Jorge Acuña Explained

Jorge Acuña
Fullname:Jorge Cristian Acuña Concha
Birth Date:1978 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Ovalle, Chile
Height:1.780NaN0
Position:Midfielder
Youthclubs1:Unión Española
Years1:1999
Clubs1:Unión Española
Caps1:37
Goals1:1
Years2:2000–2002
Caps2:74
Goals2:0
Years3:2003–2006
Clubs3:Feyenoord
Caps3:15
Goals3:0
Years4:2004–2005
Clubs4:Universidad Católica (loan)
Caps4:38
Goals4:2
Years5:2005–2006
Clubs5:Roosendaal (loan)
Caps5:24
Goals5:0
Years6:2007
Caps6:16
Goals6:0
Years7:2007–2009
Caps7:35
Goals7:0
Years8:2009
Clubs8:Ñublense
Caps8:12
Goals8:0
Years9:2010–2015
Clubs9:Unión San Felipe
Caps9:55
Goals9:0
Years10:2013
Clubs10:Rangers (loan)
Caps10:12
Goals10:0
Years11:2015–2016
Clubs11:Cobresal
Caps11:8
Goals11:0
Years12:2017
Clubs12:Unión San Felipe
Caps12:6
Goals12:0
Totalcaps:332
Totalgoals:3
Nationalyears1:2003–2006
Nationalteam1:Chile
Nationalcaps1:16
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:2018
Managerclubs1:Santa María U17 (city team)
Manageryears2:2020–2021
Managerclubs2:Unión San Felipe U17
Manageryears3:2020–2021
Managerclubs3:Unión San Felipe (assistant)
Manageryears4:2021
Managerclubs4:Unión San Felipe
Manageryears5:2023
Managerclubs5:Santiago City

Jorge Cristian Acuña Concha (born 31 July 1978 in Ovalle), also known by his nickname Kike Acuña, is a Chilean football manager and former footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Born in Ovalle, IV Region of Coquimbo, Acuña joined Santiago–based club Unión Española youth set-up where was promoted to the first adult team in 1999. After spending a season with the Spaniards, in January 2000, he moved to powerhouse Universidad Católica where he helped the club to win the 2002 Torneo Apertura, being a key playing in the title earning.

In 2002, Acuña signed a contract with Dutch club Feyenoord.[1] Following a Feyenoord Reserve match on 15 April 2004, he and other Feyenoord players, including Robin van Persie, were attacked by AFC Ajax hooligans. Acuña was taken to the hospital with head, neck and rib injuries.[2] Then he joined on loan to RBC Roosendaal to play the 2005–06 Eredivisie season. After completing 24 league appearances, Acuña finished his spell at North Brabant and later was released from Feyenoord in January 2006 which didn't renew his contract.

After months as a free agent he was on trial at English clubs Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic. However, on 23 January 2007, Acuña finally signed for Universidad de Chile, Católica's cross town rivals.[3] He arrived to the club during an institutional crisis, only playing 16 league games and then being fired by coach Arturo Salah after missing a training.[4]

On 8 August 2007, it was reported that Acuña moved to South African side Mamelodi Sundowns of the Premier Soccer League.[5] [6] After two seasons playing at The Brazilians, he decided to left them after differences with club's chairman Patrice Motsepe who according Acuña discriminated him for be white.[7]

After leaving Unión San Felipe, on 2018 he played for both Rebeldes F.C. and Las Higueras de Santa María at amateur level.[8]

Managerial career

After coaching the under-17 football team of the commune Santa María,[8] on 2020 he began his managerial career as manager of Unión San Felipe at under-17 level.[9] In November 2020, after Unión San Felipe changed his technical staff, Acuña became assistant coach of Héctor Roco,[10] the manager of the first team.[11]

On 28 April 2021, he took the challenge of coaching Unión San Felipe as a caretaker manager after Tomás Arrotea[12] was released,[13] being later ratified on 26 May 26, 2021,[14] and released on August of the same year.[15]

For the 2023 season, he signed with Santiago City FC in the Chilean Tercera A.[16] [17]

Personal life

His cousin, Diego Abarca,[18] is an American soccer player who is the son of his cousin, Sandra Ramírez, and the former Chilean professional footballer José Abarca.[19]

Honours

Club

Universidad Católica

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Acuna nets three-year Feyenoord deal . . 28 January 2002 . 6 August 2015.
  2. Web site: Fans' attack puts Feyenoord player in hospital . . 16 April 2004 . 6 August 2015.
  3. Web site: Jorge Acuña llega al país para firmar por la Universidad de Chile . Emol . 23 February 2007 . 6 August 2015.
  4. Web site: Arturo Salah despidió a Jorge Acuña de la U . Emol . 17 July 2007 . 6 August 2015.
  5. Web site: Downs snatch Chilean star Acuna . . Kwenaite . Thomas . 8 August 2007 . 6 August 2015 .
  6. Web site: Chilean star joins South African champions . nl.women.soccerway.com . 9 August 2007 . 6 August 2015.
  7. Web site: Jorge Acuña se siente víctima del racismo en Sudáfrica . . 10 February 2009 . 6 August 2015.
  8. Web site: ¡Imperdible! Las 50 preguntas a Jorge 'Kike' Acuña . Portaligas . 23 August 2021 . es . Además de estar en Rebeldes también estoy en el club Las Higueras de Santa María..
  9. Web site: Jorge Acuña y su nueva etapa en la Sub 17 de San Felipe: "El que se porte mal conmigo, no jugará" . . 29 April 2021 . es . 9 March 2020.
  10. https://www.ceroacero.es/coach.php?id=49857 Héctor Roco
  11. Web site: "Kike" Acuña y su nueva labor en Primera B . . 29 April 2021 . es-ES . 29 November 2020.
  12. https://www.bdfa.com.ar/jugadores-TOMAS-ARROTEA-MOLINA-17597.html Tomás Arrotea
  13. Web site: Cae el primer DT en el fútbol chileno y asume 'Kike' Acuña . . 29 April 2021 . es-cl . 28 April 2021.
  14. Web site: La buena noticia que recibió el invicto "Kike" Acuña en Unión San Felipe . PrimeraBChile.cl . 23 August 2021 . es . 26 May 2021.
  15. Web site: Jorge Acuña, desvinculado de Unión San Felipe . . 23 August 2021 . es-cl . 1 August 2021.
  16. sancityfc . CmdI4nkuyqV . Bienvenido al Santiago City . 22 December 2022 . 22 December 2022 . es.
  17. Web site: Jorge Acuña dejó de ser entrenador de Santiago City . alairelibre.cl . . 5 June 2023 . es . 4 June 2023.
  18. https://www.ceroacero.es/player.php?id=964873 Diego Abarca
  19. Web site: Vega . Diego . El sobrino del 'Kike' Acuña que juega en Estados Unidos y sueña con la Roja . . 12 July 2022 . es . 13 May 2022.