Francisco Javier Cruz

Francisco Javier Cruz Jiménez ( born May 24, 1966 in Frio, San Luis Potosí ), also known by the nickname El Abuelo ( Grandfather ) is a former Mexican football player who was used in defense or in midfield.

Biography

Association

El Abuelo Cruz began his professional career in 1983 at Monterrey, for which he stood until 1988 under contract, and where he had his longest club station at a time with most inserts ( 117) and goals (37). Then he made the leap across the Atlantic and played in the 1988/89 season for the CD Logroñés in the Spanish La Liga. In the following three seasons, he was again at CF Monterrey in the Mexican Primera División under contract before he moved in 1992 just to Monterrey archrival Tigres de la UANL, for which he played the next three years. In the 1995/96 season he was standing by the CF Atlante under contract and then returned to the Tigres back before it - may have one or the other detour - ended his active career in 1999 in the service of CF Monterrey.

National

Between 1986 and 1993 graduated from Francisco Cruz a total of 19 international appearances for the Mexican national football team, scoring three goals. The versatile player was active as needed in both the offensive and the defensive and acted always as a wild card; because he was the typical substitute, who denied any of his 19 caps for the full distance.

Both his international debut on 27 April 1986 as well as his last international match on May 9, 1993, both played against Canada. While he was a half- time was used in the first game (3-0 ) at least, his last assignment was limited to 17 minutes. In this game, he came on in the 69th minute and had to leave the pitch after 86 minutes again. Still, it was one of his most important matches; because it took place during qualifying for the 1994 World Cup and he succeeded in the 83rd minute of a 2-1 victory for " El Tri ".

Highlight of his international career was the participation in the discharged at home World Cup in 1986, when he in all three group matches against Belgium ( 2-1 ), Paraguay (1:1) and Iraq ( 1-0) were each loaded in the final quarter of an hour. While he was not taken in the second round against Bulgaria (2-0), he came in the quarterfinals against Germany (1:4 on penalties ) after the 70th minute, and thus for a total of 50 minutes of the game to use.

Achievements

• Mexican masters: México 86 ( with Monterrey)
• Cup Winners' Cup: 1992 ( with Monterrey)
• Master of the 2nd League: Invierno 1996, Verano 1997 ( UANL Tigres with )