Róger Flores
Personal information
Full name Róger Flores Solano
Date of birth (1959-05-26) 26 May 1959
Place of birth San José, Costa Rica
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1979 Sagrada Familia
1980–1981 San Carlos
1982 Sagrada Familia
1983–1987 Alajuelense
1987–1996 Saprissa
1996 Turrialba
Total - (30)
International career‡
1983–1991 Costa Rica 49 (2)
Managerial career
1996–1998 Goicoechea
2000 Santa Bárbara
2001 Herediano
2007–2008 Barrio Mexico
2009 Liberia Mía (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 July 2014

Róger Flores Solano (born 26 May 1959) is a retired Costa Rican football player, a manager and father of three.

He was the captain of the Costa Rica national football team during the 1990 FIFA World Cup held in Italy. It was the country's first World Cup ever and the national squad accomplished the historic feat of qualifying for the second round against all odds, beating teams apparently much stronger such as Scotland and Sweden. He scored a goal against Sweden,[1] even though he was a defender.

Club career

In Costa Rica, Il Capitano (The Captain in Italian) started his career at Sagrada Familia[2] and played for the two most popular teams, Alajuelense and Saprissa. He started out in Alajuela in the mid 80's, and was part of the team that won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1986. He won two national titles with Alajuelense as well. After his transfer to Saprissa, he reached the pinnacle of his career, becoming a star and the captain of the team as well of the national squad. With Saprissa, he won three more local tournaments, and another two CONCACAF Champions Cup.

He retired in 1996.[3] As a player, he is remembered for his leadership and security on the field, and his excellent coverages of the opposing teams' strikers.

International career

Flores made his debut for Costa Rica in a March 1983 friendly match against Mexico and collected a total of 49 caps, scoring two goals.[4] He represented his country in 18 FIFA World Cup qualification matches[5] and played at the 1991 UNCAF Nations Cup,[6] winning that title, and the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[7]

His final international was a July 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup match against Mexico.

International goals

Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first.
N.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.2 April 1989Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica Guatemala1-02–11990 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.20 June 1990Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, Italy Sweden1–12–11990 FIFA World Cup

Managerial career

After retiring, he went on to coach several teams in Costa Rica's First Division, as well as a minor national team. His first job was as coach of Goicoechea in 1996,[8] where he was replaced by Didier Castro in March 1998.[9] He was in charge at Santa Bárbara for only 4 weeks in 2000 and also managed Herediano.

In August 2009 Flores was appointed assistant at Liberia Mía.[10]

Personal life

His son Andrés is a professional footballer who, like his father, plays as a defender.[11]

References

  1. ↑ El inolvidable triunfo ante Suecia y el pase a la segunda ronda - Nación (in Spanish)
  2. ↑ RÓGER FLORES SOLANO REGRESA AL BANQUILLO DE LOS SACROS DEL SUR - AD Sagrada Familia (in Spanish)
  3. ↑ ¿Qué fue de Róger Flores? - Al Día (in Spanish)
  4. ↑ Mamrud, Roberto. "Costa Rica - Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 2009-05-18.
  5. ↑ Róger Flores – FIFA competition record (archived)
  6. ↑ Costa Rica en la Copa Uncaf 1991 Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine - Nación (in Spanish)
  7. ↑ CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 1991 - Full Details - RSSSF
  8. ↑ Róger Flores y Guimaraes, excompañeros en Italia 90, se enfrentarán hoy en el Nacional - Nación (in Spanish)
  9. ↑ Didier Castro reemplaza a Róger Flores en Goicoechea - Nación (in Spanish)
  10. ↑ Roger Flores será asistente técnico de Liberia Mía Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine - Al Día (in Spanish)
  11. ↑ La paciencia premió a Andrés Flores con constancia Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine - Nación (in Spanish)
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