José Pedro Fuenzalida Gana (; born 22 February 1985) is a Chilean former professional footballer who played as a right winger.
Club career A product of the Universidad Católica youth set-up, Fuenzalida was promoted to the first-adult team in 2004, at the age of 19. He debuted in a 4–0 defeat with Unión Española at San Carlos de Apoquindo for a league game, during a moment considered one of the club's biggest sports crises. Similarly, Fuenzalida collated his football career with his studies in business administration at the University of the Andes, which he abandoned after a short time.
During the winter of 2007, Fuenzalida aged twenty-two decided to take a break as footballer to study commercial engineering at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
After six month studying, he returned to professional football and joined rivals Colo-Colo on a four-year deal. Fuenzalida debuted on 13 January 2008 against Universidad de Concepción and scored his first goal in a 2–1 home win over Deportes Antofagasta. In June, he joined O'Higgins on loan after an unsuccessful tournament where only scored one goal in seven games.
In December 2009, it was reported that Fuenzalida finished his loan spell at O'Higgins and would return to Colo-Colo to face the next season. Seasons later, he helped the team to win the 2014 Torneo Apertura, being a key player in the title obtention which was his first honour playing for the club.
On 29 July 2014, Fuenzalida reached a one-and-half year with Argentine powerhouse Boca Juniors.
Following an unsuccessful spell at Boca, he returned to Universidad Católica in 2016, signing for Las Condes-based club as a free agent. He helped the team to win Torneo Clausura.
Fuenzalida left Universidad Católica at the end of the 2022 season, not confirming his retirement. However, in April 2023, his wife confirmed he had retired from football.
International career Fuenzalida has played in the U-20 and U-23 levels of the Chile national team in the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2008 Toulon Tournament, respectively.
Usually called up by Marcelo Bielsa for the 2010 World Cup qualification, he was chosen by Jorge Sampaoli in Chile's list of 23 for 2014 FIFA World Cup. In 2015, after being disaffected of the 30-man provisional list for the Copa América, he was re-considered by Sampaoli in the definitive list following the withdrawal of the injured Carlos Carmona.
Personal life Following his retirement, Fuenzalida and his family emigrated to Los Angeles, California, and he began to study English.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsUniversidad Católica2004Chilean Primera División26420——2842005Chilean Primera División260—100—3602006Chilean Primera División324—61—3852007Chilean Primera División121———121Total969201610011410Colo-Colo2008Chilean Primera División71———712010Chilean Primera División3131071—3942011Chilean Primera División2656240—3672012Chilean Primera División39483——4772013Chilean Primera División174———1742013–14Chilean Primera División3347140—4452014–15Chilean Primera División20———20Total155212261510019228O'Higgins (loan)2008Chilean Primera División20610——2162009Chilean Primera División318———318Total51141000005214Boca Juniors2014Argentine Primera División120—61—1812015Argentine Primera División1302030—180Total250209100361Universidad Católica2015–16Chilean Primera División134———1342016–17Chilean Primera División2244260113372017Chilean Primera División13430—101742018Chilean Primera División29520——3152019Chilean Primera División211030801033102020Chilean Primera División224—110103442021Chilean Primera División2434060—3432022Chilean Primera División110216010200Total155341833705121537Career total482774597735160990
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsChile20084020094020105020121020135120144020151020161222017100201952202020Total555
Scores and results list Chile's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fuenzalida goal.
+ List of international goals scored by José Pedro FuenzalidaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 19 January 2013 Estadio Municipal de Concepción, Concepción, Chile 3–0 3–0 Friendly2 6 June 2016 Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, United States 1–2 1–2 Copa América Centenario3 22 June 2016 Soldier Field, Chicago, United States 2–0 2–0 Copa América Centenario4 6 June 2019 Estadio La Portada, La Serena, Chile 2–1 2–1 Friendly5 21 June 2019 Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil 1–0 2–1 2019 Copa América
Honours Universidad Católica Chilean Primera División (7): 2005–C, 2016–C, 2016–A, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 Supercopa de Chile: 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021
Colo-Colo Chilean Primera División: 2014–C
Boca Juniors Primera División de Argentina: 2015 Copa Argentina: 2014–15
Chile Copa América: 2015, 2016
Individual Chilean Primera División's El Gráfico Golden Ball: 2013 SIFUP Best Right Back: 2013
References
External links