Humberto Cruz

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Humberto "Chita" Cruz

| image = Humberto Cruz, Estadio, 1962-01-11 (972).jpg

| image_size = 200px

| caption = Cruz in 1962

| fullname = Humberto Carlos Nelson Cruz Silva

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|12|8|df=y}}

| birth_place = Santiago, Chile

| height = {{height|m=1.65}}

| position = Centre back

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Máximo Garay

| youthyears2 = 1956 | youthclubs2 = Colo-Colo

| years1 = 1957–1962 | clubs1 = Santiago Morning | caps1 = 120 | goals1 = 5

| years2 = 1963–1971 | clubs2 = Colo-Colo | caps2 = 259 | goals2 = 4

| years3 = 1972 | clubs3 = O'Higgins

| years4 = 1973–1974 | clubs4 = Ñublense | caps4 = 67 | goals4 = 2

| years5 = 1976 | clubs5 = Ferroviarios

| totalcaps = 446 |totalgoals=11

| nationalyears1 = 1961–1970

| nationalteam1 = Chile

| nationalcaps1 = 37

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 1978 | managerclubs1 = Magallanes

| manageryears2 = 1981–1982 | managerclubs2 = Santiago Morning

| manageryears3 = 1983 | managerclubs3 = Deportes Laja

| manageryears4 = 1984 | managerclubs4 = Unión Española

| manageryears5 = 1984 | managerclubs5 = Fernández Vial

| manageryears6 = 1985 | managerclubs6 = Deportes Ovalle

| manageryears7 = 1986 | managerclubs7 = Ñublense

| manageryears8 = 1986 | managerclubs8 = Deportes Antofagasta

| manageryears9 = 1988 | managerclubs9 = Cobreandino

| manageryears10 = 1990–1991 | managerclubs10 = Deportes Ovalle

| manageryears11 = 1996 | managerclubs11 = Deportes Melipilla

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country|{{fb|CHI}}}}

}}

Humberto Carlos Nelson Cruz Silva ({{IPA|es|umˈbeɾto ˈkɾuθ}}, born 8 December 1939) is a Chilean retired footballer that played in two FIFA World Cups (1962, Chile third place, and 1966) as centre back, despite his short height. He also has been a close friend of Pelé since they played against each other in the 1960s. According to Pelé, Cruz was one of his best markers and in several interviews he has mentioned the classic moment when Cruz pulled down his pants so he wouldn't elude him. His nickname is after Cheeta (pronounced Chita in Spanish), Tarzan's ape companion.

Personal life

Cruz is well known by his nickname Chita (Cheetah) which it was given when he was a youth player of club Máximo Garay from Estación Central due to his speed to mark as a defender.{{cite web |title="Chita", "Pájaro", "Chamuca", "Caldillo" y "Bototo"... Cinco futbolistas revelan el origen de sus inconfundibles y notables apodos {{!}} Emol.com |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Deportes/2020/04/21/983717/Mejores-apodos-futbol-chileno.html |website=Emol |publisher=El Mercurio |access-date=13 September 2022 |language=es |date=21 April 2020}}

His son, Humberto Cruz Floh, was with the Universidad Católica youth ranks and represented Chile at under-20 level in the 1985 South American Championship.{{cite web |title=Grandes dinastías de la Selección: Padres e hijos que jugaron por "La Roja" |url=https://www.guioteca.com/seleccion-chilena/grandes-dinastias-de-la-seleccion-padres-e-hijos-que-jugaron-por-la-roja/ |website=Guioteca.com |publisher=El Mercurio |access-date=13 September 2022 |language=es |date=15 June 2014}} Another son, Claudio Cruz, played for Deportes Antofagasta and Audax Italiano.{{cite web |title=Claudio Cruz :: Claudio Cruz Floh :: |url=https://www.zerozero.pt/player.php?id=895333 |website=zerozero.pt |access-date=13 September 2022 |language=pt}}

Honours

Colo-Colo

Primera División: 1963, 1970

Chile{{cite web |title=Humberto Cruz |url=https://www.partidosdelaroja.com/1970/01/humberto-cruz.html |website=Partidos de La Roja |access-date=13 September 2022 |language=es}}

FIFA World Cup: Third place 1962
Copa América: Third place 1967
Copa O'Higgins: 1966
{{ill|Copa del Pacífico|es|Copa del Pacífico (Chile-Perú)|vertical-align=sup}}: {{ill|lt=1968|1968 Copa del Pacífico|es|Copa del Pacífico 1968|vertical-align=sup}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20110722123041/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition%3D21/teams/team%3D43925.html FIFA Profile]
[https://www.partidosdelaroja.com/1970/01/humberto-cruz.html Humberto Cruz] at PartidosdeLaRoja {{inlang|es}}

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Category:1939 births