

Cueto was part of the Peru team which eliminated Colombia and Uruguay in the World Cup Qualifiers in 1981. Peru won in the South American qualifying group B. In 1982, the Peruvian National team then went on to a tour of North America and Europe. After losing to New York Cosmos, it went on to defeat Inter Milan and both the Hungary and France national teams. Cueto is best remembered for his great performance in the match against France of Platini on 28 April 1982 in París,^[8] which the France press acclaimed Peru national team as "one of the best teams in the world". Coming into the 1982 FIFA World Cup, there were high expectations for Peru as a dark horse favorite to win the cup with a team that included such notable players as Julio César Uribe, José Velásquez, Teófilo Cubillas and Cueto. With 2 draws and 1 defeat, Peru finished at the bottom of their group went out in the first round. Cueto himself had a disappointing tournament, Peru failed to advance to the next round, despite having an excellent team.

Also noteworthy was his remarkable appearance in the World Cup qualifying match against the Argentina in Buenos Aires in 1985, He displayed his trademark skills, baffling defenders and contributed a scintillating pass to Geronimo Barbadillo for go-ahead goal (the game ended in a tie).^[9]

Participation in the World Cup

World	Seat	Result
1978 FIFA World Cup	Argentina	Seventh Place
1982 FIFA World Cup	Spain	1º Round

Honours

Season	Team	Title
1975	Peruvian national team	Copa America
1975	Alianza Lima	Peruvian League
1977	Alianza Lima	Peruvian League
1978	Alianza Lima	Peruvian League
1981	Atlético Nacional	Mustang Cup
1984	América de Cali	Mustang Cup

Individual awards

• 1980 Peruvian Footballer of the year
• 1981 Mustang Cup Best player on the year

References

1. ^ rsssf: Peru record international footballers
2. ^ rsssf: Copa América 1975
3. ^ Atlético Nacional: Titles
4. ^ Interview to Carlos Valderrama
5. ^ Cueto, returned to make soccer sublime
6. ^ National silenced to the Tolima
7. ^ Idolos of the America of Cali: César Cueto "The Poet of the Golden Left Foot"
8. ^ Cueto vs France youtube
9. ^ (Spanish) Archiva Peru

External links

• Career details at National Football Teams
• (Spanish) Interview: Luis Fernando Suárez, Colombian manager
• (Spanish) Futbol Factory profile^{[dead link]}

Persondata
Name	Cueto, Cesar
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	6 June 1952
Place of birth	Lima, Peru
Date of death
Place of death