Eladio Zárate
Paraguayan footballer (1942–2026)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eladio Zárate León (14 January 1942 – 3 May 2026)[1] was a Paraguayan professional footballer who played as a forward in clubs of Paraguay, Argentina and Chile and the Paraguay national team in the 1963 South American Championship.[2][3]
|
Zárate with San Lorenzo in 1963 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Eladio Zárate León | ||
| Date of birth | 12 January 1942 | ||
| Place of birth | Alberdi, Paraguay | ||
| Date of death | 3 May 2026 (aged 84) | ||
| Place of death | Lambaré, Paraguay | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1959–1962 | General Caballero | ||
| 1962–1963 | Olimpia | ||
| 1964 | San Lorenzo | 32 | (5) |
| 1965–1966 | Huracán | 40 | (18) |
| 1967–1970 | Unión Española | 145 | (103) |
| 1971 | Universidad de Chile | 32 | (25) |
| 1972 | San Luis Potosí | ||
| 1973 | Guaraní | ||
| International career | |||
| 1959–1963 | Paraguay | 8 | (4) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1976 | Coquimbo Unido | ||
| 1984 | Guaraní (assistant) | ||
| Sportivo Ameliano | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
General Caballero 1959–1962- Olimpia 1962–1963
San Lorenzo 1964- Huracán 1965–1966
Unión Española 1967–1970[4][5]- Universidad de Chile 1971[6]
San Luis Potosí 1972[7]- Guaraní 1973
Managerial career
Zárate began his career as manager in 1974. He coached Coquimbo Unido along with Enrique Hormazábal in 1976.[8] He also served as the assistant of Cayetano Ré in Guaraní in the 1984 season, when they became the Paraguayan champions, among others.[7]
As head coach, he led several teams in the Paraguayan second level and also regional teams until 2000.[7]
Personal life and death
Zárate married María Dolores López, a Chilean who played volleyball for Unión Española and is the niece of Juan Martínez, a former player of Rangers de Talca.[7]
He was the uncle of the former Paraguay international footballer, Diego Gavilán.[7]
His eldest son, who was with the Guaraní youth ranks, died of leukaemia, aged 17. His youngest son, Marcos,[9] is a former footballer who played at minor categories of the Spanish football and trialled with Unión Española in 2003.[10][7]
Zárate died on 3 May 2026, aged 84, in Lambaré, Paraguay.[11][1]
Honours
Olimpia
Individual
- Chilean Championship top scorer: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971