Chico Borja facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hernan Borja | ||
| Date of birth | August 24, 1959 | ||
| Place of birth | Quito, Ecuador | ||
| Date of death | January 28, 2021 (aged 61) | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder / Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1981–1982 | New York Cosmos | 48 | (12) |
| 1981–1984 | New York Cosmos (Indoor) | 44 | (36) |
| 1983 | Team America | 17 | (3) |
| 1984 | New York Cosmos | 18 | (5) |
| 1984–1985 | Las Vegas Americans (indoor) | 28 | (24) |
| 1985–1987 | Wichita Wings (indoor) | 83 | (84) |
| 1987–1988 | Los Angeles Lazers (indoor) | 51 | (48) |
| 1988–1992 | Wichita Wings (indoor) | 119 | (90) |
| 1989–1990 | → Albany Capitals (loan) | ||
| National team | |||
| 1982–1988 | United States | 11 | (3) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1994 | Houston Hotshots (indoor) | ||
| 1995 | Houston Force | ||
| ?–1998 | Rockhurst University | ||
|
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Hernan "Chico" Borja (born August 24, 1959 – died January 25, 2021) was a famous soccer player and coach. He was born in Quito, Ecuador, but became an American citizen. Chico played for several U.S. soccer leagues. These included the North American Soccer League (NASL) and the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). He also played eleven games for the U.S. national team. Chico Borja lived in Belleville, New Jersey.
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Chico Borja's Early Life and College Soccer
Chico Borja was born in Quito, Ecuador, on August 24, 1959. His family moved to the United States. He went to the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) for college. There, he played on the men's soccer team.
NJIT was in NCAA Division III at the time. The NCAA is a group that organizes college sports. In 1980, Chico was chosen as a Division I First Team All-American. This means he was one of the best college soccer players in the country. He was the first NJIT soccer player to get this honor. In 1989, NJIT added Chico Borja to its Hall of Fame.
Playing in the NASL
Chico Borja started his professional career in 1981. He joined the New York Cosmos as a midfielder. The Cosmos were part of the North American Soccer League (NASL). In his first two years, he played in two NASL championship games. His team lost the first one but won the second in 1982.
In 1983, the U.S. national team joined the NASL. They were called Team America. Chico left the Cosmos to play for Team America. After one season, Team America left the league. Chico then went back to the Cosmos for the 1984 season. He was chosen for the NASL North American all-star team that year. He played 83 games in the NASL, scoring 20 goals.
Playing in the MISL
After the NASL ended, Chico Borja joined the Las Vegas Americans. This team was in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). He played one season with them.
Then, he moved to the Wichita Wings for two seasons. After that, he played for the Los Angeles Lazers for one year. He then returned to the Wichita Wings and played there until he retired in 1992. In the 1988–1989 season, he was named the MISL Pass Master. This means he had the most assists (passes that lead to goals) in the league. In 1989 and 1990, he also played for the Albany Capitals during the summer.
Chico Borja was known for his strong, physical play. When he retired, he was one of the top players in MISL history. He was eighth in total points and fourth in total assists.
Playing for the National and Olympic Teams
Chico Borja started playing for the United States men's national soccer team in 1982. He played in eleven international games and scored three goals. His first game was against Trinidad and Tobago in March 1982. He scored a goal in a 2–0 win against Haiti in 1983. He also scored in a World Cup qualification game against Trinidad and Tobago in 1985.
In 1984, Chico played for the U.S. Olympic soccer team at the Summer Olympics. He played in all three games for the U.S. team. Even though the U.S. team had many top players, these games are not counted as official national team games by FIFA. Chico also played for the U.S. team at the 1987 Pan American Games.
After retiring from professional soccer in 1992, Chico played for the U.S. Futsal team. Futsal is a type of indoor soccer played on a smaller field. His team won a silver medal at the World Championship. Chico was chosen as one of the best players in that tournament. He continued to play futsal until 1995, scoring 9 goals.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, Chico Borja became a coach. He coached the Houston Hotshots in 1994. He also coached the Houston Force in 1995. He coached high school girls' soccer in Houston. He also coached boys' soccer and golf at Coral Glades High School in Florida. Later, he became an Assistant Principal at South Plantation High School.
See also
In Spanish: Chico Borja para niños
