Sergio Velasco

Sergio del Carmen Velazco Beiza (born 20 May 1943), sportingly known as Sergio Velasco,[2] is a Chilean former football player who played as a full-back. A historical player of Rangers de Talca,[3] he also played in Bolivia.

Sergio Velasco
Personal information
Full nameSergio del Carmen Velazco Beiza
Date of birth (1943-05-20) 20 May 1943 (age 81)
Place of birthPapudo, Chile
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Position(s)Full-back
Youth career
Miraflores
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1962–1965San Luis
1966–1971Rangers194(8)
1972Antofagasta Portuario32(6)
1973Fígaro La Paz
1973–1975San José
1976Deportes La Serena21(3)
1976The Strongest
1977Jorge Wilstermann
1977ENAF Oruro
1978Trasandino
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Born in Papudo, Chile, as a youth player, Velasco was with his hometown club, Miraflores before trialling with Unión La Calera and San Luis de Quillota. After trials in the presence of the coach René Quitral, he signed with San Luis and made his professional debut in a Chilean Primera División match against Everton in 1962.[2]

In the Chilean top division, he spent four seasons with San Luis (1962–65),[4][5] also facing English side Stoke City in a friendly in 1964,[6] six seasons with Rangers (1966–71)[7][8] and one season with both Antofagasta Portuario (1972)[9][10] and Deportes La Serena (1976).[11]

A historical player of Rangers, he was a noted member of the squad that was the 1969 Primera División runner-up, being selected as the best left-back of the season,[12] and played the 1970 Copa Libertadores.[13][14] He has been honored by fans associations like Soñadores Rojinegros (Red and Black Dreamers) as well as the club itself.[15][3]

In the 1970s, he played in the Bolivian football. In 1973, he played for club Fígaro from La Paz for six months before joining San José.[2][16][17] Back in Bolivia after a stint with Deportes La Serena in 1976, he played for The Strongest, Jorge Wilstermann and ENAF from Oruro.[2]

Back in Chile, his last club was Trasandino in the 1978 season.[2]

Style of play

A versatile right-footed player, he played as an attacking right winger at youth level. He made his professional debut as a right-back, but the next match he switched to the left side, developing the most part of his career as a left-back. In the Bolivian football, he also played as a central midfielder.[2]

Personal life

He was nicknamed Mono (Monkey), a nickname that was given him by his fellow in Rangers, Iván Azócar [es].[2]

References