Javier Astúa

Javier Astúa Araya (6 November 1968 – 4 January 2022) was a Costa Rican professional footballer who played as a forward.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Astúa and the second or maternal family name is Araya.

Javier Astúa
Personal information
Full name Javier Astúa Araya
Date of birth (1968-11-06)6 November 1968
Place of birth Quepos, Costa Rica
Date of death 4 January 2022(2022-01-04) (aged 53)
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1992 Puntarenas 168 (46)
1992 Morelia 2 (0)
1993 Palestino 7 (1)
1994–1995 Alajuelense
1995 San Carlos
1996 Herediano
1999 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] 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.[4] In March 2006, he was released by Herediano.[5] 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.[6]

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[7] and played at the 1993 UNCAF Nations Cup.[8]

He played his final international game in January 1994 against Norway.

Later life and death

Astúa was married and had a daughter and a son,[1] who was manager of Third Division side Jicaral in 2013.[9] He died on 4 January 2022, at the age of 53.[10]

Career statistics
Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Astúa goal.
List of international goals scored by Javier Astúa
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
123 August 1992Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica Panama5–05–11994 FIFA World Cup qualification
25 December 1992Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino, Tegucigalpa, Honduras Honduras1–21–21994 FIFA World Cup qualification
313 December 1992Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica Saint Vincent and the Grenadines1–05–01994 FIFA World Cup qualification
43–0
54–0
616 February 1993Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica Nicaragua1–06–01993 UNCAF Nations Cup qualification
73–0

References
  1. “Extraño el fútbol”, Al Día, (in Spanish)
  2. Mexican league stats Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine - Mediotiempo (in Spanish)
  3. Javier Astúa se confiesa - Nación (in Spanish)
  4. Separado Astúa - Nación (in Spanish)
  5. Sacudida en Herediano Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Nación (in Spanish)
  6. Goleadores de Campeonato Nacional Archived 30 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine - UNAFUT
  7. Javier Astúa – FIFA competition record (archived)
  8. UNCAF Tournament 1993 - RSSSF
  9. Jicaral y Siquirres a un paso de la final - DiarioExtra (in Spanish)
  10. Fallece recordado exjugador del fútbol nacional: Javier Astúa Araya (in Spanish)
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