Juan Francisco Barraza


Juan Francisco Barraza Flores was a Salvadoran football player and manager.
He is widely regarded one of the best Salvadoran footballers of all time.

Career

Born in the district of San Miguel as the son of Maria de la Cruz Barraza and Juan de Dios Flores, he attended Dr Antonio Rosales primary school.

Early years

Barraza began playing soccer in grade school and he joined C.D. Corona when he was eight years old.
Due to extreme hardship, he began playing with balls made out of rags.
During this very hard period, he discovered three secrets: One, that he was a lefty. Two, that soccer would give him a way to escape poverty. And three, that in life, he who does not give everything, does not get anything. "Cariota" always gave everything.
During his 15 years of soccer career, he played barefoot due to his lack of economic resources.
When he finally could afford soccer cleats, he had to train to get accustomed to them.

Professional career

He made his professional debut with Dragón on 15 February 1953 against El Palermo de Guatemala. A year later he won the Central American and Caribbean Games with El Salvador. In 1958 he joined Águila, with whom he won several league titles.
On 8 June 1969 he played his final international game against Honduras. He scored 13 goals for the national team in official games between 1959 and 1963. He scored 24 in 64 games including unofficial matches.
While playing for C.D. Corona, Dragón and finally Águila, where he earned them several titles, he was idolized by soccer fans because of his technical brilliance and pure skill.
Barraza was recognized for his excellence on the soccer fields by clubs from Brazil and Mexico who were so desperate to sign him up.

Retirement and death

He officially retired in 1970, and on December 17, 1997 Cariota died due to cardiac problems in Zacamil hospital in El Salvador. The municipal stadium in his native department of San Miguel, is named Estadio Juan Francisco "Cariota" Barraza in his honor.

Nickname

The Cariota nickname was inherited through his parent, which is an extremely common custom in El Salvador.

Achievements

YearFinishTeamTournamentRoleNotes
1950ChampionDragón1st Division El SalvadorPlayer
1952ChampionDragón1st Division El SalvadorPlayer
1954Gold MedalEl SalvadorCentral American and Caribbean GamesPlayer
1959ChampionÁguila1st Division El SalvadorPlayer
1960-61ChampionÁguila1st Division El SalvadorPlayer
1963-64ChampionÁguila1st Division El SalvadorPlayer
1964ChampionÁguila1st Division El SalvadorPlayer
1967-68ChampionÁguila1st Division El SalvadorPlayer
1972ChampionsÁguila1st Division El SalvadorCoach
1981ChampionsFAS1st Division El SalvadorCoach
1983ChampionsÁguila1st Division El SalvadorCoach-