Juan Koscina | |
Fullname: | Juan Ulises Koscina González |
Birth Date: | 1 June 1946 |
Birth Place: | Vallenar, Chile |
Death Place: | La Serena, Chile |
Height: | 1.78 m[1] |
Position: | Midfielder |
Youthyears1: | 1957–1965 |
Youthclubs1: | Deportes La Serena |
Years1: | 1966–1969 |
Caps1: | 108 |
Goals1: | 17 |
Years2: | 1970–1972 |
Caps2: | 27 |
Goals2: | 5 |
Years3: | 1973–1975 |
Caps3: | 65 |
Goals3: | 7 |
Years4: | 1976–1978 |
Caps4: | 53 |
Goals4: | 4 |
Years5: | 1979 |
Years6: | 1981–1982 |
Years7: | 1982–1984 |
Caps7: | 55 |
Goals7: | 1 |
Juan Ulises Koscina González (1 June 1946 – 2 March 2005) was a Chilean football player who played as a midfielder. Besides in Chile, he played in Guatemala.
Koscina came to the Deportes La Serena youth system at the age of eleven.[2] Considered a historical player,[3] he spent three stints with them, mainly in the Chilean top division.[4] He made his debut in 1966, scoring a goal against Colo-Colo.[2] In the 1983 Segunda División, they earned the promotion to the top division after winning the mini-league alongside the classic rival, Coquimbo Unido.[5]
In the Chilean top level, he also played for Colo-Colo and Universidad de Chile, classic rivals.[6] He spent three season with the first, winning league titles in 1970[7] and 1972.[8] For Universidad de Chile, he played between 1976 and 1978,[9] [10] [11] coinciding with players such as Jorge Socías, Jorge Luis Ghiso, Arturo Salah and Jorge Spedaletti.[12]
In the Chilean Segunda División, he also played for Trasandino in 1979.[13]
Abroad, he had a stint with Guatemalan Liga Nacional side Aurora FC in 1981–82.[2] [13]
He retired after playing for Deportes La Serena in 1984.[14]
His father was a well-known sportsman from La Serena.[2]
At the beginning of his career, he was nicknamed Hippie due to his hairstyle and reputation.[2] During his stint with Universidad de Chile, he was nicknamed Papillón, however, he was mainly known as Mago (Magician).[15]
As an anecdote, it was said he didn't matter the money. According to the former leader of Deportes La Serena, Ottmar Rendic, he suggested him to trial with Real Madrid, but he rejected the chance.[16]