José Miguel Cubero facts for kids
Cubero with Costa Rica at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | José Miguel Cubero Loría | ||
| Date of birth | 14 February 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Sarchí, Alajuela, Costa Rica | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Sarchí (president) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2006 | Herediano | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2014 | Herediano | 134 | (16) |
| 2009 | → Puntarenas (loan) | 17 | (0) |
| 2014–2016 | Blackpool | 19 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Herediano | 58 | (4) |
| 2017 | → Alcoyano (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2018–2023 | Alajuelense | 161 | (11) |
| 2023 | Puntarenas | 13 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Sporting San José | 7 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | Sarchí | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2006–2007 | Costa Rica U20 | 6 | (0) |
| 2010–2019 | Costa Rica | 54 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
José Miguel Cubero Loría (born February 14, 1987), also known as El Cucu, is a former professional footballer from Costa Rica. He played as a defensive midfielder, which means he helped protect his team's goal. After retiring from playing, he became the president of Sarchí, a club he helped start.
Cubero began his football journey in the youth academy of Herediano. He made his first professional appearance for the club in 2006. Later, he played for Puntarenas on a temporary basis, called a "loan," before returning to Herediano. In 2014, Cubero moved to England to play for Blackpool. He returned to Herediano two years later. He also had a short loan spell with Alcoyano in Spain. In 2018, he joined Alajuelense. He played for Puntarenas again in 2023, then for Sporting San José later that year. In 2024, Cubero joined Sarchí, the club he owns, and retired from professional football in 2025.
José Cubero also played for his country, Costa Rica. He first played for the Costa Rica U20 team. His first game for the senior national team was in 2010. He represented Costa Rica in important tournaments like the 2011 Copa Centroamericana, the 2011 Copa América, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. At the 2014 World Cup, Costa Rica made it to the quarter-finals, which was a huge achievement! He also played in the 2014 Copa Centroamericana and the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. During his time playing for Costa Rica, he played 54 games and scored two goals.
Contents
Early Life and Dreams
José Cubero was born on February 14, 1987, in a town called Sarchí in Alajuela, Costa Rica. His childhood was spent in a small town with different traditions compared to a big city. His parents and sister always supported his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
Even though his mother encouraged him to study for a good future, José was determined to play football. To attend training in Heredia, he had to take about three buses every day. The journey was long, and sometimes he felt scared, but his desire to play for a top club kept him going. His family didn't have a lot of money, so times were tough.
Later, he got the chance to join Herediano's youth team. He was studying at a technical school in Sarchí, which made it hard to find time for training. So, he decided to study at night instead. His parents supported this choice, as long as he kept up with his schoolwork.
Club Career Highlights
José Cubero played for several football clubs throughout his career. Here are some of his most notable times with different teams.
Playing for Herediano
Cubero made his first professional appearance for Herediano on March 26, 2006. This was against a team called Santacruceña. In 2009, he had a temporary move to Puntarenas on a loan, which means he played for them for a short time before returning to Herediano. In April 2013, he signed a new contract to stay with Herediano for three more years.
Time with Blackpool
On July 31, 2014, Cubero moved to England and joined Blackpool, a team in the Championship league. He signed a one-year contract with an option to stay for another year. He played his first game for Blackpool on September 27, 2014, in a match against Norwich City. In August 2015, Blackpool decided to keep him for another year by using the extension option in his contract.
Loan to Alcoyano
On July 31, 2017, José Cubero signed a contract to play for CD Alcoyano in Spain on a loan. This was another temporary move to gain more playing experience.
On May 7, 2025, José Cubero officially announced that he was retiring from playing professional football.
Playing for His Country
José Cubero had an exciting career playing for the Costa Rica national football team.
Youth Team Experience
Before joining the senior team, Cubero played for the Costa Rica U20 team. He even participated in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Canada, which is a big international tournament for young players.
Senior National Team
He made his first appearance for the senior Costa Rica in August 2010, in a friendly game against Paraguay. He played in nine FIFA World Cup qualification matches, helping his country try to qualify for the World Cup.
Cubero was a key player for Costa Rica at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He also played in the 2011 Copa Centroamericana and the 2011 Copa América. He was part of the team for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup but did not play in any matches.
Overall, Cubero played 54 games for Costa Rica and scored two goals. One of his most important goals was during a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match against El Salvador. This goal helped Costa Rica win a crucial game, and Cubero considers it the most important goal of his career.
After Costa Rica beat Greece to reach the quarter-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Cubero was seen crying a lot because he was so happy and emotional. His teammate, Waylon Francis, tried to celebrate with him by saying, "¡Llore conmigo, papi!" ("Cry with me, daddy!"), which became a famous phrase in Costa Rica.
Achievements and Awards
José Cubero won several important titles during his career, especially with the club Alajuelense.
Alajuelense
- Liga FPD: Apertura 2020 (This means they won the opening tournament of the 2020-21 league season.)
- CONCACAF League: 2020 (This is a competition for clubs in North, Central America, and the Caribbean.)
See also
In Spanish: José Miguel Cubero para niños
