Javier di Gregorio explained

Javier di Gregorio
Fullname:Javier Eduardo di Gregorio Hoste
Height:1.84 m
Birth Date:1977 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Mendoza, Argentina
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthclubs1:Universidad Católica
Years1:1997
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:1998–2003
Clubs2:Coquimbo Unido
Caps2:66
Goals2:0
Years3:2001
Clubs3:Huachipato (loan)
Caps3:13
Goals3:0
Years4:2004
Caps4:13
Goals4:0
Years5:2004
Clubs5:Atlético Mexiquense
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years6:2005
Clubs6:Deportes Puerto Montt
Caps6:17
Goals6:0
Years7:2007
Caps7:7
Goals7:0
Years8:2008
Clubs8:Coquimbo Unido
Caps8:23
Goals8:0
Years9:2009
Clubs9:Deportes Melipilla
Caps9:4
Goals9:0
Totalcaps:144
Totalgoals:0
Nationalyears1:2000
Nationalteam1:Chile Olympic
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalteam2:Chile
Nationalyears2:2007
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Manageryears1:2013–2014
Managerclubs1:Deportes Iquique (goalkeeping coach)
Manageryears2:2014
Managerclubs2:Deportes Antofagasta (goalkeeping coach)
Manageryears3:2014–2022
Managerclubs3:Deportes Iquique (goalkeeping coach)

Javier Eduardo di Gregorio Hoste (born 23 January 1977) is an Argentine-born Chilean former footballer who played as goalkeeper. His last club was Deportes Melipilla, in the age, Primera B de Chile (second-tier) member.

He was member of Chile Olympic Team's 22-man squad which won a bronze medal in Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.[1]

Club career

Early career

Di Gregorio was born in the city of Mendoza in Argentina's homologous province. Then, he began his career in the football academy of Chilean giants Club Deportivo Universidad Católica. Nevertheless, he left Católica for join to Deportes Antofagasta and next Coquimbo Unido under José Sulantay.[2]

In 2001, he was sent on loan to Club Deportivo Huachipato. Three years later, after the same number of seasons defending the Coquimbo's goal, he moved to Mexico to play for Nacional Tijuana during the first semester, and for Atlético Mexiquense in the second semester.

Puerto Montt

In 2005, after a frustrated spell in Mexico, he returned his country and signed for top-level team Deportes Puerto Montt. Nevertheless, on 25 July 2005, he alongside team were involved in a traffic accident when they were coming back by bus from Talca.[1] [3] He was the most damaged by the accident, having to face a six-month injury.[4] His teammate, the Argentinian forward, Julio César Laffatigue, declared: "Thank God we are alive, because it was a terrible thing".[3]

Deportivo Temuco

After all the 2006 season without professionally play, in early 2007, he joined Primera B side Deportivo Temuco. There, he gained notoriety through the docu-reality about the team, called Temuco, La Última Frontera (Temuco, The Last Frontier)[5] which was centered in the daily live of team's coach Eduardo Bonvallet,[5] who replaced the outgoing coach, Carlos González Romero on 23 April 2007.[6] Despite the docu-reality was centered in Bonvallet's daily life, di Gregorio became briefly famous after being called up to the national team on 15 May[7] to face Cuba,[8] and then for being marginalized from the team after disobeying Bonvallet,[9] after he decided to send him to the bench in a match with Provincial Osorno[10] on 26 May.[11] That match, Temuco won by 2–1 at the Old Estadio Municipal Germán Becker.[12]

On 6 June 2007, he announced his disengagement from the team.[13] Eight years later, on 19 September 2015, for the purpose of Bonvallet's death after he committed suicide a day ago,[14] among the memories and anecdotes that Emol emphasized on the part of those who were directed by Bonvallet, Luis Gabriel Valenzuela (di Gregorio's teammate in the age), remembered another tense episode which catapulted di Gregorio's marginalization: to have arrived late to train.[15]

Retirement

After playing the entire 2008 season for Primera B side Coquimbo Unido, the following year he ended his career with Deportes Melipilla (team of the same category).[16]

International career

After deciding to be eligible to play for Chile national team, di Gregorio joined to Chile olympic's under-23 national team to play in the 2000 CONMEBOL Men Pre-Olympic Tournament, qualifier for Sydney Olympic Games.[1]

He played all of Chile's seven matches in the Pre-Olympic Tournament,[17] being the most important, the match where Chile, on 6 February 2000, achieved an historical 1–0 win over Argentina U-23 at Londrina, which qualified the Chilean team to the Olympic Games.[18]

He didn't play any match in the Olympic Games, where Chile reached the bronze medal following beat 2–0 to United States national team in the Third Place Match held at Sydney Football Stadium.[19]

On 15 May 2007, following a five-year absence (his last call-up was in 2002 for a match against Argentina corresponding to 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification),[7] [8] [20] it was reported that di Gregorio was re-called to play a friendly match against Cuba.[8] Finally, on 16 May, he was sent-on in the 85' minute, replacing to Cobreloa's goalkeeper, Fernando Hurtado, in a 3–0 win at Estadio Municipal Germán Becker.[21]

Post-retirement

In 2013, he became the goalkeeping coach of Deportes Iquique under Jaime Vera.[22] [16] [23] In the second half of 2014, he followed Vera in Deportes Antofagasta.[24] Working for Deportes Iquique, he took part in the training of the Chile international goalkeeper Brayan Cortés.[25]

On 10 November 2022, Di Gregorio assumed as sport director of Deportes Iquique.[26]

Honours

National Team

Chile

Notes and References

  1. News: Qué fue de los 22 medallistas olímpicos de la "Roja" en Sydney 2000. T13. Spanish. 27 April 2016. 31 August 2018.
  2. Web site: Javier Di Gregorio . Geocities . 23 May 2024 . es.
  3. News: Julio César Laffatigue: "Gracias a Dios estamos vivos, porque fue algo terrible". Radio Cooperativa. Spanish. 25 July 2005. 30 August 2018.
  4. News: Javier Di Gregorio estará seis meses fuera de las canchas. Emol. Spanish. 25 July 2005. 31 August 2018.
  5. News: Bonvallet hace un reality de su vida como entrenador. El Mercurio de Antofagasta. Spanish. 26 May 2007. 2 September 2018.
  6. News: Eduardo Bonvallet hará su debut como técnico profesional en Deportes Temuco. Radio Cooperativa. Spanish. 23 April 2007. 2 September 2018.
  7. News: Di Gregorio y su regreso a la Roja. Diario Austral de Temuco. Spanish. 15 May 2007. 31 August 2018.
  8. News: Javier di Gregorio: Es muy emocionante y motivador estar en la selección. Radio Cooperativa. Spanish. 15 May 2007. 31 August 2018.
  9. News: Javier di Gregorio es marginado del plantel. Diario Austral de Temuco. Spanish. 31 May 2007. 2 September 2018.
  10. News: La polémica y frustrada experiencia de Bonvallet como DT en el fútbol profesional. Radio Cooperativa. Spanish. 19 September 2015. 2 September 2018.
  11. See in RSSSF Chile 2007 the section Second Level – Primera B "Copa BancoEstado" 2007. Here is verified Temuco's 2–1 home win over Provincial Osorno on 26 May. The scores for Temuco were of Francisco Ibáñez (2') and Patricio Neira (52'), whilst for the visitors scored Marcos Sepúlveda (64').
  12. News: Temuco de Bonvallet derrotó al líder Osorno. Emol. Spanish. 26 May 2007. 2 September 2018.
  13. News: Javier di Gregorio rompió el silencio. Diario Austral de Temuco. Spanish. 6 June 2007. 2 September 2018.
  14. News: Eduardo Bonvallet se suicida en hotel de Providencia: lo aquejaban las deudas por su cáncer y depresión. El Dínamo. Spanish. 18 September 2015. 3 September 2018.
  15. News: Los recuerdos y anécdotas de ex dirigidos por Bonvallet: "Don Eduardo era único, impresionaba su cercanía". Emol. Spanish. 19 September 2015. 3 September 2018.
  16. Web site: En 2019 quedará sólo uno en competencia: Qué fue de los medallistas de Sidney y dónde terminaron sus carreras . Emol . . 23 May 2024 . es . 2 December 2018.
  17. News: Preolímpico CONMEBOL Brasil 2000. Estadisticas de Fútbol. Spanish. 7 December 2014. 31 August 2018.
  18. News: Efeméride del día: fecha histórica para la Sub-17 y la Sub-23. El Mostrador. Spanish. 6 February 2016. 31 August 2018.
  19. News: Recordamos el bronce de la Selección Chilena en Sydney 200 y un título de Fernando González en Italia (video). El Mostrador. Spanish. 29 September 2015. 31 August 2018.
  20. Web site: Brandão . Caio . Copa América - os argentinos que já defenderam o Chile . Futebol Portenho . 23 May 2024 . pt . 3 July 2015.
  21. News: Revive los olvidados partidos de Chile y Cuba. Canal del Fútbol. Spanish. 11 May 2017. 31 August 2018.
  22. News: Javier Di Gregorio: "El sindicato de futbolistas no me apoyó después del accidente". Radio Cooperativa. Spanish. 19 December 2013. 3 September 2018.
  23. Web site: Salazar Abadie . Iñaki . El puesto obstruido . . 23 May 2024 . es . 13 September 2018 . sostiene Javier Di Gregorio, actual entrenador de arqueros de Iquique..
  24. News: Deportes Antofagasta presentó a su nuevo cuerpo técnico . 23 May 2024 . SoyChile . 30 June 2014 . es.
  25. Web site: Barrera . C. . Parker . M. . La revolución que deja la fuga de Bravo . . 23 May 2024 . es . 20 March 2018.
  26. News: Diaz . Gonzalo . Javier Di Gregorio asume como director deportivo . 23 May 2024 . Deportes Iquique . 10 November 2022 . es.