Saturnino Arrúa Explained

Saturnino Arrúa
Fullname:Saturnino Arrúa Molinas
Birth Date:7 April 1949
Position:Attacking Midfielder
Youthclubs1:San Rafael
Years1:1963
Years2:1964–1973
Years3:1973–1979
Years4:1979–1981
Years5:1981–1982
Caps3:147
Caps5:14
Goals3:71
Goals5:4
Nationalyears1:1969–1980
Nationalcaps1:27
Nationalgoals1:13

Saturnino 'Nino' Arrúa Molinas (born 7 April 1949) is a Paraguayan retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, and a current coach.

Considered one of the greatest footballers to ever come out of his nation, his 22-year professional career was closely associated with Cerro Porteño and Real Zaragoza.[1]

Club career

Born in Itá near Asunción, Arrúa made his senior debuts at only 14, with local Sportivo Iteño. He was signed shortly after by Cerro Porteño, going on to win four national championships four times during his spell as well as being crowned the league's top scorer on three occasions.

In 1973 Arrúa moved to Spain and joined Real Zaragoza, remaining six seasons with the club, five of them in La Liga. He scored 17 goals in only 26 games in his first campaign for a final third-place and, during parts of his stint in Aragon, formed an efficient attacking partnership with countrymen Carlos Diarte and Felipe Ocampos which was dubbed Zaraguayos.[2]

From 1979 until his retirement six years later Arrúa played mainly with former side Cerro Porteño – this was interspersed with a spell in Colombia with América de Cali. Subsequently, he worked as a manager, with Club 12 de Octubre, Club Atlético 3 de Febrero and Cerro.[3] [4]

International career

Arrúa gained 27 caps for Paraguay between 1969 and 1980, scoring 13 goals.[5]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.ultimahora.com/notas/332139-Saturnino-Arrua-Un-gran-y-magnifico-10 Saturnino Arrúa – Un gran y magnífico "10" (Saturnino Arrúa – Great and magnificent "10")
  2. http://www.apiedepista.es/el-zaragoza-de-los-zaraguayos/ El Zaragoza de los ‘zaraguayos’ (Zaragoza of the ‘zaraguayos’)
  3. http://archivo.abc.com.py/2009-06-02/articulos/527440/saturnino-arrua-carga-una-pesada-mochila Saturnino Arrúa carga una “pesada mochila” (Saturnino Arrúa carries “heavy pack”)
  4. http://www.ultimahora.com/notas/265612-Tras-la-renuncia-de-Lanata,-Arrúa-vuelve-a-dirigir-al-12 Tras la renuncia de Lanata, Arrúa vuelve a dirigir al "12" (After stepping down of Lanata, Arrúa back in helm of "12")
  5. https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/para-recintlp.html Appearances for Paraguay National Team