Alfredo Pacheco

Alfredo Alberto Pacheco (December 1, 1982 – December 27, 2015) was a Salvadoran footballer who had the record for most appearances on the El Salvador national football team when he was banned for life in 2013, for match-fixing while playing for the national team. He was murdered on December 27, 2015.

Alfredo Pacheco
Personal information
Full name Alfredo Alberto Pacheco
Date of birth (1982-12-01)December 1, 1982
Place of birth Santa Ana, El Salvador
Date of death December 27, 2015(2015-12-27) (aged 33)
Place of death Santa Ana, El Salvador
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
1996–1999 FAS
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2010 FAS 239 (31)
2009 → New York Red Bulls (loan) 14 (0)
2010–2011 Águila 25 (3)
2011–2013 Isidro Metapán 78 (15)
Total 356 (49)
National team
2000–2002 El Salvador U20 14 (2)
2002 El Salvador U21 5 (2)
2003 El Salvador U23 6 (2)
2002–2013 El Salvador 86 (7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Club

Pacheco spent the majority of his career with one of El Salvador's biggest clubs, FAS. After moving through the junior ranks and into the first team reserves, he was given his first chance to play in the Salvadoran Primera División in 2001. He made his professional debut on March 3, 2001, in a league match against C.D. Municipal Limeño. In 2005, he was named club captain.

On February 18, 2009, it was announced that New York Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio had traveled to El Salvador with the hopes of bringing Pacheco to Major League Soccer. Pacheco had been scouted for several months, most notably during FIFA World Cup qualification matches, as well as during the UNCAF Nations Cup tournament. It was initially announced that Pacheco signed with New York Red Bulls on March 5, 2009,[1] but due to difficulties surrounding his International Transfer Card [2] the New York front office did not officially announce his signing until April 17, 2009.[3] In the meantime Pacheco started training with the Red Bulls on April 7, 2009 [4] and after his official signing made his first appearance on April 18, 2009. After a bright start, Pacheco struggled on the field for New York, and the team terminated his loan deal before the end of the season.[5] Pacheco signed a two-year contract with C.D. Águila on June 30, 2010.[6] However, he left the club just one year into his contract with Aguila to join Isidro Metápan starting with the 2011/12 season.

International

Pacheco began his international career with El Salvador's U-20 national team in 2000. He took part in the 2003 CONCACAF U-20 Tournament, which was held throughout 2002. El Salvador failed to qualify for the FIFA World Youth Championship that was to be held in the United Arab Emirates.

That same year Pacheco was also part of the El Salvador U-23 team that won the Central American and Caribbean Games gold medal, after defeating Mexico in the final.

Again, that same year, Pacheco received his first cap with the men's national team. This was on November 17, 2002, in a friendly match against the USA. Pacheco scored his first goal for El Salvador, off a free-kick vs Costa Rica in a 2003 Gold Cup Quarterfinals match. Pacheco is currently the top most capped player of all-time for El Salvador with 86 caps.

On September 20, 2013, Pacheco was one of 14 Salvadoran players banned for life due to their involvement with match fixing.[7]

Personal life

Pacheco lived with his wife and five children in the United States.

Death

Pacheco was murdered on December 27, 2015.[8] Early reports said he was shot when leaving a bathroom at a gas station in Santa Ana, El Salvador.[9] It was later reported he was shot from point blank range and killed by a shot in the abdomen.[10]

References
  1. "Pacheco Signs!". Archived from the original on 2009-03-18. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
  2. Pacheco: ITC problems
  3. Pacheco: Officially Signed
  4. "Pacheco: "I'm Ready!"". Archived from the original on 2009-04-17. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  5. RBNY terminates Pacheco's contract
  6. Pacheco signs with CD Aguila Archived 2012-02-25 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
  7. "El Salvador match-fixing: 14 footballers banned for life". BBC. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  8. "Alfredo Pacheco, El Salvador ex-footballer, murdered". BBC News. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  9. Alfredo Pacheco fue atacado a balazos cuando salía del baño de gasolinera Archived 2015-12-29 at the Wayback Machine - El Salvador.com (in Spanish)
  10. Asesinan a Alfredo Pacheco, exseleccionado de fútbol suspendido por amaños Archived 2015-12-27 at the Wayback Machine - El Salvador.com (in Spanish)
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