Róger Flores facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Róger Flores Solano | ||
| Date of birth | 26 May 1959 | ||
| Place of birth | San José, Costa Rica | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1978–1979 | Sagrada Familia | ||
| 1980–1981 | San Carlos | ||
| 1982 | Sagrada Familia | ||
| 1983–1987 | Alajuelense | ||
| 1987–1996 | Saprissa | ||
| 1996 | Turrialba | ||
| Total | - | (30) | |
| International career‡ | |||
| 1983–1991 | Costa Rica | 49 | (2) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1996–1998 | Goicoechea | ||
| 2000 | Santa Bárbara | ||
| 2001 | Herediano | ||
| 2007–2008 | Barrio Mexico | ||
| 2009 | Liberia Mía (assistant) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 July 2014 |
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Róger Flores Solano, born on May 26, 1959, is a famous retired football player and manager from Costa Rica. He was a strong defender on the field.
Róger was the captain of the Costa Rica national football team during the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. This was the very first time Costa Rica had ever played in a World Cup! His team surprised everyone by making it to the second round. They beat strong teams like Scotland and Sweden. Even though he was a defender, Róger scored a goal against Sweden in that tournament.
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Playing for Football Clubs
In Costa Rica, Róger was known as Il Capitano, which means The Captain in Italian. He started his football journey with a team called Sagrada Familia. Later, he played for two of Costa Rica's biggest teams: Alajuelense and Saprissa.
Success with Alajuelense
In the mid-1980s, Róger played for Alajuelense. He helped them win the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1986. This is a big tournament for clubs in North and Central America. He also helped Alajuelense win two national championships in Costa Rica.
Becoming a Star with Saprissa
After playing for Alajuelense, Róger moved to Saprissa. This is where he became a true star. He was not only the captain of Saprissa but also the captain of the national team. With Saprissa, he won three more local championships. He also helped them win two more CONCACAF Champions Cup titles.
Róger Flores stopped playing football in 1996. People remember him for his great leadership and how safe he made the defense. He was excellent at stopping the other team's attackers.
Playing for His Country
Róger Flores first played for the Costa Rica in March 1983. This was a friendly match against Mexico. Overall, he played 49 games for his country and scored two goals.
He played in 18 FIFA World Cup qualification matches, helping Costa Rica try to get into the World Cup. He also played in the 1991 UNCAF Nations Cup, which his team won. He also played in the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup. His last game for Costa Rica was in July 1991, also against Mexico.
Goals for Costa Rica
Here are the goals Róger scored for his country:
| Goal No. | Date | Location | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2 April 1989 | Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica |  Guatemala |
1-0 | 2–1 | 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2. | 20 June 1990 | Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, Italy |  Sweden |
1–1 | 2–1 | 1990 FIFA World Cup |
Becoming a Coach
After he stopped playing, Róger Flores became a football coach. He coached several teams in Costa Rica's top league.
- His first coaching job was with a team called Goicoechea in 1996.
- In 2000, he coached Santa Bárbara for a short time.
- He also managed Herediano.
- In 2009, he became an assistant coach for Liberia Mía.
Family Life
Róger Flores has a son named Andrés. Just like his father, Andrés is also a professional football player and plays as a defender.
See also
In Spanish: Róger Flores para niños
