Ysrael Zúñiga
Herlyn Ysrael Zúñiga Yáñez (born August 27, 1976) is a Peruvian former footballer who has played as a striker for Peru and for clubs including Coventry City, Estudiantes and Melgar. Since retirement, Zúñiga has reverted to dentistry in his homeland, for which he obtained qualifications for concurrently during his tenure at Sporting Cristal.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Herlyn Ysrael Zuñiga Yáñez | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 27 August 1976 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Lima,[1] Peru | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Striker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1994 | Sporting Cristal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | Guardia Republicana | 19 | (28) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 –1997 | Coronel Bolognesi | 22 | (23) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | Sport Agustino | 24 | (26) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Coronel Bolognesi | 18 | (25) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | Melgar | 39 | (32) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2002 | Coventry City | 30 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Estudiantes (LP) | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | Cruz Azul Hidalgo | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Universitario | 45 | (15) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Atlético Universidad | 21 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | Sporting Cristal | 36 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Melgar | 38 | (19) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Bursaspor | 19 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Melgar | 34 | (14) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2012 | Juan Aurich | 80 | (21) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2018 | Melgar | 155 | (41) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 556 | (259) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2007 | Peru | 21 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018– | FBC Melgar Youth Team (assistant coach) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club career
Zúñiga initially trained as a dental technician before deciding to become a professional footballer at the relatively late age of 22. He gained some international fame after scoring a league-record equalling 32 goals for Melgar in his first season in the Primera División Peruana in 1999. His goalscoring success prompted English Premier League club Coventry City to purchase him for £750,000 in February 2000. However, he was unable to find any form in England; scoring three goals in 30 appearances spread over two and a half years with Coventry before he was released in the summer of 2002.
After leaving Coventry he joined Argentine club Estudiantes, but again struggled to recapture his scoring form. Zúñiga returned to his homeland following the conclusion of his spell in Argentina to join Sporting Cristal, a club he spent time at as a teenager before leaving the game to study to be a dental worker.
International career
He won 21 caps and scored 3 goals for the Peru.[3]
He was recalled against Ecuador in June 2007.
International
As of 9 July 2007
 Peru | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 1999 | 7 | 1 |
| 2000 | 10 | 1 |
| 2001 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 | 1 |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 21 | 3 |
Honours
References
- "Plantilla 2011 - Ysrael Zúñiga" (in Spanish). JuanAurich.net. January 2011. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
- "Information of Ysrael Zuñiga" (in Spanish).
- Appearances for Peru National Team - RSSSF