Victor Cristaldo

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Victor Cristaldo

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| fullname = Victor Cristaldo

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1967|5|10}}

| birth_place = Argentina

| death_date =

| height =

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 1984

| youthclubs1 = Leicester City

| years1 = 1983–1984 | clubs1 = Keilor | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 1984 | clubs2 = Leicester City | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 1985–1987 | clubs3 = Melbourne Croatia | caps3 = 24 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 1988–1992 | clubs4 = Thomastown | caps4 = 139 | goals4 = 17

| years5 = 1993–1996 | clubs5 = Presidente Hayes | caps5 = | goals5 =

| years6 = 1996 | clubs6 = Western Suburbs | goals6 = 2

| years7 = 1996–1997 | clubs7 = Sport Colombia | goals7 =

| years8 = 1998 | clubs8 = Western Suburbs | goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2002–2005 | clubs9 = Melbourne City | goals9 =

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 = Australia U20

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| club-update = 15 May 2011

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Victor Cristaldo (born 10 May 1967)[https://deportescde.com/oceanicos-que-jugaron-en-paraguay/ Oceanicos que jugaron en Paraguay] deportescde.com {{dead link|date=January 2024}} is an Argentine-born Australian former professional footballer of Paraguayan descent who played as a midfielder and currently works as a coach.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/120751073/|title = The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on September 9, 1993 · Page 28| date=9 September 1993 }}{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|date=26 December 1988|title=Uncharitable Crino hist four past JUST|author=Laurie Schwab}}

In 1985 and 1986, Cristaldo played for Melbourne Knights in the National Soccer League.

Cristaldo then passed 5 seasons in the Primera División Paraguaya from 1993 to 1997. In this task, he featured for Club Presidente Hayes and Club Sport Colombia, becoming the first Australian to play in Paraguay and the second player to play in South America after John Crawley (1990 in Chile).

Following his retirement, Cristaldo became a coach.

He is the father of Australian footballer Christopher Cristaldo.

Early life

Cristaldo was born in Argentina to Paraguayan parents and moved to Australia at the age of 9. He attended Flemington High School.{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|title=Argentine Air Force calls up Melbourne Croatia teenager|date=20 February 1986|author=Laurie Schwab}}

Career

=Leicester City=

In 1984, Cristaldo played for Leicester City for three months, scoring 12 goals in 15 games for the club's reserve and youth teams.

=Melbourne Knights=

Cristaldo started his career with Melbourne club Keilor Park and later joined Melbourne Knights in Australia's National Soccer League in 1985, being a member of the squad for the 1985 and 1986 seasons.{{cite web|url=http://sesasport.com/wp-content/uploads/Croatiasquads1953-2006.pdf|title=Croatia Squads 1953-2006|publisher=SESASport.com|accessdate=11 May 2015}} In 1986, whilst playing for Melbourne Knights, he was called up to the Argentine Air Force.

=Thomastown=

In 1988, Cristaldo played for Thomastown, where he remained until 1992.{{cite web|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Clubs/T/ThomastownPR1992.html|title=Thomastown 1992|publisher=OzFootball|accessdate=11 May 2015|author=Tony Persoglia}}

=Presidente Hayes=

In 1993, Cristaldo joined Primera División Paraguaya club Presidente Hayes in the city of Asunción. Cristaldo told Australian newspaper The Age "It's like a dream come true. But financially, it's just not possible". Cristaldo's wages in Paraguay were more than three times higher than they were in Australia and the cost of living in Paraguay was much lower. He and his wife, Cynthia, bought a house and the club supplied them with a car. At Presidente Hayes, Cristaldo was teammates with national team players Edgar Denis and Justo Jacquet. Cristaldo hoped that during the Paraguayan off-season that an Australian National Soccer League club would, at the very least, give him a guest stint.

=Western Suburbs=

Cristaldo played for Western Suburbs in the Victorian State League Division 1 in 1996, scoring two goals.{{cite web|publisher=OzFootball|accessdate=11 May 2015|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/States/VIC/1996D1R.html|title=1996 Victorian State League Division One Results}}

=Sport Colombia=

In 1996, Cristaldo passed to Club Sport Colombia for the 1996 Primera División season, as Sport Colombia finished fourth in the Torneo Clausura. He remained there until 1997, which was when future national team player Nelson Cuevas debuted for the club.

=Western Suburbs=

He returned to Western Suburbs in 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/States/VIC/1998D1R.html|title=1998 Victorian State League Division One Results|publisher=OzFootball|accessdate=11 May 2015}}

International career

Cristaldo represented the Australia U-20 national team. In 1993, Cristaldo hoped that his success in Paraguay would prompt Australia's national team coach, Eddie Thomson, to consider adding him to the squad.

Management career

Cristaldo moved into coaching after retiring as a player.{{cite web|url=http://www.westernsuburbssc.com/history.html|title=Western Suburbs Club History|publisher=Western Suburbs SC|accessdate=11 May 2015}} He has had roles at a number of clubs including Monash City and Sunshine George Cross.{{cite news|title=Geelong soccer star trying out in Argentina|newspaper=Geelong Advertiser|date=30 April 2010}}

Personal life

Cristaldo is the father of Paraguayan-born Australian footballer Christopher who appeared for the Australia U-20 national team, Melbourne Victory in the A-League and Nacional Asunción in the Primera División Paraguaya.{{cite news|url=http://www.mfootball.com.au/new-beginnings-for-victorys-youth/|title=New beginnings for Victory's youth|publisher=MFootball.com.au|date=11 September 2013|author=Steven Chang}}