Francisco Avilán Cruz (27 August 1947 – 5 February 2021) was a Mexican footballer and football manager.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Avilán Cruz[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 27 August 1947 | ||
| Place of birth | Monterrey, Mexico | ||
| Date of death | 5 February 2021 (aged 73) | ||
| Place of death | Monterrey, Mexico | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1958–1964 | Monterrey | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1964–1970 | Monterrey | ||
| 1970–1971 | Atlas | ||
| 1971–1972 | Monterrey | ||
| 1972–1974 | Guadalajara | ||
| International career | |||
| 1971–1972 | Mexico | 2 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1984–1987 | Monterrey | ||
| 1988 | Mexico U20 | ||
| 1992–1994 | Tigres | ||
| 1997–1998 | Vida | ||
| Saltillo Soccer | |||
| Irapuato | |||
| 2008 | Jaguares de Chiapas (interim) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Early life edit
Born in Monterrey, Mexico, Avilán's father was an amateur footballer and his brother, Arnulfo, played for Monterrey.[2] His other brother, Pedro, played in the Mexican second division.[2]
He followed in the footsteps of his brother Arnulfo when he joined Monterrey in 1958.[2]
Club career edit
Avilán was handed his first team debut by Uruguayan manager Roberto Scarone in 1964 against Club Deportivo Nacional, helping Monterrey to a 2–0 win.[2] He remained with Monterrey until 1970, when he had a short stint with Atlas, before returning to Monterrey.[2] He signed with Guadalajara before retiring in 1974.[2]
International career edit
He was called up to the Mexico national football team on several occasions, making two appearances between 1971 and 1972.[3] In doing so, he became the first Monterrey player to represent Mexico.[2]
Managerial career edit
Avilán returned to Monterrey at the end of the 1970s, initially managing the youth sector, which included future Mexican internationals Francisco Javier Cruz, Héctor Becerra and Missael Espinoza.[2]
After studying football management in Yugoslavia, Avilán was named manager of Monterrey in 1984.[2] With signings such as Guillermo Muñoz, he led Monterrey to the México 86 title, the first in the club's history.[2]
While serving as manager of the Mexico national under-20 football team, it was found Mexico had knowingly fielded four overage players at the 1988 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament. The scandal, known as Cachirules, saw several Mexican officials banned from football for life; however, Avilán himself received no sanction, and said that if he had known these players were overaged, he would not have selected them.[4][5]
Avilán returned to management in 2008, when he was named manager of Jaguares de Chiapas on an interim basis.[4]
Death edit
Avilán died in February 2021, following a bout of COVID-19.[4][6][7]
Career statistics edit
International edit
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 2 | 0 | |
Managerial statistics edit
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Jaguares de Chiapas | 2008 | 2008 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 37.5 |
| Total | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 37.5 | ||
References edit
- ^ Francisco Avilán at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j ""Pancho" Avilán: Jugador Habilidoso, primer DT Campeón de Liga y formador de futbolistas" [“Pancho” Avilan: skillful player, first League Champion DT and football trainer]. rayados.com (in Spanish). 5 February 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ Francisco Avilán at National-Football-Teams.com
- ^ a b c Campos Garza, Luciano (5 February 2021). "Muere por covid-19 Francisco Avilán, extécnico de Rayados e implicado en el escándalo de los cachirules de 1988" [Francisco Avilán, former Rayados technician and involved in the 1988 cachirules scandal, dies from covid-19]. proceso.com.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ "Francisco Avilán no quiere hablar sobre los "cachirules"" [Francisco Avilán does not want to talk about the "cachirules"]. laaficion.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ "Falleció Francisco Avilán, primer entrenador Campeón en la historia de Rayados" [Francisco Avilán, first Champion coach in the history of Rayados, passed away]. onefootball.com (in Spanish). 5 February 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ Elgueta, José (5 February 2021). "Francisco Avilán, leyenda de Rayados, muere por covid-19" [Francisco Avilán, Rayados legend, dies from covid-19]. milenio.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 October 2022.