Juan Antonio Pizzi

Juan Antonio Pizzi Torroja (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxwan anˈtonjo ˈpisi], Italian: [ˈpittsi]; born 7 June 1968) is a retired professional footballer who played as a striker, and is the current manager of Racing Club de Avellaneda.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Pizzi and the second or maternal family name is Torroja.

Juan Antonio Pizzi
Pizzi as Saudi Arabia manager at the 2018 World Cup
Personal information
Full name Juan Antonio Pizzi Torroja
Date of birth (1968-06-07) 7 June 1968
Place of birth Santa Fe, Argentina
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Racing Club (manager)
Youth career
Rosario Central
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1990 Rosario Central 57 (27)
1990–1991 Toluca 30 (12)
1991–1993 Tenerife 68 (30)
1993–1994 Valencia 19 (4)
1994–1996 Tenerife 73 (46)
1996–1998 Barcelona 48 (11)
1998–1999 River Plate 17 (6)
1999–2000 Rosario Central 28 (19)
2000 Porto 11 (3)
2001–2002 Rosario Central 28 (11)
2002 → Villarreal (loan) 13 (1)
Total 364 (160)
National team
1994–1998 Spain 22 (8)
Teams managed
2005 Colón Santa Fe
2006 Universidad San Martín
2009–2010 Santiago Morning
2010–2011 Universidad Católica
2011–2012 Rosario Central
2012–2013 San Lorenzo
2013–2014 Valencia
2014–2016 León
2016–2017 Chile
2017–2019 Saudi Arabia
2019 San Lorenzo
2021– Racing Club
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He spent the bulk of his club career in Spain, mainly at Tenerife, helping to the side's consolidation in La Liga and amassing top division totals of 221 matches and 92 goals over eight seasons – he also played for Valencia and Barcelona.

Born in Argentina, Pizzi represented the Spain national team for four years,[1][2] appearing with it in one World Cup and one European Championship. He embarked on a managerial career after retiring, winning the Copa América Centenario for Chile in 2016.

Playing career

Club

Born in Santa Fe, Pizzi started his professional career with Rosario Central, before transferring to Mexico's Deportivo Toluca FC. After only one year he moved to CD Tenerife, experiencing great individual success (a combined 30 goals in his first two seasons) while also helping the Canary Islands club qualify for the UEFA Cup in his second year.

This performances prompted interest from fellow La Liga side Valencia CF, and Pizzi's subsequent purchase. However, highly unsettled, he returned at the end of the campaign to his previous team and in the second season in his second spell he fired them into another UEFA Cup qualification, topping the goal charts at 31 in 41 games[3] and adding a further five in the Copa del Rey.[4]

After that, Pizzi transferred to FC Barcelona. Never an undisputed starter, barred by Ronaldo, Sonny Anderson and the versatile Luis Enrique during his two-season stint, he managed to net 18 times in competitive matches, being very popular among the Camp Nou faithful.[5]

With Barcelona, Pizzi won the Spanish Supercup in 1996, the UEFA Super Cup and Spanish Cup in 1997, conquering the latter again in the following year while also winning his only league title. Arguably, his most memorable moment was the decisive goal in the 5–4 home win over Atlético Madrid in the domestic cup's quarter-finals second leg, after the Blaugrana trailed 0–3 at half-time.[6]

Subsequently, Pizzi returned to Argentina to play for Club Atlético River Plate, then had an unassuming spell in Portugal for FC Porto.[7][8] After starting 2001–02 back with Rosario he signed with Villarreal CF for its closure, as the club had lost to a severe leg injury countryman Martín Palermo.[9]

International

Pizzi earned 22 caps for Spain and scored eight goals, his debut coming on 30 November 1994 in a 2–0 friendly win with Finland. In the following year, on 20 September, he helped beat his country of birth Argentina 2–1, in an exhibition game played in Madrid.[10]

Pizzi was part of the squads for UEFA Euro 1996 and the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In the latter, after being replaced by Fernando Morientes in a 0–0 draw against Paraguay as Spain exited in the group stage, he retired from the international scene.[11]

International goals

[10]

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.18 January 1995Riazor, A Coruña, Spain Uruguay1–02–2Friendly
2.6 September 1995Los Cármenes, Granada, Spain Cyprus3–06–0Euro 1996 qualifying
3.5–0
4.20 September 1995Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain Argentina1–02–1Friendly
5.13 November 1996Heliodoro Rodríguez, Tenerife, Spain Slovakia1–04–11998 World Cup qualification
6.12 February 1997Rico Pérez, Alicante, Spain Malta4–04–0
7.3 June 1998El Sardinero, Santander, Spain Northern Ireland1–04–1Friendly
8.2–0

Coaching career

After his retirement, aged almost 34, Pizzi played polo in the Barcelona region, then started his coaching career. Together with José del Solar he managed Argentine Primera División's Club Atlético Colón at the beginning of the Clausura 2005, but both were sacked after three losses in the first three matches.[12]

On 13 April 2006, Pizzi became the coach of Club Deportivo Universidad de San Martín de Porres in the Peruvian top level.[13] He returned to his country of birth five years later, working with Rosario Central and San Lorenzo de Almagro and winning the 2013 Inicial with the latter.[14]

On 26 December 2013, Pizzi returned to Valencia after 20 years, being appointed manager.[15][16] His first game in charge was on 4 January of the following year, a 2–0 derby home win over Levante UD.[17]

Pizzi and his Chile squad meeting President Michelle Bachelet after winning the Copa América Centenario

Pizzi was sacked on 2 July 2014, after new owner Peter Lim took over. It was the first time in 16 years that Valencia had failed to qualify for Europe, after an eighth-place finish.[18]

On 29 January 2016, after one year at the helm of Club León in the Liga MX, Pizzi replaced Jorge Sampaoli at the Chile national side.[19] He took the nation to victory in the Copa América Centenario in the United States, notably disposing of Mexico 7–0 in the last-eight stage[20] and defeating Argentina on penalties in the decisive match.[21]

Pizzi took the team to the final of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, Chile's first ever final in a FIFA competition and the fifth South American country to do so, losing 0–1 to Germany.[22][23] However, after failing to qualify for the next year's World Cup – they reached the last matchday in third place, falling to sixth following the 0–3 away loss against Brazil – he resigned.[24]

On 28 November 2017, Pizzi was appointed to manage Saudi Arabia, becoming the third man to hold the position in as many months.[25] The team's run at the 2018 World Cup ended after the first three games (one win and two losses);[26] On 21 January 2019, after round-of-16 elimination at the AFC Asian Cup and not having been approached by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation regarding the renewal of his contract, he resigned.[27]

Pizzi returned to San Lorenzo in June 2019, six years after his first managerial spell.[28] On 31 October, he was dismissed due to poor results.[29]

On 21 January 2021, Pizzi was appointed at Racing Club de Avellaneda.[30]

Managerial statistics
As of match played 21 January 2019[31]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win %
Colón Santa Fe 5 February 2005 26 February 2005 3 0 0 3 3 8 −5 000.00
Universidad San Martín 18 April 2006 27 November 2006 33 13 8 12 36 38 −2 039.39
Santiago Morning 1 July 2009 24 June 2010 39 13 8 18 53 70 −17 033.33
Universidad Católica 8 July 2010 30 June 2011 53 35 10 8 110 63 +47 066.04
Rosario Central 1 July 2011 5 July 2012 44 22 13 9 54 36 +18 050.00
San Lorenzo 9 October 2012 26 December 2013 49 21 19 9 69 43 +26 042.86
Valencia 26 December 2013 2 July 2014 31 12 10 9 43 33 +10 038.71
León 4 December 2014 29 January 2016 50 25 6 19 96 85 +11 050.00
Chile 29 January 2016 10 October 2017 29 11 6 12 43 35 +8 037.93
Saudi Arabia 28 November 2017 21 January 2019 22 7 5 10 24 32 −8 031.82
Career total 353 159 85 109 531 443 +88 045.04

Honours

Player

[32]

Club
Pizzi in action with Rosario Central in 1987

Barcelona

Porto

Individual

Club

Universidad Católica

San Lorenzo

International

Chile

Individual

See also

References
  1. Paradinas, Juan José (8 November 1994). "Clemente abre las puertas a los nacionalizados" [Clemente opens doors to naturalised]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  2. De la Riva, Mario (5 September 2016). "Los 11 jugadores nacidos fuera de España con más partidos" [The 11 players born outside of Spain with the most matches]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  3. Bravo, Luis Javier; Sillipp, Bernhard; Torre, Raúl; Di Maggio, Roberto. "Spain – List of Topscorers ("Pichichi") 1929–2015". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  4. "El grancanario Aridane Santana, a un partido de los cien con el Tenerife" [Gran Canaria's Aridane Santana, one match from reaching one hundred with Tenerife]. El Día (in Spanish). 4 June 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  5. Clos, Jordi (31 January 2014). "El pasado culé de Juan Antonio Pizzi" [Juan Antonio Pizzi's culé past] (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  6. "16-year anniversary of FC Barcelona's historic 5–4 comeback against Atlético Madrid". FC Barcelona. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  7. Vaza, Marco (3 August 2010). "Internacionais e desconhecidos, é este o retrato dos jogadores espanhóis na Liga portuguesa" [Internationals and unknown, meet the Spanish players in the Portuguese League]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  8. "FC Porto rescinde com Osvaldo" [FC Porto rescind with Osvaldo] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  9. "Pizzi (y no Zamorano) es el reemplazante de Palermo" [Pizzi (and not Zamorano) is Palermo's replacement]. El Mercurio (in Spanish). 27 December 2001. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  10. Pla Díaz, Emilio. "Juan Antonio Pizzi Torroja – Goals in International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 September 2005.
  11. "España – Paraguay, 0–0 en Francia-98" [Spain – Paraguay, 0–0 in France-98]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 1 December 2001. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  12. "Colón de Santa Fe despidió a la dupla Pizzi-Del Solar" [Colón de Santa Fe fired duo Pizzi-Del Solar] (in Spanish). Infobae. 28 February 2005. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  13. "Pizzi asumió en Deportivo San Martín" [Pizzi took over at Deportivo San Martín] (in Spanish). Terra. 13 April 2006. Retrieved 16 October 2006.
  14. Merlo, Alfredo (16 December 2013). "Pizzi, de renunciado a campeón" [Pizzi, from surplus to champion] (in Spanish). Goal. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  15. "Official VCF statement". Valencia CF. 26 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
  16. Valle, Conrado (26 December 2013). "Valencia officially announce Juan Antonio Pizzi as new coach". Diario AS. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  17. Campos, Tomás (4 January 2014). "¡Che, qué bueno que viniste!" [Che, so good of you to come!]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  18. Burrows, Ben (2 July 2014). "Valencia sack Juan Antonio Pizzi after just half a season in charge at the Mestalla". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  19. "Chile lo hace oficial: Pizzi hasta el 2018" [Chile make it official: Pizzi until 2018]. Marca (in Spanish). 30 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  20. "Chile embarrasses Mexico, 7–0, in Copa America quarterfinal". Los Angeles Times. 18 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  21. Timms, Aaron (27 June 2016). "Chile win Copa América once again as Argentina title drought continues". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  22. Rose, Gary (28 June 2017). "Portugal 0–0 Chile (0–3 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  23. Johnston, Neil (2 July 2017). "Chile 0–1 Germany". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  24. "Chile: Pizzi anunció que no seguirá al mando de 'La Roja'" [Chile: Pizzi announced he will not stay in charge of 'La Roja']. El Comercio (in Spanish). 10 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  25. "Pizzi takes charge of Saudi Arabia". FIFA. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  26. "Saudi Arabia stepped up pace to grab late win over Egypt – Juan Antonio Pizzi". ESPN. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  27. Creek, Stephen (21 January 2019). "Pizzi quits after Saudi Arabia elimination". Sportstar. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  28. "Oficial: Juan Antonio Pizzi vuelve a San Lorenzo" [Official: Juan Antonio Pizzi returns to San Lorenzo]. Marca (in Spanish). 1 June 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  29. "Pizzi deja de ser entrenador del San Lorenzo de Almagro" [Pizzi is no longer San Lorenzo de Almagro manager]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 31 October 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  30. "Juan Antonio Pizzi, nuevo entrenador de Racing de Avellaneda" [Juan Antonio Pizzi, new manager of Racing de Avellaneda]. Marca (in Spanish). 21 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  31. Juan Antonio Pizzi coach profile at Soccerway
  32. "Juan Antonio Pizzi" (in French). Eurosport. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  33. Domènech, Joan (29 June 1997). "Barça de titanes" [Titanic Barça]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  34. Astruells, Andrés (30 April 1998). "La Copa más histórica" [The most historical Cup] (PDF). Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  35. Serra, Josep María (29 August 1996). "Título con súper-susto" [Title with mega-scare]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  36. "1996/97: Ronaldo spot on for Barça". UEFA. 14 May 1997. Archived from the original on 3 May 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  37. "1997: Barça in command". UEFA. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  38. "F.C. Porto-Atlético: último encontro foi há seis anos, também para a Taça" [F.C. Porto-Atlético: last match was six years ago, also for the Cup] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 28 November 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
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