Manuel Rojas (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Manuel Antonio “Manny” Rojas Zúñiga (born June 13, 1954 in Santiago, Chile
) is a retired football
midfielder
from Chile
, who represented his native country
at the 1982 FIFA World Cup
in Spain
. His professional career took him from his native Chile to Mexico and ultimately the United States
where he currently coaches youth soccer. He spent two seasons in the North American Soccer League
, four in the Major Indoor Soccer League
, three in the American Indoor Soccer Association and one in the American Soccer League
.
club Palestino. He then moved to Mexican Club América
for the 1975 season. At some point, he signed with Universidad Católica
of Chile and was on their roster for the 1981-1982 season. In 1983, he moved to the United States where he signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League
(NASL). He scored eight goals in twenty-nine games that season to lead the team in scoring. On March 23, 1984, the Rowdies released Rojas and he signed a few days later with the Golden Bay Earthquakes. However, on July 10, 1984, the Earthquakes sent Rojas and Hayden Knight
to the Chicago Sting
in exhcnage for Ricardo Alonso
and Charlie Fajkus
. Rojas found himself with a team on the rise as the Sting won the 1984 NASL championship. While he scored only one goal during the regular season, he added two more in the post-season, including one in a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Blizzard
in the first game of the championship series. When the NASL folded at the end of the 1984 NASL season
, the Sting moved to the Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). Rojas remained with the Sting until it folded at the end of the 1987-1988 MISL season. That summer, he played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the American Soccer League
then signed with the expansion Chicago Power
of the American Indoor Soccer Association. Rojas remained with the Power through the 1990-1991 season, scoring seven goals in twenty-one gameshttp://members.toast.net/pudgym30a/stats91.html as the Power won the AISA championship.
spanned from 1976 to 1982. That year, he capped his national team career when he was selected to the Chilean team
which competed in the 1982 FIFA World Cup
in Spain. He was awarded the Chilean National Sportsmanship Award 1978 and 1981
. He has assistant coached Libertyville High School
and Vernon Hills High School
soccer teams.http://www.vhhscougars.org/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=742&MMN_position=421:41:419 He now works with younger players on a daily basis.
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
) is a retired football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
from Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, who represented his native country
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
at the 1982 FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. His professional career took him from his native Chile to Mexico and ultimately the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he currently coaches youth soccer. He spent two seasons in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, four in the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
, three in the American Indoor Soccer Association and one in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
.
Playing
Rojas began his professional club with Chilean First DivisionLiga Chilena de Fútbol: Primera División
The Primera División del Fútbol Profesional Chileno is the top level of Chilean football, and main component of the Chilean football league system. It is organized by the Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Profesional and is currently ranked 9th in the IFFHS' Best Leagues of the World ranking...
club Palestino. He then moved to Mexican Club América
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
for the 1975 season. At some point, he signed with Universidad Católica
Club Deportivo Universidad Católica
Club Deportivo Universidad Católica is a professional football club based in Santiago, Chile, which plays in the Primera División.Universidad Católica is one of the most successful and popular football clubs in Chile and considered one of the three "big teams"...
of Chile and was on their roster for the 1981-1982 season. In 1983, he moved to the United States where he signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL). He scored eight goals in twenty-nine games that season to lead the team in scoring. On March 23, 1984, the Rowdies released Rojas and he signed a few days later with the Golden Bay Earthquakes. However, on July 10, 1984, the Earthquakes sent Rojas and Hayden Knight
Hayden Knight
Hayden Knight is a retired Trinidad-American soccer defender and current high school soccer coach. He earned three caps with the United States men's national soccer team in 1984.-Youth:...
to the Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
in exhcnage for Ricardo Alonso
Ricardo Alonso
Ricardo Alonso was a soccer player who began as a forward before moving to defender later in his career. Alonso spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League, four in Major Indoor Soccer League, at least three in the American Indoor Soccer Association, one in the American Soccer League and...
and Charlie Fajkus
Charlie Fajkus
Charlie Fajkus is a former U.S. soccer midfielder who spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League and five in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned three caps with the U.S. national team between 1982 and 1985.-Youth and college:Fajkus grew up Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb of...
. Rojas found himself with a team on the rise as the Sting won the 1984 NASL championship. While he scored only one goal during the regular season, he added two more in the post-season, including one in a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Blizzard
Toronto Blizzard (NASL)
The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.-History:The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home field was Varsity Stadium....
in the first game of the championship series. When the NASL folded at the end of the 1984 NASL season
1984 NASL Season
The 1984 NASL season was the 72nd season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 17th with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, as well as the 17th and final season of the North American Soccer League...
, the Sting moved to the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
(MISL). Rojas remained with the Sting until it folded at the end of the 1987-1988 MISL season. That summer, he played for the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
then signed with the expansion Chicago Power
Chicago Power
The Chicago Power were an indoor soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association and National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Edmonton Drillers.-Year-by-year:...
of the American Indoor Soccer Association. Rojas remained with the Power through the 1990-1991 season, scoring seven goals in twenty-one gameshttp://members.toast.net/pudgym30a/stats91.html as the Power won the AISA championship.
National team
Rojas’ career with Chilean national teamChile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
spanned from 1976 to 1982. That year, he capped his national team career when he was selected to the Chilean team
1982 FIFA World Cup squads
Below are the squads for the 1982 FIFA World Cup tournament in Spain.-Cameroon:Head coach: Jean Vincent-Italy:Head coach: Enzo Bearzot...
which competed in the 1982 FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
in Spain. He was awarded the Chilean National Sportsmanship Award 1978 and 1981
Coaching
Rojas has extensive coaching experience, most of it at the youth level. He did acted as an assistant coach while with the Chicago PowerChicago Power
The Chicago Power were an indoor soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association and National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Edmonton Drillers.-Year-by-year:...
. He has assistant coached Libertyville High School
Libertyville High School
Libertyville High School, or LHS, is a public four-year high school located in Libertyville, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States...
and Vernon Hills High School
Vernon Hills High School
Vernon Hills High School, or VHHS, is a public four-year high school located in Vernon Hills, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Community High School District 128, which also includes Libertyville High School.-History:Following the successful...
soccer teams.http://www.vhhscougars.org/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=742&MMN_position=421:41:419 He now works with younger players on a daily basis.