Horacio Baldessari Explained

Horacio Baldessari
Fullname:Horacio Raúl Baldessari Guntero
Birth Date:21 November 1958
Birth Place:Córdoba, Argentina
Position:Striker
Clubs14:Sporting Cristal
Years1:1975
Years2:1976–1977
Years3:1978–1979
Years4:1980
Years5:1981
Years6:1981–1982
Years7:1983
Years8:1984
Years9:1985
Years10:1986–1987
Years11:1988–1989
Years12:1989
Years13:1990
Years14:1991–1993
Pcupdate:May 12, 2008
Manageryears1:1994
Manageryears2:2000
Manageryears3:2007
Manageryears4:2008
Managerclubs4:Atlético Chalaco

Horacio Raúl "Pepa" Baldessari (born 21 November 1958 in Córdoba) is a former Argentine football striker who played professionally in Argentina, Bolivia and Peru during the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. He also managed some clubs after his retirement, but currently works as a football analyst.

Club career

He began his career in 1975 with modest club Sportivo Belgrano, but joined Belgrano de Córdoba the following season. In 1978, he went abroad to play for Bolivian side Blooming. Years later he would also play for Oriente Petrolero, Bolívar and Destroyers. During his spell in the Bolivian league, he scored a total of 161 goals, placing his name eight in the list of all-time topscorers. Even though Baldessari became a naturalized Bolivian, he was never considered as an option for the national team. In 1988, he returned to Argentina and played for his beloved Belgrano de Córdoba once again. By 1990, he transferred to Peruvian side Deportivo Municipal before signing with popular team Sporting Cristal the following year. At first he was heavily questioned by club fans and the media about his age; nonetheless, La Pepa proved them wrong and finished the season as the topscorer that year with 25 goals, and consequently helped Cristal win the 1991 Peruvian title. Baldessari always admitted having spent the best years of his career playing for the cerveceros because he received so many affections that made him feel like at home. After his retirement in 1993, Baldessari settled in Lima, and became a football analyst for several television and radio networks.

Club titles

SeasonClubTitle
1983BolívarLiga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano
1984BloomingLiga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano
1985Bolívar
1991Sporting CristalPrimera División Peruana

Honours

SeasonClubTitle
1979BloomingLiga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano top scorer: 31 goals
1982Oriente PetroleroLiga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano top scorer: 25 goals
1991Sporting CristalPrimera División Peruana top scorer: 25 goals

References