Uruguay Graffigna Explained

Uruguay Graffigna
Fullname:Uruguay Gustavo Graffigna Banhoffer
Birth Date:14 January 1948
Birth Place:Montevideo, Uruguay
Death Place:Quillota, Chile
Height:1.80 m
Position:Forward
Years1:1966–1967
Clubs1:El Tanque Sisley
Years2:1968–1970
Years3:1971
Clubs3:Unión San Felipe
Years4:1972
Clubs4:Unión Española
Years5:1973
Years6:1973
Clubs6:Atlético Español
Years7:1974
Years8:1974–1975
Clubs8:Los Angeles Aztecs
Caps8:38
Goals8:21
Years9:1975–1979
Clubs9:PEC Zwolle
Years10:1979
Clubs10:Santiago Morning
Years11:1980–1983
Years12:1984

Uruguay Gustavo Graffigna Banhoffer, also known as Uri Banhoffer or Yuri Banhoffer (14 January 1948 – 12 March 2021[1]), was a Uruguayan footballer who played for clubs in Uruguay, Chile, the Netherlands and the United States.

He died from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile, and Alzheimer's disease.

Career

Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Graffigna moved to Chile in 1968 after playing for Defensor Sporting in his homeland.[2] He helped Unión San Felipe win the 1971 Primera División title and after a spell with Antofagasta, he moved to Mexico to play for C.F. Pachuca.[3]

Graffigna played two seasons in the NASL for the Los Angeles Aztecs and won the championship in 1974.[4] He next moved to the Netherlands where he joined Eerste Divisie club PEC Zwolle. Graffigna spent three seasons with PEC,[5] and had a goal disallowed as the club lost the 1976–77 KNVB Cup final to FC Twente.[6] In 1978 he clinched promotion to Holland's top level after winning the Eerste Divisie league title.[7] He left for Chile in 1979 after his father died there and to be close to his mother.[8]

Personal life

He naturalized Chilean in 2015, keeping the Uruguayan nationality.[9]

In 1968, he came to Chile to join Unión La Calera where his older brother, Pedro Graffigna,[10] played since 1966.[9]

He lived in Quillota, Chile.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://web.observador.cl/a-los-73-anos-fallecio-pedro-uruguay-graffigna-idolo-de-san-luis-de-quillota/ A los 73 años falleció Uruguay Graffigna, ídolo de San Luis de Quillota
  2. Web site: El Mercurio de Valparaíso. Garra y talento futboleros. Leal, Patricio. es. 5 July 2004.
  3. Web site: Soccer Stories. van Enckevort, John. Great seasons: Union San Felipe (Chile) 1971. 28 October 2013.
  4. Web site: Sports Illustrated. Levin, Dan. The penalty for success. 2 September 1974.
  5. Web site: De Stentor. Banhoffer, opgewonden standje in Zwolle. nl. 6 July 2010.
  6. Web site: PEC Zwolle. José Graffigna: Wereldburger en zoon van Yuri Banhoffer. nl. 16 April 2014.
  7. Web site: PEC Zwolle. In Memoriam: Yuri Banhoffer. 13 March 2021 . nl. 13 March 2021.
  8. https://www.destentor.nl/pec-zwolle/yuri-banhoffer-blijft-voor-altijd-verbonden-aan-pec-zwolle~a7696f52/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.nl%2F Yuri Banhoffer blijft voor altijd verbonden aan PEC Zwolle
  9. Web site: Morales Salinas . Claudio . Uruguay Graffigna ya es chileno: el querido ex futbolista obtuvo la doble nacionalidad . SoyChile . 8 September 2022 . es . 17 April 2015.
  10. Web site: Pedro GRAFFIGNA . Memoria Wanderers . 8 September 2022 . es.