Luis Fernando Escobar

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Luis Fernando Escobar

| image =

| fullname = Luis Fernando Escobar Zelaya

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|4|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Luque, Paraguay

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Sport Primavera

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Sportivo Luqueño

| years1 = 1994–199X

| clubs1 = Sportivo Luqueño

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 =

| clubs2 = Colegiales

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 1998–1999

| clubs3 = Cerro Porteño

| caps3 =

| goals3 =

| years4 =

| clubs4 = 12 de Octubre

| caps4 =

| goals4 =

| years5 =

| clubs5 = Sport Colombia

| caps5 =

| goals5 =

| years6 =

| clubs6 = Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa

| caps6 =

| goals6 =

| years7 =

| clubs7 = Sportivo San Lorenzo

| caps7 =

| goals7 =

| years8 =

| clubs8 = Nacional Asunción

| caps8 =

| goals8 =

| manageryears1 = 2006–2009

| managerclubs1 = Salto del Guairá

| manageryears2 = 2012

| managerclubs2 = 16 de Agosto

| manageryears3 = 2013–2014

| managerclubs3 = Sportivo Ycuá Duré

| manageryears4 = 2015–2016

| managerclubs4 = Sportivo Yuquyry

| manageryears5 = 2016

| managerclubs5 = Sportivo Luqueño (youth)

| manageryears6 = 2017–2019

| managerclubs6 = General Díaz (youth)

| manageryears7 = 2018

| managerclubs7 = Tembetary

| manageryears8 = 2019

| managerclubs8 = General Díaz (interim)

| manageryears9 = 2019

| managerclubs9 = Tembetary

| manageryears10 = 2020–2021

| managerclubs10 = Sportivo Luqueño

| manageryears11 = 2021

| managerclubs11 = Deportivo Santaní

| manageryears12 = 2023

| managerclubs12 = Sportivo San Lorenzo

| manageryears13 = 2023

| managerclubs13 = 24 de Setiembre

| manageryears14 = 2024

| managerclubs14 = 12 de Octubre

}}

Luis Fernando Escobar Zelaya (born 25 April 1975) is a Paraguayan football manager and former player who played as a midfielder.

Career

Born in Luque, Escobar graduated from Sportivo Luqueño. After making his first team debut in 1994, he subsequently represented Colegiales, Cerro Porteño, 12 de Octubre, Sport Colombia, Sportivo San Lorenzo, and Nacional Asunción in his home country, aside from a period in Guatemala's Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/2020/11/10/asume-el-cuarto-director-tecnico-de-la-temporada/|title=Asume el cuarto director técnico de la temporada|trans-title=The fourth manager of the season takes over|publisher=ABC Color|language=es|date=10 November 2020|accessdate=21 March 2021}}

After retiring Escobar became a manager and won three regional championships in a row with Salto del Guairá. He then managed lower league sides in his native region{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/deportes/cinco-titulos-consecutivos-1625654.html|title=Cinco títulos consecutivos|trans-title=Five consecutive titles|publisher=ABC Color|language=es|date=25 August 2017|accessdate=21 March 2021}} before being named in charge of General Díaz's youth setup in 2017.

In 2018, while still working for General Díaz, Escobar led Tembetary to the Cuarta División title and subsequent promotion to the Primera División B.{{cite web|url=http://www.tigosports.com.py/futbol/atletico-tembetary-sportivo-limpeno-ascendidos-primera-c-2018|title=Título y ascenso|trans-title=Title and promotion|publisher=Tigo Sports|language=es|date=1 October 2018|accessdate=21 March 2021}} On 10 February 2019, he was named interim manager of General Díaz in the Primera División.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/escobar-interina-en-general-1785854.html|title=Escobar interina en General|trans-title=Escobar is an interim at General|publisher=ABC Color|language=es|date=10 February 2019|accessdate=21 March 2021}}

Escobar returned to the youth setup in April 2019, after the appointment of Cristian Martínez.{{cite web|url=http://www.tigosports.com.py/futbol/cristian-martinez-es-nuevo-dt-general-diaz|title=Cristian Martínez es nuevo DT de General Díaz|trans-title=Cristian Martínez is the new manager of General Díaz|publisher=Tigo Sports|language=es|date=18 April 2019|accessdate=21 March 2021}} He returned to Tembetary for the 2019 campaign,{{cite web|url=https://www.apf.org.py/n/tembetary-dio-otro-paso-a-la-intermedia|title=Tembetary dio otro paso a la Intermedia|trans-title=Tembetary gave another step towards the Intermedia|publisher=Paraguayan Football Association|language=es|date=23 November 2019|accessdate=21 March 2021}} narrowly missing out on another promotion.

On 9 November 2020, Escobar returned to his first club Sportivo Luqueño, now appointed first team manager.{{cite web|url=http://www.tigosports.com.py/futbol/luis-fernando-escobar-nuevo-director-tecnico-sportivo-luqueno|title=Luqueño tiene al sustituto Carlos Humberto Paredes|trans-title=Luqueño have the substitute of Carlos Humberto Paredes|publisher=Tigo Sports|language=es|date=9 November 2020|accessdate=21 March 2021}}