Juan Antonio Merlos
Encyclopedia
Juan Antonio Merlos Cabrera (born 1941) is a retired Salvadoran football player.
at Racing San Miguel and took part in their promotion to the Salvadoran Premier Division in 1958. He also won his and the club's first league title in 1959, scoring one of the goals in the first leg of the Final. He still is one of Águila's all-time top goalscorers after forming a formidable frontline partnership in the 1960s with players like Juan Francisco Barraza
and Saúl Molina
.
He also played for Municipal Limeño
and Luis Ángel Firpo
after leaving Águila.
and helped the team win the Primera division title. He also coached Luis Angel Firpo, Liberal and Municipal Limeno.
. In July 2010 he spent three months in hospital and had his right foot and later his leg until under his knee amputated due to arteriosclerosis
. To cover the medical expenses, former teammates and colleagues organised a charity match between his old clubs Águila and Santiagueño. In January 2011 he was given a pension for life by the National Assembly for his contribution to Salvadoran football.
Club career
Nicknamed Maquínita, Merlos was snapped up by ÁguilaC.D. Águila
Club Deportivo Águila is a Salvadoran football club based in San Miguel. They currently play in the Primera División de Fútbol Profesional, and are one of the most prestigious teams in the country along with long-time rivals Club Deportivo FAS...
at Racing San Miguel and took part in their promotion to the Salvadoran Premier Division in 1958. He also won his and the club's first league title in 1959, scoring one of the goals in the first leg of the Final. He still is one of Águila's all-time top goalscorers after forming a formidable frontline partnership in the 1960s with players like Juan Francisco Barraza
Juan Francisco Barraza
Juan Francisco Barraza Flores was a famous football player and manager from El Salvador.He is widely regarded one of the best Salvadoran footballers of all time.-Career:...
and Saúl Molina
Saúl Molina
Saúl Victorino Molina is a retired Salvadoran professional footballer. He coached in El Salvador and Costa Rica.-Club career:...
.
He also played for Municipal Limeño
C.D. Municipal Limeño
Club Deportivo Municipal Limeño is a Salvadoran football club based in Santa Rosa de Lima, La Union, El Salvador. The club currently participates in the Segunda División de Fútbol Salvadoreño. Their home stadium is Estadio Jose Ramon Flores, with a capacity of 5,000.-History:Municipal Limeño...
and Luis Ángel Firpo
C.D. Luis Angel Firpo
Club Deportivo Luis Ángel Firpo is an football club based in Usulután, El Salvador that plays in the Primera División de Fútbol Profesional. It has been one of the most successful clubs in El Salvador, having won 9 titles, firstly in 1989. Only FAS and Águila hold more league titles than Firpo,...
after leaving Águila.
Managerial career
After his playing career ended, Merlos coached SantiagueñoC.D. Santiagueño
Club Deportivo Santiagueño, commonly known as C.D. Santiagueño, are a Salvadoran professional football club from Santiago de María, Usulután. C.D. Santiagueño won the Salvadoran national title Primera División de Fútbol Profesional in the 1979-80 season....
and helped the team win the Primera division title. He also coached Luis Angel Firpo, Liberal and Municipal Limeno.
Personal life
He lives with his wife in Santiago de MaríaSantiago de María
Santiago de María is a municipality in the Usulután department of El Salvador....
. In July 2010 he spent three months in hospital and had his right foot and later his leg until under his knee amputated due to arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis refers to a stiffening of arteries.Arteriosclerosis is a general term describing any hardening of medium or large arteries It should not be confused with "arteriolosclerosis" or "atherosclerosis".Also known by the name "myoconditis" which is...
. To cover the medical expenses, former teammates and colleagues organised a charity match between his old clubs Águila and Santiagueño. In January 2011 he was given a pension for life by the National Assembly for his contribution to Salvadoran football.
Honours
- Salvadoran Premier League: 5
-
- 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964