Victor Cristaldo facts for kids

Victor Cristaldo was born in Argentina on May 10, 1967. He is a former professional football player from Australia. Victor played as a midfielder and is now a coach.

He played for the Melbourne Knights in Australia's National Soccer League in 1985 and 1986. Later, Victor spent five seasons playing in Paraguay from 1993 to 1997. He played for clubs like Club Presidente Hayes and Club Sport Colombia. He was the first Australian to play football in Paraguay. He was also the second player from Australia to play in South America.

After he stopped playing, Victor Cristaldo became a coach. He is also the father of another Australian football player, Christopher Cristaldo.

Early Life and Moving to Australia

Victor Cristaldo was born in Argentina. His parents were from Paraguay. When he was nine years old, his family moved to Australia. He went to Flemington High School in Australia.

Victor Cristaldo's Football Journey

Victor Cristaldo played for several football clubs during his career. He even played in different countries.

Playing for Leicester City

In 1984, Victor Cristaldo played for Leicester City in England. He was there for three months. During that time, he scored 12 goals in 15 games. He played for the club's reserve and youth teams.

Starting with Melbourne Knights

Victor began his football journey with a club called Keilor Park in Melbourne, Australia. After that, he joined Melbourne Knights. This team played in Australia's top league, the National Soccer League. He was part of their team for the 1985 and 1986 seasons. In 1986, while playing for Melbourne Knights, he was called to join the Argentine Air Force.

Time with Thomastown

In 1988, Cristaldo started playing for Thomastown. He stayed with this club for several years, until 1992.

Playing in Paraguay with Presidente Hayes

In 1993, Victor Cristaldo moved to Paraguay. He joined a club called Presidente Hayes in the city of Asunción. This was a big step for him. He told an Australian newspaper that it felt like a dream come true. His wages in Paraguay were much higher than in Australia. Also, living costs were lower there. He and his wife, Cynthia, bought a house, and the club gave them a car. At Presidente Hayes, he played alongside players like Edgar Denis and Justo Jacquet. These players were part of the Paraguayan national team.

Playing for Western Suburbs

In 1996, Victor Cristaldo played for Western Suburbs. This club was in the Victorian State League Division 1 in Australia. He scored two goals for them that year.

Joining Sport Colombia

Later in 1996, Cristaldo moved to Club Sport Colombia in Paraguay. He played for them during the 1996 Primera División season. His team finished fourth in the Torneo Clausura. He stayed with Sport Colombia until 1997. A future national team player, Nelson Cuevas, made his debut for the club during this time.

Return to Western Suburbs

Victor Cristaldo returned to play for Western Suburbs in 1998.

Playing for His Country

Victor Cristaldo represented Australia at a younger level. He played for the Australia U-20 national team. In 1993, he hoped that his success in Paraguay would help him get a spot on Australia's main national team. He wanted the coach, Eddie Thomson, to consider him.

Becoming a Coach

After he finished playing football, Victor Cristaldo started a new career as a coach. He has worked with several clubs. Some of these clubs include Monash City and Sunshine George Cross.

Family Life

Victor Cristaldo is married to Cynthia. They have a son named Christopher Cristaldo. Christopher is also a football player. He was born in Paraguay but plays for Australia. Christopher has played for the Australia U-20 national team. He also played for Melbourne Victory in Australia and Nacional Asunción in Paraguay.

More About Football

• List of expatriate footballers in Paraguay
• Players and Records in Paraguayan Football

See also

In Spanish: Victor Cristaldo para niños