Juan Bautista Esquivel
Juan Bautista Esquivel Lobo (born 12 August 1980) is a retired Costa Rican professional footballer who played his entire career for Saprissa.[1]
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Juan Bautista Esquivel Lobo | ||
Date of birth | 12 August 1980 | ||
Place of birth | San Ramón, Costa Rica | ||
Playing position(s) | Winger | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1998–2005 | Saprissa | ||
National team‡ | |||
2002–2003 | Costa Rica | 4 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 29 June 2014 |
Club career
Born in San Ramón, Esquivel made his professional debut for Saprissa against Limonense.[2] With Saprissa, Esquivel won three national championships, as well as a UNCAF Cup title and a CONCACAF Champions Cup title.
He participated in the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship Toyota Cup with his team, who ended up in third place, behind São Paulo and Liverpool[3] After his sudden retirement, he was offered a coaching job at Saprissa´s minor league system.
Forced retirement
Better known as Juanbau, he used to play as a left winger, before a heart condition cut his promising career short in 2005.[4] He was forced to leave professional football at the short age of 25, despite being considered as a future star for his team and the Costa Rica national football team. His father Santiago had died from the same heart disease.[5]
In June 2009, Bautista Esquivel was named assistant to manager Luis Torres at second division side Barrio México.[6]
International career
Esquivel played at the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Championship held in Egypt,[3] and the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship held in Nigeria.[3]
Esquivel then made four appearances for the senior Costa Rica national football team, his debut coming in a friendly against Morocco on March 27, 2002.[7] His final international was a November 2003 friendly match against Finland.
References
- Debe retirarse del futbol Mal cardíaco faulea a Juan Bautista - Nación (in Spanish)
- El corazón detiene a Esquivel - Al Día (in Spanish)
- Juan Esquivel – FIFA competition record
- "Esquivel, va por ti". Al Día. 2006-01-28.
- Saprissista Juan Bautista Esquivel podría retirarse del futbol por mal cardiaco - Nación (in Spanish)
- Barrio México cambia de técnico - Nación (in Spanish)
- "Costa Rica - Details International Matches 1993-2003". RSSSF. Retrieved 2008-10-20.