Juan Arango

Juan Fernando Arango Sáenz (born 16 May 1980) is a Venezuelan former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

For the Colombian cyclist, see Juan Arango (cyclist). For the film director, see Juan Andrés Arango.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Arango and the second or maternal family name is Sáenz.

Juan Arango
Arango with Borussia M'gladbach in 2012
Personal information
Full name Juan Fernando Arango Sáenz
Date of birth (1980-05-16) 16 May 1980
Place of birth Maracay, Venezuela
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1986–1996 UCV
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1999 Nueva Cádiz
1999 Zulia 12 (0)
2000 Caracas 19 (5)
2000–2001 Monterrey 45 (6)
2002–2003 Pachuca 52 (16)
2003–2004 Puebla 36 (8)
2004–2009 Mallorca 183 (45)
2009–2014 Borussia Mönchengladbach 154 (25)
2014–2016 Tijuana 45 (11)
2016 New York Cosmos 29 (15)
2017 Zulia 15 (2)
2017 New York Cosmos 3 (0)
Total 593 (133)
National team
1999–2015 Venezuela 129 (22)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He spent the better part of his professional career in La Liga with Mallorca, appearing in 196 official games, and also played several years with Borussia Mönchengladbach for which he signed at the age of 29.[1]

Arango was Venezuela's record holder in international caps and goals for several years, scoring 22 times in 129 matches between 1999 and 2015.[2][3] He represented the nation in six Copa América tournaments.

Club career

Early years / Mallorca

Arango's parents hailed from Colombia, having immigrated to Venezuela before he was born, in the city of Maracay. He started playing as a professional at the age of sixteen with Nueva Cádiz FC, which ascended to the Venezuelan Primera División the following season under the name Zulia FC.

The following year, Arango joined Caracas FC but, after six months playing with the team he was bought by Mexico's C.F. Monterrey. He represented two other clubs in the latter country, C.F. Pachuca and Puebla FC, until 2004, when he joined La Liga side RCD Mallorca in Spain (coached by Benito Floro, also his boss at Monterrey) on a one-year link, with an option for a further three.[4]

On 20 March 2005, Arango suffered a serious injury after a brutal collision with Sevilla FC's Javi Navarro. He fell unconscious, broke his cheekbone, swallowed his tongue and got serious cuts in his face;[5][6] he returned to play a month later and, in the following season, was the team's top scorer with 11 league goals.[7]

In 2006, EFE chose Arango as the third best Latin American player in the Spanish league, with the first place taken by Pablo Aimar. The following year, he also obtained a Spanish passport, in March. On 9 March 2008 he scored his first hat-trick for Mallorca, in a 7–1 home thrashing of Recreativo de Huelva, with teammate Dani Güiza – who finished as the campaign's Pichichi – adding two;[8] he only missed one league game from 2005 to 2008 combined.

Borussia Mönchengladbach
Arango in action in November 2010

On 26 June 2009, as his contract was due to expire at the end of 2009–10, Arango was sold to Borussia Mönchengladbach for €3.6 million, penning a three-year contract.[9] In his third season in the Bundesliga he netted six goals in 34 games and also provided 12 assists, as his team finished fourth and qualified for the UEFA Champions League.[10]

On 10 December 2012, Gladbach manager Lucien Favre hailed Arango as one of the best left-footed players in the world, after the Venezuelan scored a 48-yard stunner in a 2–0 defeat of 1. FSV Mainz 05 the previous day.[11][12] In the following year, he was ranked as the most popular footballer in the world by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.[13]

Arango scored his first goal of the 2013–14 campaign on 24 August 2013, but in a 2–4 away defeat to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.[14] He also found the net in his team's next league fixture, opening the scoring in a 4–1 home success over SV Werder Bremen.[15]

Tijuana

Arango returned to Mexico at the age of 34, signing with Club Tijuana on 22 May 2014.[16] In April of the following year, he was handed a two-match ban by the Mexican Football Federation after footage showed him biting Monterrey player Jesús Zavala in an action that eluded the referee.[17]

Late career

On 28 January 2016, Arango joined the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League.[18] Aged 36, he returned to both his country and Zulia one year later.[19]

Arango then had another spell with the Cosmos, leaving in January 2018.[20]

International career

At the 2004 Copa América, Arango appeared in all three group stage matches for Venezuela. In the 2007 edition, held in his country, he helped the national team finish first in the group stage, and scored in the quarterfinals against Uruguay, but in a 1–4 defeat.[21]

Also in that year, Arango was chosen national team captain by newly appointed coach César Farías. In the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, he helped the Vinotinto to a best-ever fourth-place finish in the continental competition, scoring in the third-place match, a 1–4 loss against Peru[22] for what was his 100th cap.

In his 116th international appearance, Arango levelled the record for the most goals scored for Venezuela with 22 goals, scoring in the 56th minute against Bolivia in a 1–1 draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on 7 June 2013.[23]

Style of player

A left-footed playmaker, who was known for his technical skills, leadership and ability both to score and create goals, courtesy of his striking ability, crossing and passing, Arango was a classic number ten, who was capable of playing both as an attacking midfielder and as a winger. Nicknamed Arangol, he was also a dead ball specialist, who was highly regarded by pundits for his exceptional accuracy from free kicks and his ability to bend the ball.

Arango was considered by some in the sport as the greatest Venezuelan footballer of all time.[24][25][26][27][28][29][30]

Career statistics

Club
Source:[31][32]
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Nueva Cádiz 1999–2000 120——120
Total 120——120
Caracas 1999–2000 195——195
Total 195——195
Monterrey 2000–01 305——305
2001–02 131——131
Total 436——436
Pachuca 2001–02 155—64219
2002–03 3711——3711
2003–04 368——368
Total 8824—649428
Mallorca 2004–05 346——346
2005–06 3711——3711
2006–07 37930—409
2007–08 381253—4315
2008–09 37841—419
Total 18345124—19549
Borussia Mönchengladbach 2009–10 34210—353
2010–11 25420—274
2011–12 34631—377
2012–13 3152183419
2013–14 30800—308
Total 15425938317131
Tijuana 2014–15 24731—278
Total 2473100278
Career totals 523112248147561127

International goals
Source:[2]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.24 April 2001Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal, Venezuela Colombia2–12–22002 World Cup qualification
2.4 September 2001Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile Chile0–20–22002 World Cup qualification
3.30 April 2003Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal, Venezuela Trinidad and Tobago1–03–0Friendly
4.30 April 2003Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal, Venezuela Trinidad and Tobago2–03–0Friendly
5.7 June 2003Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States Honduras2–12–1Friendly
6.15 November 2003Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia Colombia0–10–12006 World Cup qualification
7.18 November 2003José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela Bolivia2–12–12006 World Cup qualification
8.19 February 2004Estadio Olímpico, Caracas, Venezuela Australia1–11–1Friendly
9.3 March 2004Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay Uruguay0–30–32006 World Cup qualification
10.28 April 2004Independence Park, Kingston, Jamaica Jamaica2–12–1Friendly
11.23 September 2005José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela Peru2–12–12006 World Cup qualification
12.24 March 2007Metropolitano, Mérida, Venezuela Cuba1–03–1Friendly
13.7 July 2007Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal, Venezuela Uruguay1–11–42007 Copa América
14.19 June 2008Estadio Olímpico, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela Chile2–22–32010 World Cup qualification
15.15 October 2008Estadio Olímpico, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela Ecuador3–13–12010 World Cup qualification
16.31 March 2009Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela Colombia2–02–02010 World Cup qualification
17.13 October 2010Olímpico Benito Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico Mexico0–12–2Friendly
18.13 October 2010Olímpico Benito Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico Mexico1–22–2Friendly
19.23 July 2011Ciudad de la Plata, La Plata, Argentina Peru2–14–12011 Copa América
20.7 September 2012Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru Peru0–12–12014 World Cup qualification
21.16 October 2012Estadio Olímpico, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela Ecuador1–01–12014 World Cup qualification
22.7 June 2013Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia Bolivia0–11–12014 World Cup qualification

Honours

Club

Pachuca

New York Cosmos

International

Individual

References
  1. "Gladbach's midfield maestro". Bundesliga. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  2. Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando (30 January 2014). "Juan Arango Saez – Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  3. Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando. "Venezuela – Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 30 March 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  4. "Arango wings his way to Mallorca". UEFA. 21 July 2004. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  5. Jiménez, Jordi (21 March 2005). "Un codazo de Javi Navarro mandó a Arango a la UCI" [An elbow by Javi Navarro sent Arango to ICU]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  6. "Navarro assault on Arango". YouTube. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  7. "Arango fulmina a la Real con un 'hat trick'" [Arango obliterates Real with a hat-trick]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 18 September 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  8. "Barça lose ground with Villarreal loss". UEFA. 9 March 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  9. Muñoz, Paco (27 June 2009). "Arango ya es jugador del Borussia M'Gladbach" [Arango is already a Borussia M'Gladbach player]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  10. Reeves, Bernie (10 July 2013). "Ten things about Juan Arango". Bundesliga. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  11. "Gladbach down Mainz". Sky Sports. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  12. "Arango "one of the best left-footed players in the world"". Bundesliga. 10 December 2012. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  13. "The world's most popular footballer amongst currently active players in 2012". International Federation of Football History & Statistics. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  14. "Goals galore on drama-filled Bundesliga Saturday". Bundesliga. 24 August 2013. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  15. "Borussia Monchengladbach 4–1 Werder Bremen". ESPN FC. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  16. "Arango jugará en los Xolos de Tijuana" [Arango to play for the Xolos of Tijuana]. Marca (in Spanish). 22 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  17. https://www.espn.co.uk/football/tijuana/story/2386314/tijuanas-juan-arango-gets-2-match-ban-for-biting-monterreys-jesus-zavala
  18. "Attacking midfielder Juan Arango joins Cosmos". New York Cosmos. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  19. "Juan Arango sería anunciado como nuevo fichaje del Zulia FC" [Juan Arango would be announced as new Zulia FC signing]. El Universal (in Spanish). 4 January 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  20. "Juan Arango no continuará en el New York Cosmos" [Juan Arango will not continue in New York Cosmos] (in Spanish). Ovación. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  21. "Sonó el despertador para la Celeste" [Alarm-clock time for the Celeste] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 7 July 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  22. https://www.goal.com/en/news/586/copa-america/2011/07/23/2587797/peru-4-1-venezuela-paolo-guerrero-nets-second-half-hat-trick
  23. "Venezuela denied as Bolivia snatch draw". Bangkok Post. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  24. Rainbow, Jamie (18 January 2013). "Six of the Best: free-kick specialists". World Soccer. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  25. Matchett, Karl (6 February 2017). "Where does Lionel Messi rank among the greatest free-kick takers of all time?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  26. "Gladbach's midfield maestro". Bundesliga. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  27. "In praise of the Bundesliga's Venezuelan magician". Eurosport. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  28. Rosano, Nick (9 May 2014). "FutbolMLS.com Digest: Venezuela star Juan Arango to MLS? Last stop for Cuauhtemoc Blanco?". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  29. "Blog: Arango adds Venezuelan spark to midfield". New York Cosmos. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  30. Whitney, Clark (23 September 2013). "20 Greatest Bundesliga midfielders of all time". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  31. "J. Arango". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  32. Juan Arango – UEFA competition record
  33. "Central American Club Competitions 2002". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  34. "New York Cosmos midfielder Juan Arango wins 2016 NASL Golden Ball". North American Soccer League. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  35. "Copa América 2011 - Organization - Reglament". Copa América 2011. Archived from the original on 21 November 2010.
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