Raúl Amarilla (footballer, born 1960) facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Raúl Vicente Amarilla Vera | ||
| Date of birth | 19 July 1960 | ||
| Place of birth | Luque, Paraguay | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Sportivo Luqueño | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1978–1979 | Sportivo Luqueño | ||
| 1980–1985 | Zaragoza | 126 | (47) |
| 1980–1981 | → Racing Santander (loan) | 29 | (9) |
| 1985–1988 | Barcelona | 35 | (8) |
| 1988–1989 | Olimpia | ||
| 1989 | América | ||
| 1990–1993 | Olimpia | ||
| 1993–1994 | Yokohama Flügels | 26 | (15) |
| National team | |||
| 1982–1983 | Spain U21 | 2 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2006–2007 | Paraguay | ||
|
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Raúl Vicente Amarilla (born 19 July 1960) is a retired football player from Paraguay. He was a fantastic striker, which means he was great at scoring goals! Even though he was born in Paraguay, he played for Spain's national team when he was under 21. Later in his career, he became a football coach.
Contents
Playing Football: Raúl's Amazing Career
Starting Out: From Paraguay to Spain
Raúl Amarilla started his football journey at just 17 years old. He played for his hometown team, Sportivo Luqueño, in Paraguay. He was very good at scoring goals, especially with his head, because he was quite tall (about 6 feet 3 inches!).
Because of his talent, he soon moved to Spain. He signed with a big team called Real Zaragoza. Before playing for them, he spent a season on loan at Racing de Santander in 1980-81.
Success in Spain and International Play
When Raúl returned to Real Zaragoza, he became a star. In the 1982-83 season, he scored the most goals for his team. He was even the second-best scorer in the entire La Liga, which is Spain's top football league!
His success caught the eye of the Spanish national team. He was asked to play for the Spain national under-21 football team. He said yes, which meant he couldn't play for the Paraguayan national team later on. After several great seasons with Real Zaragoza, Raúl joined another famous Spanish club, FC Barcelona, where he played from 1985 to 1988.
Returning Home: Becoming a Legend in Paraguay
In 1988, Raúl Amarilla decided to return to Paraguay. He joined Club Olimpia de Asunción, one of the biggest teams in his home country. In 1989, while playing for Olimpia, he was the top scorer in the Copa Libertadores with 10 goals. This is a huge tournament for clubs in South America!
For a short time in 1989, he played for América de Mexico. Even though he was there for a brief period, he scored 21 goals and became a fan favorite. He's even considered one of the top 100 players in Club America's history!
Winning Big: The Golden Year of 1990
Raúl came back to Olimpia in 1990, and it was an incredible year! He helped his team win three major titles: the Copa Libertadores, the Supercopa, and the Recopa Sudamericana. He was part of an amazing attacking trio with Gabriel González and Adriano Samaniego.
To top it all off, Raúl Amarilla was voted the South American Footballer of the Year in 1990. This is a huge award for the best player in South America!
Playing in Japan and Retirement
After his time at Olimpia, Raúl played for two years in Japan's J.League with Yokohama Flügels. He even scored two goals in the final of the Emperor's Cup in 1994, helping his team win the trophy.
At 34 years old, he returned to Paraguay and played for Olimpia one last time before retiring from professional football. He is still one of the most loved former players by Olimpia fans!
Coaching Football: From Player to Mentor
After hanging up his boots, Raúl Amarilla started a new chapter as a coach. He coached smaller teams in Paraguay, like Club Sportivo San Lorenzo and Sportivo Luqueño.
Later, he became the assistant coach for the Paraguayan national team. He helped coach the team during the qualifying games for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and at the World Cup itself. For a short time, he was even the main coach for the national team.
Today, Raúl Amarilla works as the director of the youth teams at Olimpia. He helps train and guide the next generation of football stars!
Honours and Achievements
Raúl Amarilla won many important titles and awards during his career:
Club Trophies
- 1984–85: La Liga with FC Barcelona
- 1987–88: Copa del Rey with FC Barcelona
- 1988: Paraguay 1st Division with Olimpia
- 1990: Copa Libertadores with Olimpia
- 1990: Supercopa Sudamericana with Olimpia
- 1990: Recopa Sudamericana with Olimpia
- 1993: Paraguay 1st Division with Olimpia
- 1994: Emperor's Cup with Yokohama Flügels
Individual Awards
- Paraguayan 1st Division top scorer in 1988
- Copa Libertadores top scorer in 1989
- South American Footballer of the Year in 1990
See also
In Spanish: Raúl Vicente Amarilla para niños
