Roger Flores
Encyclopedia
Róger Flores Solano is a retired Costa Rica
n football player and manager. He was the captain of the Costa Rica national football team
during the 1990 FIFA World Cup
held in Italy
. It was the country's first World Cup ever, and national squad accomplished the historic feat of qualifying for the second round against all odds, beating teams apparently much stronger such as Scotland
and Sweden
. He even scored a goal against Sweden, even though he was a defender.
In Costa Rica, "Il Capitano" (The Captain in Italian) played for the two most popular teams, LD Alajuelense
and Saprissa. He started out in Alajuela in the mid 80's, and was part of the team that won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1986. He won two national titles with LD Alajuelense
as well. After his transfer to Saprissa, he reached the pinnacle of his career, becoming a star and the captain of the team as well of the national squad. With Saprissa, he won three more local tournaments, and another two CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Flores made 49 appearances for Costa Rica, scoring two goals. He won the I UNCAF Cup Centroamerican Tournament, in 1991. As a player, he is remembered for his leadership and security on the field, and his excellent coverages of the opposing teams' strikers. After retiring, he went on to coach several teams in Costa Rica's First Division, as well as a minor national team.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
n football player and manager. He was the captain of the Costa Rica national football team
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
during the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
held in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It was the country's first World Cup ever, and national squad accomplished the historic feat of qualifying for the second round against all odds, beating teams apparently much stronger such as Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. He even scored a goal against Sweden, even though he was a defender.
In Costa Rica, "Il Capitano" (The Captain in Italian) played for the two most popular teams, LD Alajuelense
LD Alajuelense
Liga Deportiva Alajuelense , is a Costa Rican football club, currently playing in the Primera División de Costa Rica. It was founded on June 18, 1919. The team is located in Alajuela's downtown and they play their local games at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto.Alajuelense was the first Costa...
and Saprissa. He started out in Alajuela in the mid 80's, and was part of the team that won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1986. He won two national titles with LD Alajuelense
LD Alajuelense
Liga Deportiva Alajuelense , is a Costa Rican football club, currently playing in the Primera División de Costa Rica. It was founded on June 18, 1919. The team is located in Alajuela's downtown and they play their local games at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto.Alajuelense was the first Costa...
as well. After his transfer to Saprissa, he reached the pinnacle of his career, becoming a star and the captain of the team as well of the national squad. With Saprissa, he won three more local tournaments, and another two CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Flores made 49 appearances for Costa Rica, scoring two goals. He won the I UNCAF Cup Centroamerican Tournament, in 1991. As a player, he is remembered for his leadership and security on the field, and his excellent coverages of the opposing teams' strikers. After retiring, he went on to coach several teams in Costa Rica's First Division, as well as a minor national team.