Javier Astúa
Costa Rican footballer (1968–2022)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Antonio Javier Astúa Araya (6 November 1968 – 4 January 2022) was a Costa Rican professional footballer who played as a forward.
|
| |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Antonio Javier Astúa Araya | ||
| Date of birth | 6 November 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | Quepos, Costa Rica | ||
| Date of death | 4 January 2022 (aged 53) | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1989–1992 | Puntarenas | 168 | (46) |
| 1993 | Morelia | ||
| 1993 | Puntarenas | ||
| 1994 | Palestino | 2 | (0) |
| 1994–1995 | Alajuelense | ||
| 1995–1996 | San Carlos | ||
| 1996–1997 | Herediano | ||
| 1998–2000 | Carmelita | ||
| International career | |||
| 1992–1994 | Costa Rica | 13 | (7) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2011 | Municipal Puntarenas | ||
| 2013 | Jicaral | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
Born in Quepos,[1] Astúa played several years for Municipal Puntarenas and played two matches for Mexican outfit Morelia in September 1992.[2] He had a frustrating four-month stint at Chilean side Palestino,[3][4] before returning to Costa Rica where he joined Alajuelense. He later played for San Carlos, who released him in November 1995 after an injury-hit spell.[5] In March 2006, he was released by Herediano.[6] He finished his career at Carmelita before more injury cut short his career.
He was twice the Costa Rica Premier Division top goalscorer, in 1992 and 1994.[7]
International career
Astúa made his debut for Costa Rica in an April 1992 friendly against El Salvador and earned a total of 13 caps, scoring seven goals. He has represented his country in four FIFA World Cup qualification matches[8] and played at the 1993 UNCAF Nations Cup.[9]
He played his final international game in January 1994 against Norway.
Later life and death
Career statistics
- Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Astúa goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 August 1992 | Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica |  Panama | 5–0 | 5–1 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 5 December 1992 | Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino, Tegucigalpa, Honduras |  Honduras | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 13 December 1992 | Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1–0 | 5–0 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 3–0 | |||||
| 5 | 4–0 | |||||
| 6 | 16 February 1993 | Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica |  Nicaragua | 1–0 | 6–0 | 1993 UNCAF Nations Cup qualification |
| 7 | 3–0 |