Marcelo Caro

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Marcelo Caro

| fullname = Marcelo Osvaldo Caro Cubillos

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|9|22|df=yes}}

| height = 1.76 m{{cite web |title=Marcelo Caro |url=https://www.livefutbol.com/ficha_jugador/marcelo-caro/ |website=livefutbol.com |access-date=23 January 2024 |language=es}}

| position = Forward

| youthyears1 = 1982–1990

| youthclubs1 = Universidad Católica

| years1 = 1989–1994 | clubs1 = Universidad Católica | caps1 = 17 | goals1 = 1

| years2 = 1992 | clubs2 = → Huachipato (loan) | caps2 = 17 | goals2 = 4

| years3 = 1995 | clubs3 = Coquimbo Unido | caps3 = 27 | goals3 = 11

| years4 = 1996 | clubs4 = Universidad Católica | caps4 = 10 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 1997–1999 | clubs5 = Coquimbo Unido | caps5 = 49 | goals5 = 11

| years6 = 1999 | clubs6 = Deportes Concepción | caps6 = 16 | goals6 = 4

| years7 = 2000 | clubs7 = Deportes Antofagasta | caps7 = 15 | goals7 = 8

| years8 = 2000 | clubs8 = Audax Italiano | caps8 = 11 | goals8 = 5

| years9 = 2001 | clubs9 = Palestino | caps9 = 10 | goals9 = 3

| years10 = 2002 | clubs10 = Audax Italiano | caps10 = 3 | goals10 = 0

| years11 = 2002 | clubs11 = Charlotte Eagles | caps11 = 2 | goals11 = 0

| years12 = 2002–2003 | clubs12 = Palestino | caps12 = 10 | goals12 = 1

| years13 = 2004–2007 | clubs13 = Deportes La Serena | caps13 = 72 | goals13 = 7

| totalcaps = 259

| totalgoals = 55

| nationalyears1 = 1991

| nationalteam1 = Chile U20

| manageryears1 = 2012

| managerclubs1 = Deportes La Serena

}}

Marcelo Osvaldo Caro Cubillos (born 22 September 1971) is a Chilean former football manager and player who played as a forward. Besides Chile, he played in the United States.

Career

A product of Universidad Católica, Caro came to the youth system in 1982(Cruzados:Canal Oficial de Universidad Católica) {{YouTube |id=CNvU29eivTo |title=Entrevista al exdelantero Cruzado Marcelo Caro}} {{inlang|es}}. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2024. and made his professional debut in 1990.{{cite web |title=Universidad Catolica 1990 - Campeonato Nacional |url=http://www.solofutbol.cl/futbol%20chileno/Campeonatos%20Nacionales/equipos/Universidad%20Catolica/Universidad%20Catolica%201990%20nacional.htm |website=www.solofutbol.cl |access-date=24 January 2024 |language=es}} As a member of them, he took part in both the 1993 Copa Libertadores, where they were the runners-up, and the 1994 Copa Interamericana, where they were the champions.

He played almost his entire career in the Chilean Primera División. Besides Universidad Católica, he played for Huachipato,{{cite web |last1=Inostroza |first1=Paulo |title="Cuando bajamos en los ‘90 fue igual: faltaba experiencia" |url=https://www.diarioconcepcion.cl/deportes/2021/12/07/cuando-bajamos-en-los-90-fue-igual-faltaba-experiencia.html |website=Diario Concepción |access-date=24 January 2024 |language=es |date=7 December 2021}} Coquimbo Unido, where he coincided with his teammate in Universidad Católica, Jorge Vargas,{{cite web |last1=Navias |first1=Macarena |title=Cruzados y Piratas: 5 Defensas y 5 Delanteros que vistieron ambas camisetas |url=https://www.frecuenciacruzada.cl/home/cruzados-y-piratas-5-defensas-y-5-delanteros-que-vistieron-ambas-camisetas/ |website=Frecuencia Cruzada |access-date=24 January 2024 |language=es |date=13 February 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Olea |first1=Nicolás |title=Jorge Vargas advierte a Marcelo Caro por conflicto de platas: "El Viejito Pascuero se va a acabar" |url=https://redgol.cl/chile/Jorge-Vargas-advierte-a-Marcelo-Caro-por-conflicto-de-platas-El-Viejito-Pascuero-se-va-a-acabar-20210120-0025.html |access-date=24 January 2024 |work=RedGol |date=21 January 2021 |language=es}} Deportes Concepción,{{cite web |last1=Pérez |first1=Carlos |title=La última Copa CONMEBOL 1999, un adiós silencioso |url=https://asifuch.cl/la-ultima-copa-conmebol/ |website=Asifuch |access-date=24 January 2024 |language=es |date=3 August 2022}} Audax Italiano, Palestino{{cite news |title=Marcelo Caro llega a Palestino |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/deportes/2001/03/12/48765/marcelo-caro-llega-a-palestino.html |access-date=24 January 2024 |work=Emol |publisher=El Mercurio |date=12 March 2001 |language=es}} and Deportes La Serena, where he retired.{{cite news |title=Marcelo Caro: "Creo en las competencias" |url=https://www.diarioeldia.cl/deportes/2012/9/24/marcelo-caro-creo-en-las-competencias-26870.html |access-date=24 January 2024 |work=Diario El Día |date=24 September 2012 |language=es}}

In the Primera B, he played for Deportes Antofagasta in 2000.(Goles Play) {{YouTube |id=uIL6APSV3sI |title=Deportes Iquique VS Deportes Antofagasta 2000}} {{inlang|es}}. 26 February 2023. 24 January 2024.

Abroad, he had a stint with Charlotte Eagles in the 2002 USL A-League.{{cite web |title=2002 Charlotte Eagles Division II and III soccer Roster |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorsoccer/roster/t-CHEAG/y-2002 |website=www.statscrew.com |access-date=24 January 2024}}

At international level, he represented Chile U20 in the 1991 South American Championship.{{cite web |title=Nóminas de Chile para Campeonatos Sudamericanos Sub-20 |url=https://www.partidosdelaroja.com/1970/01/nominas-de-chile-para-sudamericanos-sub20.html |website=Partidos de La Roja |access-date=24 January 2024 |language=es}}

Post-retirement

Caro has served as technical director of Deportes La Serena. As the head coach, he led them in the 2012 Torneo Clausura, where they were relegated to the Primera B.{{cite news |title=Todavía no empieza el torneo y ya hay un técnico destituido |url=https://www.publimetro.cl/cl/grafico-chile/2012/12/18/todavia-no-empieza-torneo-ya-hay-tecnico-destituido.html |access-date=24 January 2024 |work=Publimetro Chile |date=18 December 2012 |language=es}}

Caro got a degree in business management and has worked for institutions such as {{ill|Caja Los Andes|es|vertical-align=sup}}, a compensation fund, and {{ill|Cámara Chilena de la Construcción|es|vertical-align=sup}}, an association of entrepreneurs in the building sector.

=Controversies=

In October 2024, Caro and his partner, the former footballer Mauricio Salazar, were charged with scam by also former footballer Jorge Vargas, regarding business in La Serena, Chile.{{cite news |last1=Morales |first1=Italo |title=Ex seleccionado chileno denuncia estafa por 500 millones: acusa a ídolo de La Serena y un ex Católica |url=https://chile.as.com/futbol/ex-seleccionado-chileno-denuncia-estafa-por-500-millones-acusa-a-idolo-de-la-serena-y-un-ex-catolica-n/ |access-date=5 October 2024 |work=Diario AS |date=4 October 2024 |language=es}}