Valeriano López
Encyclopedia
Valeriano López Mendiola (born 4 May 1926 in Casma
— died 7 May 1993 in Callao
) was a football forward
from Peru
, nicknamed Tanque de Casma. Recognized as one of Peru
's most important players, he was an all round forward with great finishing, positioning, and heading skills.
Prolific goalscorer, next to Ferreyra
and Friedenreich
, have been only the America
n professional
footballers with an average of more than 1 goal per match, having made 207 goals in 199 games of 1946 to his retirement in 1960.
at the age of 20. He became a prolific goalscorer, winning the Peruvian league top-scorer honor its three first seasons, (1946, 1947 and 1948) with 62 goals scored in 54 matches. After a successful beginning in Peru
, in 1949 it is punished to perpetuity for the practice of soccer to escape of the concentration of the Peruvian national team
days before the South American Championship
of Brazil
.
López moved to Colombia
club Deportivo Cali
and remains one of their most iconic players.
Casma
Casma is a city in the Ancash Region, Peru. It is located in the Casma Valley. Its surface has 1 204,85 km².Its people venerate saint Santa Maria Magdalena and its day is celebrated on July 22....
— died 7 May 1993 in Callao
Callao
Callao is the largest and most important port in Peru. The city is coterminous with the Constitutional Province of Callao, the only province of the Callao Region. Callao is located west of Lima, the country's capital, and is part of the Lima Metropolitan Area, a large metropolis that holds almost...
) was a football forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
from Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, nicknamed Tanque de Casma. Recognized as one of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
's most important players, he was an all round forward with great finishing, positioning, and heading skills.
Prolific goalscorer, next to Ferreyra
Bernabé Ferreyra
Bernabé Ferreyra was an Argentine association football forward. He was one of the first professional players in Argentine football to reach great popularity, to the point that he had a movie biography.-Club:...
and Friedenreich
Arthur Friedenreich
Arthur Friedenreich was a Brazilian football player. Nicknamed The Tiger, he was arguably the sport's first outstanding black player.-Biography:...
, have been only the America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballers with an average of more than 1 goal per match, having made 207 goals in 199 games of 1946 to his retirement in 1960.
Career
López's career began with the Peruvian club Sport BoysSport Boys
Sport Boys Association is a Peruvian football club, playing in the port city of Callao. It was founded on Peru's independence day, July 28, 1927....
at the age of 20. He became a prolific goalscorer, winning the Peruvian league top-scorer honor its three first seasons, (1946, 1947 and 1948) with 62 goals scored in 54 matches. After a successful beginning in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, in 1949 it is punished to perpetuity for the practice of soccer to escape of the concentration of the Peruvian national team
Peru national football team
The Peru national football team, known as 'el equipo inca', represents Peru in international football competition and is managed by the Peruvian Football Federation . The team competes against the other nine members of FIFA's CONMEBOL conference, which encompasses the countries of South America...
days before the South American Championship
South American Championship 1949
The South American Championship 1949 in football was held in Brazil and won by Brazil. Paraguay was the runner-up.Jair Rosa Pinto from Brazil was the top scorer of the tournament with 9 goals.-Final round:--------------------------------...
of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
López moved to Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
club Deportivo Cali
Deportivo Cali
Asociación Deportivo Cali is a Colombian sports club based in Cali, Colombia. Mostly known for its football team, it also sponsors basketball, volleyball and swimming...
and remains one of their most iconic players.
Honours
| Season | Team | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 |  Peruvian national teamPeru national football team The Peru national football team, known as 'el equipo inca', represents Peru in international football competition and is managed by the Peruvian Football Federation . The team competes against the other nine members of FIFA's CONMEBOL conference, which encompasses the countries of South America... |
Bolivarian Games Football at the Bolivarian Games Football at the Bolivarian Games has been played since 1938. The first edition was the only one in which full national teams played for all countries. U-17 teams have been fielded recently in this quadrennial competition... |
| 1951 | Sport Boys Sport Boys Sport Boys Association is a Peruvian football club, playing in the port city of Callao. It was founded on Peru's independence day, July 28, 1927.... |
Peruvian League Primera División Peruana The Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano... |
| 1954 | Alianza Lima Alianza Lima Club Alianza Lima is a Peruvian First Division football club who plays at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in the La Victoria District of Lima, Peru. They are one of the most famous and well supported clubs in the country and the oldest team in the Peruvian First Division.Alianza enjoyed success... |
Peruvian League Primera División Peruana The Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano... |
| 1955 | Alianza Lima Alianza Lima Club Alianza Lima is a Peruvian First Division football club who plays at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in the La Victoria District of Lima, Peru. They are one of the most famous and well supported clubs in the country and the oldest team in the Peruvian First Division.Alianza enjoyed success... |
Peruvian League Primera División Peruana The Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano... |
| 1958 | Sport Boys Sport Boys Sport Boys Association is a Peruvian football club, playing in the port city of Callao. It was founded on Peru's independence day, July 28, 1927.... |
Peruvian League Primera División Peruana The Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano... |
Individual Honours
- Peruvian Championship's Top ScorerPrimera División PeruanaThe Peruvian Primera División is the top professional division of Peruvian football. It is known today as Torneo Descentralizado de Fútbol Profesional Peruano...
: 1946, 1947, 1948, 1951 - 1948 Bolivarian GamesFootball at the Bolivarian GamesFootball at the Bolivarian Games has been played since 1938. The first edition was the only one in which full national teams played for all countries. U-17 teams have been fielded recently in this quadrennial competition...
: Best Player - 1948 Bolivarian GamesFootball at the Bolivarian GamesFootball at the Bolivarian Games has been played since 1938. The first edition was the only one in which full national teams played for all countries. U-17 teams have been fielded recently in this quadrennial competition...
: Top Scorer - 1952 Panamerican ChampionshipPanamerican ChampionshipThe Panamerican Championship was a football tournament held by the Panamerican Football Confederation every four years from 1952 through 1960. Since the Americas' premier tournament, Copa América, was restricted to South American teams, the Panamerican Championship was an attempt to create an...
: Top Scorer - 1951 South American Top scorer on the year