Roberto Meléndez
Encyclopedia
Roberto Meléndez, nicknamed "El Flaco", (born Barranquilla
in 1912; died Barranquilla
on 20 May 2000) was a Colombian
football player and coach
who played in the 1930s and 1940s, in the amateur era of the sport.
As a player, Melendez played primarily as a forward. He was a player for Barranquilla Juventud Junior who, in large part due to his efforts, became the most powerful amateur club in Colombia during that period. He was the first Colombian player to play for a foreign team in 1939 when was was hired by the team 'Hispano Centro Gallego' in Cuba
. When playing, he was considered the best Colombian footballer of his era.
Meléndez was also head coach of the Colombian national team
and coached them to a fifth place finish in the Copa América
1945 and in 1947 to an 8th place finish. He was also head coach of Atletico Junior in the early 1940s, who were runners-up in the first championship league football in 1948. Meléndez died on 20 May 2000.
The Barranquilla
main metropolitan stadium Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez was officially renamed after Meléndez, on the initiative of journalist Chelo Castro on 17 March 1991.
Barranquilla
Barranquilla is an industrial port city and municipality located in northern Colombia, near the Caribbean Sea. The capital of the Atlántico Department, it is the largest industrial city and port in the Colombian Caribbean region with a population of 1,148,506 as of 2005, which makes it Colombia's...
in 1912; died Barranquilla
Barranquilla
Barranquilla is an industrial port city and municipality located in northern Colombia, near the Caribbean Sea. The capital of the Atlántico Department, it is the largest industrial city and port in the Colombian Caribbean region with a population of 1,148,506 as of 2005, which makes it Colombia's...
on 20 May 2000) was a Colombian
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
football player and coach
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
who played in the 1930s and 1940s, in the amateur era of the sport.
As a player, Melendez played primarily as a forward. He was a player for Barranquilla Juventud Junior who, in large part due to his efforts, became the most powerful amateur club in Colombia during that period. He was the first Colombian player to play for a foreign team in 1939 when was was hired by the team 'Hispano Centro Gallego' in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. When playing, he was considered the best Colombian footballer of his era.
Meléndez was also head coach of the Colombian national team
Colombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
and coached them to a fifth place finish in the Copa América
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
1945 and in 1947 to an 8th place finish. He was also head coach of Atletico Junior in the early 1940s, who were runners-up in the first championship league football in 1948. Meléndez died on 20 May 2000.
The Barranquilla
Barranquilla
Barranquilla is an industrial port city and municipality located in northern Colombia, near the Caribbean Sea. The capital of the Atlántico Department, it is the largest industrial city and port in the Colombian Caribbean region with a population of 1,148,506 as of 2005, which makes it Colombia's...
main metropolitan stadium Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez was officially renamed after Meléndez, on the initiative of journalist Chelo Castro on 17 March 1991.