Saturnino Arrúa

Saturnino 'Nino' Arrúa Molinas (born 7 April 1949) is a Paraguayan retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, and a current coach.

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

Saturnino Arrúa
Personal information
Full name Saturnino Arrúa Molinas
Date of birth (1949-04-07) 7 April 1949
Place of birth Itá, Paraguay
Position(s) Attacking Midfielder
Youth career
San Rafael
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1963 Sportivo Iteño
1964–1973 Cerro Porteño
1973–1979 Real Zaragoza 147 (71)
1979–1981 Cerro Porteño
1981–1982 América de Cali 14 (4)
International career
1969–1980 Paraguay 27 (13)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Considered one of the greatest footballers to ever come out of his nation, his 22-year professional career was closely associated with Cerro Porteño and Real Zaragoza.[1]

Club career

Born in Itá near Asunción, Arrúa made his senior debuts at only 14, with local Sportivo Iteño. He was signed shortly after by Cerro Porteño, going on to win four national championships four times during his spell as well as being crowned the league's top scorer on three occasions.

In 1973 Arrúa moved to Spain and joined Real Zaragoza, remaining six seasons with the club, five of them in La Liga. He scored 17 goals in only 26 games in his first campaign for a final third-place and, during parts of his stint in Aragon, formed an efficient attacking partnership with countrymen Carlos Diarte and Felipe Ocampos which was dubbed Zaraguayos.[2]

From 1979 until his retirement six years later Arrúa played mainly with former side Cerro Porteño – this was interspersed with a spell in Colombia with América de Cali. Subsequently, he worked as a manager, with Club 12 de Octubre, Club Atlético 3 de Febrero and Cerro.[3][4]

International career

Arrúa gained 27 caps for Paraguay between 1969 and 1980, scoring 13 goals.[5]

References
  1. Saturnino Arrúa – Un gran y magnífico "10" (Saturnino Arrúa – Great and magnificent "10"); Última Hora, 19 June 2010 (in Spanish)
  2. El Zaragoza de los ‘zaraguayos’ (Zaragoza of the ‘zaraguayos’) Archived 28 June 2013 at archive.today; A Pie de Pista, 7 April 2013 (in Spanish)
  3. Saturnino Arrúa carga una “pesada mochila” (Saturnino Arrúa carries “heavy pack”); ABC, 2 June 2009 (in Spanish)
  4. Tras la renuncia de Lanata, Arrúa vuelve a dirigir al "12" (After stepping down of Lanata, Arrúa back in helm of "12"); Última Hora, 19 October 2009 (in Spanish)
  5. Appearances for Paraguay National Team; at RSSSF
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