Elías Figueroa

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For the Uruguayan footballer see Elías Ricardo Figueroa

Elías Ricardo Figueroa Brander (born October 25, 1946 in Valparaíso) is a former football (soccer) player from Chile. He was considered the best player in America in 1974, 1975, 1976, one of the world's best defenders in football history and all-time best football player in Chile.

[edit] Clubs

Figueroa played most of his career with Chilean clubs. However he also spent time in Uruguay with Peñarol, Brazil with Internacional and the USA with Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

He was designated "Best player" of Uruguay in 1967 and 1968. He was also nominated Best football player in South-America from 1974, 1975 and 1976, Best Defender in World Cup Germany 1974 and "Best player" of Brazilian football in 1975 and 1976. Also "Best player" of Chilean football in 1977 and 1978.

FIFA named him Player of the year in 1976 and one of the world's 100 best living soccer players.

[edit] National team

He has 70 and 2 goals caps for Chile and played in England 1966, Germany 1974, and Spain 1982 World Cups. In 1979 he was the captain in the Chile's second place on Copa América 1979.

[edit] Titles

• Champion of Uruguay in 1967 and 1968 with Peñarol
• Champion of Rio Grande do Sul State (Brazil) in 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976 with Internacional
• Champion of Brazil in 1975 and 1976 with Internacional
• Winner of Chile Cup in 1977 with Palestino
• Champion of Chile in 1978 with Palestino

v • d • e Chile squad - 1966 FIFA World Cup 1 Araya • 2 Berly • 3 Campos • 4 Cruz • 5 Donoso • 6 Eyzaguirre • 7 Figueroa • 8 Fouilloux • 9 Godoy • 10 Hodge • 11 Landa • 12 Marcos • 13 Olivares • 14 Prieto • 15 J. Ramírez • 16 O. Ramírez • 17 Sánchez • 18 Tobar • 19 Valdés • 20 Valentini • 21 Villanueva • 22 Yávar • Coach: Alamos

v • d • e Chile squad - 1974 FIFA World Cup 1 Vallejos • 2 García • 3 Quintano • 4 Arias • 5 Figueroa • 6 Rodríguez • 7 Caszely • 8 Valdés • 9 Ahumada • 10 Reinoso • 11 Véliz • 12 Machuca • 13 González • 14 Lara • 15 Galindo • 16 Páez • 17 Yávar • 18 Socías • 19 Farías • 20 Castro • 21 Olivares • 22 Nef • Coach: Alamos

v • d • e Chile squad - 1982 FIFA World Cup 1 Wirth • 2 Garrido • 3 Valenzuela • 4 Bigorra • 5 Figueroa • 6 Dubó • 7 Bonvallet • 8 Rivas • 9 Letelier • 10 Soto • 11 Moscoso • 12 Cornez • 13 Caszely • 14 Ormeño • 15 Yáñez • 16 M. Rojas • 17 O. Rojas • 18 Galindo • 19 Escobar • 20 Neira • 21 Gamboa • 22 Osbén • Coach: Santibañez