Gabriel Mendoza Explained

Gabriel Mendoza
Upright:0.9
Full Name:Gabriel Rafael Mendoza Ibarra
Birth Date:22 May 1968
Birth Place:Graneros, Chile
Height:1.73 m
Position:Right-back
Years1:1986–1990
Caps1:78
Goals1:4
Years2:1991–1996
Clubs2:Colo-Colo
Caps2:163
Goals2:6
Years3:1997
Caps3:17
Goals3:0
Years4:1998–1999
Clubs4:Tigres UANL
Caps4:19
Goals4:1
Years5:2000
Caps5:25
Goals5:0
Years6:2001
Clubs6:Colo-Colo
Caps6:13
Goals6:1
Years7:2001
Caps7:6
Goals7:0
Years8:2002
Caps8:17
Goals8:0
Nationalyears1:1991–1997
Nationalteam1:Chile
Nationalcaps1:36
Nationalgoals1:1

Gabriel Rafael Mendoza Ibarra (born 22 May 1968), commonly known as Coca Mendoza for his similarity with the television actress Coca Guazzini, is a Chilean former professional footballer who played as a right-back and central midfielder. Mendoza was member of Colo-Colo's historic squad that achieved 1991 Copa Libertadores.

Playing career

Mendoza was born in Graneros. He arrived to Colo-Colo, after of made a recognized season with O'Higgins. In the Cacique, he immediately was won the position of right back in the squad of the coach Mirko Jozic, European style assiduously defensive, but with very vertigo in the sidebands.

He was one of key players of the club in the squad that Colo-Colo achieved the Copa Libertadores 1991, after of defeat to Olimpia for 3–0 in the final, however he also was included in the best team of South America. Mendoza also won the Chilean Primera Division with the club in the same year. In the match against Puebla for Recopa Sudamericana of 1992, he scored one of three goals of Colo-Colo, in the 3–1 victory. After of four good seasons, he was signed by Tigres UANL of Mexico.

After of made an irregular season with Tigres, he return to Chile, for play at Santiago Wanderers in 2000. One year later, he returned to Colo-Colo. After of his spent for Colo-Colo, he joined to Shandong Luneng of Chinese Super League. He had gone to China along with Ricardo Queraltó, but he just could sign with the club.[1] Finally in 2002, he return to Chile for finish his career at Santiago Morning.

Post-playing career

In 2005, Gabriel Mendoza participated in the reality show La Granja VIP. During the reality, he was the runner-up of the contest, after of loss in a mourning of force at final against the Spanish singer Javier Estrada. After of his participation in this reality, he was invited to many stellars of the Chilean TV. In 2009, Mendoza once appeared in a TV series, the reality show 1810 of Canal 13. He had his personal revenge, because he won the final of the reality, winning a reward of 50 million pesos (US$80.000).

Currently Mendoza plays in the Chile national team of Showbol, tournament of futsal played for all South America. He also has a football school in Viña del Mar, called Gabriel "Coca" Mendoza.

In the 2016 Chilean municipal elections, Mendoza was elected as a councilman for Viña del Mar with the Independent Democratic Union, winning 5,314 votes, the most in that city's election.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Abarzúa . Esteban . Secretos de camarín . 27 September 2022 . es . 30 March 2020.