Eladio Zárate León (14 January 1942 – 3 May 2026) 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.
Playing career General Caballero 1959–1962 Olimpia 1962–1963 San Lorenzo 1964 Huracán 1965–1966 Unión Española 1967–1970 Universidad de Chile 1971 San Luis Potosí 1972 Guaraní 1973
Managerial career Zárate began his career as manager in 1974. He coached Coquimbo Unido along with Enrique Hormazábal in 1976. He also served as the assistant of Cayetano Ré in Guaraní in the 1984 season, when they became the Paraguayan champions, among others.
As head coach, he led several teams in the Paraguayan second level and also regional teams until 2000.
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.
He was the uncle of the former Paraguay international footballer, Diego Gavilán.
His eldest son, who was with the Guaraní youth ranks, died of leukaemia, aged 17. His youngest son, Marcos, is a former footballer who played at minor categories of the Spanish football and trialled with Unión Española in 2003.
Zárate died on 3 May 2026, aged 84, in Lambaré, Paraguay.
Honours Olimpia Paraguayan Primera División: 1962
Individual Chilean Championship top scorer: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971
References
External links
Eladio Zárate at MuseodeSanLorenzo.com