Mario Zabalaga
{{short description|Bolivian footballer (1938–2008)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Mario Zabalaga
|image =
|caption =
|fullname =
|birth_date = {{birth date|1938|5|8|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Cochabamba, Bolivia
|death_date = {{death date and age|2008|12|13|1938|5|8|df=yes}}
|death_place =
|position = Defender
|years1 = 1958-1961
|clubs1 = Jorge Wilstermann
|years2 = 1961
|clubs2 = Always Ready
|years3 = 1962-1963
|clubs3 = Jorge Wilstermann
|years4 = 1964
|clubs4 = Aurora
|years5 = 1965-1973
|clubs5 = Jorge Wilstermann
|nationalteam1 = Bolivia
|nationalyears1 = 1961-1967
|nationalcaps1 = 11
|nationalgoals1 = 0
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|BOL}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Copa América}}
{{Medal|Winner|1963 Bolivia|}}
}}
Mario Zabalaga (8 May 1938 – 13 December 2008){{cite web |title=Entre la nostalgia y el olvido se recuerdan 60 años del título de Bolivia del 63 |url=https://www.la-razon.com/marcas/2023/03/31/bolivia-3/ |website=La Razon |access-date=8 January 2024}}{{cite web |title=EL HOMBRE RECORD |url=https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=715108786956903&locale=ms_MY |website=Facebook Wilstermann cuestion de orgullo |access-date=8 January 2024}} was a Bolivian footballer{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/mario-zabalaga/ |title=Mario Zabalaga |work=worldfootball.net |access-date=14 June 2021}}{{cite web |title=Mario Zabalaga |url=https://www.livefutbol.com/ficha_jugador/mario-zabalaga/ |website=Live Futbol |access-date=8 January 2024}}
He was part of Bolivia's squad that won the 1963 South American Championship on home soil.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/63safull.html |title=South American Championship 1963 |work=RSSSF |access-date=14 June 2021}}
International career
Zabalaga got his first cap with Bolivia on 15 July 1961 against Uruguay for the 1st leg of the 1962 FIFA World Cup qualification.{{cite web |title=Bolivia v Uruguay, 15 July 1961 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/bolivia-v-uruguay-15-july-1961-227950/ |website=11v11 |access-date=8 January 2024}} He also play the 2nd leg on 30 July, also against Uruguay.{{cite web |title=Uruguay v Bolivia, 30 July 1961 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/uruguay-v-bolivia-30-july-1961-227951/ |website=11v11 |access-date=8 January 2024}}
He was selected in Bolivia's squad for the 1963 South American Championship, playing only one game against Paraguay on 24 March{{cite web |title=South American Championship 1963 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/63safull.html |website=RSSF |access-date=8 January 2024}} as Bolivia won the tournament, its first and only Copa America.
In July and August 1965, he played three 1966 FIFA World Cup qualification games, two against Paraguay{{cite web |title=Paraguay v Bolivia, 25 July 1965 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/paraguay-v-bolivia-25-july-1965-229103/ |website=11v11 |access-date=14 January 2024}}{{cite web |title=Bolivia v Paraguay, 22 August 1965 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/bolivia-v-paraguay-22-august-1965-229135/ |website=11v11 |access-date=14 January 2024}} and one against Argentina.{{cite web |title=Bolivia v Argentina, 29 August 1965 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/bolivia-v-argentina-29-august-1965-229145/ |website=11v11 |access-date=14 January 2024}}
Zabalaga was in Bolivia's squad for the 1967 South American Championship and played 5 games during the tournament.{{cite web |title=South American Championship 1967 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/67safull.html |website=RSSSF |access-date=8 January 2024}}
The game against Chile on 1 February was his 11th and last cap with Bolivia.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Bolivia squad 1963 South American Championship}}
{{Bolivia squad 1967 South American Championship}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zabalaga, Mario}}
Category:Bolivian men's footballers
Category:20th-century Bolivian sportsmen
Category:Bolivia men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:C.D. Jorge Wilstermann players
{{Bolivia-footy-defender-stub}}