Jose Pedro Fuenzalida

Jose Pedro Fuenzalida is a Chilean footballer, born on 22nd February 1985 in Santiago, Chile. Fuenzalida is primarily a forward or a right winger but has also been deployed on the right side of midfield or as a right back. Fuenzalida prefers his right foot and currently plays for CD Universidad Catolica.

Background

Fuenzalida was a product of the famous Universidad Catolica youth academy. He spent seven years at the youth academy before graduating to the first team in 2004 at the age of 19. He had a disappointing debut as his club lost 4-0 to Union Espanola.

Fuenzalida decided to take a break from football in 2007 in order to pursue his studies.

After taking a year off, Fuenzalida joined local rivals Colo-Colo in 2008 on a four-year deal. He scored his first goal in a 2-1 win over Deportes Antofagasta.

However, he had a largely uninspiring first season at Colo-Colo making only seven appearances and scoring a single goal.

He decided to join O’Higgins on loan in the next season.

Debut

Fuenzalida made his debut for the Chilean national side in 2008 in a 2010 South American FIFA World Cup Qualifier game against Bolivia. His country won the game 2-0.

He scored his first goal in an international friendly against Haiti in a 3-0 win.

Rise to Glory

Fuenzalida got his much-required break into top level football at O’Higgins. He started making more regular appearances for his club. In his two-year loan stay at O’Higgins, Fuenzalida made 51 appearances and scored 14 goals. However, trophies eluded him at O’Higgins.

Impressed by the progress he made at O’Higgins, Colo-Colo decided to recall him at the start of the 2010 season. He repaid the faith in him by helping the team to the final of the Apertura.

Fuenzalida stayed at Colo-Colo for a further three seasons. He made 167 appearances for Colo-Colo and scored 26 goals for the club.

At the start of 2014, Fuenzalida moved abroad to join Argentinian giants Boca Juniors. He had a trophy-laden couple of seasons at Boca Juniors. He won the Copa Argentina in his debut season and helped his club, land the double of the Superliga and Copa Libertadores Playoff in 2015.

Fuenzalida returned to Chile during the 2015-16 season joining his old club Universidad Catolica. He helped his club win the Chilean Primera Division in his debut season and then won the Chilean Super Cup, the following season.

Fuenzalida has appeared 63 times during his second stint with Universidad Catolica and has scored 16 times.

Fuenzalida has also won the Copa America twice in two years with his national team in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Winning the tournament in front of his home crowd in 2015 remains the highest part of his career.

Low Points

The lowest point of Jose Fuenzalida’s career is losing the Confederations Cup final in 2017. Although he did not play in the final, it remains one of the most disappointing days of the recently fledgling Chilean football team.

Another low point of Fuenzalida’s football career was his inability to take his country to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Club Career

Fuenzalida started his career with Universidad Catolica. He moved to Colo-Colo in 2008 for £135,000. In search of more playing time, Fuenzalida joined O'Higgins on loan in 2009. He rejoined Colo-Colo in December 2009 at the end of his loan spell and stayed at Colo-Colo for a further four years. In 2014, he moved abroad for the first time as he joined Boca Juniors. In 2016, he came back to his old club Universidad Catolica on a free transfer.