Mario Velarde

Mario Velarde Vázquez (* February 29, 1940; † 19 August 1997) was a former Mexican footballer who mostly acted in midfield. After the end of his playing career, he coached his longtime home club UNAM Pumas 1983-1987.

Biography

Association

Velarde began his professional career in 1960 in the service of the Club Necaxa and moved in 1965 to the Club Universidad Nacional. Because he either "too late" came and went "too early", he could never win a title. Before he started his career at Necaxa 1960/61, Necaxa won in season 1959/60 the Copa México. Necaxa won the same title in the first season (1965 /66) after his move to the Pumas. There he ended his active career in the 1973/74 season; and promptly won the University Club in the following season's Copa México.

National

His debut in the Mexican national was Velarde on November 5, 1969 in a game against Belgium (1-0 ), after he had already been in the Mexican World Cup squad in 1962, but there was not used.

Even when discharged at home 1970 World Cup belonged Velarde to the Mexican World Cup squad and came in both the first and the last game of the Mexicans used: in the opening match against the Soviet Union ( 0-0) he played until the 67th minute and in the quarter-final against Italy (1:4), he replaced Javier Valdivia after 60 minutes.

He scored his first international goal against Norway ( 4-0) in his second on 11 November 1969 before him on 13 October 1971 against Bermuda ( also 4-0) its only a "double " for " El Tri " succeeded. His last international game, he completed on 26 January 1972 at 2-0 victory against Chile.