Carlos Fernando Navarro Montoya (born 26 February 1966) is a retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Born in Colombia, Navarro Montoya represented the Colombia national team three times, and gained Argentine citizenship later in his career.

Carlos Navarro Montoya
Navarro Montoya in 1988.
Personal information
Full name Carlos Fernando Navarro Montoya
Date of birth (1966-02-26) 26 February 1966 (age 58)
Place of birth Medellín, Colombia
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1986 Vélez Sarsfield 67 (0)
1986–1987 Independiente Santa Fe 38 (0)
1987–1988 Vélez Sarsfield 18 (0)
1988–1996 Boca Juniors 323 (0)
1997 Extremadura 23 (0)
1997–1998 Mérida 38 (0)
1998–2000 Tenerife 48 (0)
2001 Deportes Concepción 13 (0)
2001–2003 Chacarita Juniors 62 (0)
2004–2005 Independiente 57 (0)
2005–2006 Gimnasia LP 38 (0)
2006 Atlético Paranaense 2 (0)
2007 Nueva Chicago 19 (0)
2007–2008 Olimpo 13 (0)
2008–2009 Luján de Cuyo
2009 Tacuarembó 8 (0)
Total 767 (0)
International career
1985 Colombia 3 (0)
Managerial career
2013 Chacarita Juniors
2013–2020 Boca Juniors (youth)
2020 Guadalajara
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

During a professional career which spanned 25 years, he represented teams in Argentina, Colombia, Spain, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay, appearing for 15 clubs (mainly Boca Juniors) and totalling more than 800 games across all competitions.

Club career

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Nicknamed El Mono (monkey) whilst in Argentina, Navarro Montoya was born in Medellín, Colombia, and he started playing professionally in the former country at only 18, with Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield. In 1988, after one year in his homeland with Independiente Santa Fe, he joined Boca Juniors, where he would rarely miss a game in nearly ten years – never played in fewer than 35 matches in his full seasons – also setting club records of consecutive games (180) and minutes without conceding a goal (824), and eventually appearing in 396 official games for the Xeneizes. His last appearance, however, ended in defeat, 1–3 at Club Atlético Banfield.[1]

In January 1997, aged almost 31, Montoya joined CF Extremadura in La Liga, suffering relegation with that and his following two teams, CP Mérida and CD Tenerife, also in the first division. After a brief spell in Chile with Club Deportes Concepción, he returned to Argentina and played top-flight football for Chacarita Juniors, Club Atlético Independiente[2] (after the promotion of youngster Óscar Ustari, the 39-year-old did not see his contract renewed) and Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, during five seasons combined.

Montoya rarely settled with a team in the following years, playing in his country of adoption but also in Brazil and Uruguay. On 10 July 2009, at the age of 43, he announced his retirement from professional football, stating: "It is 'goodbye', but also 'thank you'".[3]

International career

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As a naturalized Argentine, Navarro wanted to represent its national team, but was denied from doing so by FIFA because he had already played for Colombia in three 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifiers – two against the same opponent, Paraguay – conceding four goals.[4]

In 1998 FIFA relented and allowed the player a special dispensation to play for Argentina but, at the age of 32, he was considered too old and never represented his adopted nation.

Coaching career

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Montoya's first managerial experience was in Chacarita Juniors, from where he was sacked after only one win in six matches.[5]

In December 2013 he returned to Boca Juniors, this time as deputy director of the youth divisions and youth coach. He covered several roles, until he left his position on 16 September 2020.[6] On 23 September 2020 he took over the Club Deportivo Guadalajara of the Tercera División in Spain,[7] but was dismissed on 24 November after only five league games.[8]

Honours

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Club

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Vélez Sarsfield
Boca Juniors

Individual

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References

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