| Juan Cruz Real | |
| Fullname: | Juan Cruz Real |
| Birth Date: | 8 October 1976 |
| Birth Place: | Tandil, Argentina |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Years1: | 1995–1996 |
| Clubs1: | Independiente |
| Caps1: | 8 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 1997 |
| Clubs2: | Deportivo Español |
| Caps2: | 11 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 1998 |
| Clubs3: | Millonarios |
| Caps3: | 10 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 1999 |
| Clubs4: | Arsenal de Sarandí |
| Caps4: | 28 |
| Goals4: | 3 |
| Years5: | 1999 |
| Clubs5: | Independiente Rivadavia |
| Caps5: | 22 |
| Goals5: | 1 |
| Years6: | 2000 |
| Clubs6: | Brown de Arrecifes |
| Caps6: | 18 |
| Goals6: | 5 |
| Years7: | 2002 |
| Clubs7: | Roulado |
| Caps7: | 17 |
| Goals7: | 7 |
| Years8: | 2003–2004 |
| Clubs8: | Unión San Felipe |
| Caps8: | 23 |
| Goals8: | 6 |
| Years9: | 2004 |
| Clubs9: | Brampton Hitmen |
| Caps9: | 10 |
| Goals9: | 1 |
| Years10: | 2005 |
| Clubs10: | Hamilton Thunder |
| Years11: | 2006–2009 |
| Clubs11: | North York Astros |
| Caps11: | 19 |
| Goals11: | 0 |
| Manageryears1: | 2007–2012 |
| Managerclubs1: | Clarkson Sheridan SC (technical Director) |
| Manageryears2: | 2012–2014 |
| Managerclubs2: | Mississauga SC (technical Director) |
| Manageryears3: | 2014–2015 |
| Managerclubs3: | IMG Academy (U19) |
| Manageryears4: | 2015–2016 |
| Managerclubs4: | IMG Academy (U18) |
| Manageryears5: | 2015 |
| Managerclubs5: | Belén |
| Manageryears6: | 2016 |
| Managerclubs6: | Olimpo (assistant) |
| Manageryears7: | 2016–2017 |
| Managerclubs7: | Estudiantes de Mérida |
| Manageryears8: | 2017–2018 |
| Managerclubs8: | Alianza Petrolera |
| Manageryears9: | 2019–2020 |
| Managerclubs9: | Jaguares |
| Manageryears10: | 2020–2021 |
| Managerclubs10: | América de Cali |
| Manageryears11: | 2022 |
| Managerclubs11: | Junior |
| Manageryears12: | 2023 |
| Managerclubs12: | Deportes Tolima |
| Manageryears13: | 2024 |
| Managerclubs13: | Belgrano |
Juan Cruz Real (born 8 October 1976) is an Argentine football manager and former player who played as a midfielder.
Real had numerous stints in South American leagues, and finished off his career in the Canadian Professional Soccer League.
Real began his career in his native country with Argentinian giants Independiente.[1] In 1997, he signed with Deportivo Español, and the following season he went to Colombia to play for Millonarios F.C. In 1999, he returned to Argentina to sign with Arsenal de Sarandí. Soon after he featured in the lower Argentinian leagues with Independiente Rivadavia, and Almirante Brown de Arrecifes, winning the Torneo Argentino A in 1999. Cruz Real had a stint overseas in the island of Haiti with Roulado in 2002, and returning to the South American continent in 2003 with Unión San Felipe of Chile.[2] [3] [4]
In 2004, he went once more overseas to Canada to sign with the Brampton Hitmen of the Canadian Professional Soccer League. He made his debut for the club on September 10, 2004, in a match against Toronto Supra.[5] He helped Brampton secure a post-season berth by finishing fourth in the Western Conference. He featured in the wildcard playoff match against Toronto Croatia, but were eliminated by a score of 3–1.[6]
The following year he signed with division rivals Hamilton Thunder.[7] His achievements with Hamilton were clinching the division title, and qualifying for the post-season. He featured in the semifinal playoff match against Oakville Blue Devils, but lost by a score of 2–0.[8] In 2009, he had a stint with North York Astros in the Canadian Soccer League.[9] [10]
Cruz Real was named the manager for Deportes Tolima in 2023.[11] [12] In 2024, he returned to Argentina to be named the manager of Club Atlético Belgrano.[13] After nine months with Belgrano, it was mutually decided to relive Cruz Real.[14]