| Mario Cordero | |
| Fullname: | Mario Cordero Brenes |
| Birth Date: | 7 April 1930 |
| Birth Place: | San José, Costa Rica |
| Death Place: | San José, Costa Rica |
| Position: | Defender |
| Years1: | 1949–1951 |
| Clubs1: | Saprissa |
| Years2: | 1951–1952 |
| Clubs2: | Marte |
| Years3: | 1952–1964 |
| Clubs3: | Saprissa |
| Nationalyears1: | 1950–1963 |
| Nationalteam1: | Costa Rica |
| Nationalcaps1: | 41 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 7 |
| Manageryears1: | 1964–1967 |
| Managerclubs1: | Saprissa |
| Manageryears2: | 1965 |
| Managerclubs2: | Costa Rica |
| Manageryears3: | 1968–1970 |
| Managerclubs3: | Saprissa |
| Manageryears4: | 1980 |
| Managerclubs4: | Saprissa |
Mario Cordero Brenes (7 April 1930 - 10 July 2002) was a Costa Rican football player and coach; he is still considered in his country as one of the top defenders to have played the game.[1]
Better known as Catato or Piernas de Oro, he was part of the Deportivo Saprissa team that went on a World Tour in 1959, becoming the first Latin American team to ever do such a trip. Catato was the leader and captain of Deportivo Saprissa during the 1950s and early 1960s. He had one season in the Mexican league, with Atletico Marte. He retired after a game against Argentinian side Banfield on 25 December 1964.[2] Catato is remembered as a player, for his chivalry in and out of the field, as well as his great positioning in the field, his great shoot and security as a defender.
During those years, he played the same role in the Costa Rica national football team, making 41 appearances.[3]
As coach, Catato guided Saprissa to four national titles in the 1960s, adding up to the four he had won previously as a player. He also managed Costa Rica's national team.[4]
He died of respiratory arrest on 10 July 2002 in the Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia Hospital in San José.[2]