Victor Cristaldo

Victor Cristaldo (born 10 May 1967) is a retired Argentine-born Australian professional footballer of Paraguayan descent.[1] He played as a midfielder.[2] Cristaldo played two seasons for Melbourne Croatia in the National Soccer League. He later played for Club Presidente Hayes and Club Sport Colombia in the Primera División Paraguaya, becoming the first Australian to play professionally in Paraguay in 1993, and the second player to play in South America under CONMEBOL affiliation after John Crawley (1990 in Chile).

Victor Cristaldo
Personal information
Full name Victor Cristaldo
Date of birth (1967-05-10) 10 May 1967
Place of birth Argentina
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1984 Leicester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1984 Keilor
1984 Leicester City 0 (0)
1985–1987 Melbourne Croatia 24 (0)
1988–1992 Thomastown 139 (17)
1993–1996 Presidente Hayes
1996 Western Suburbs (2)
1996–1997 Sport Colombia
1998 Western Suburbs (1)
2002–2005 Melbourne City
National team
– Australia U20
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 May 2011

Early life

Cristaldo was born in Argentina to Paraguayan parents and moved to Australia at the age of 9.[3]

He attended Flemington High School.[4]

Career

Club career

Cristaldo played at Leicester City for three months in 1984, scoring twelve goals in fifteen games for Leicester's reserves and youth teams.[4]

Cristaldo started his career with Keilor, before joining Melbourne Croatia in the National Soccer League in 1985.[4] He was a member of the team's squad for the 1985 and 1986 seasons.[5] In 1986, whilst playing for Melbourne Croatia, he was called up to the Argentine Air Force.[4]

Victor next played for Thomastown, from 1988.[2] He remained at the club until 1992.[6]

In 1993, Cristaldo joined Primera División Paraguaya club Presidente Hayes based in the city of Asunción. "It's like a dream come true", he told Laurie Schwab, reported of The Age, "but financially, It's just not possible". His wages in Paraguay were more than three times higher than they were in Melbourne and the cost of living in Paraguay is much lower. He and his wife, Cynthia, bought a house and the club had supplied them with a car.[7] Cristaldo hoped that during the Paraguayan off-season that an Australian NSL club would at the very least give him a guest stint.[8]

Cristaldo played for Western Suburbs in the Victorian State League Division 1 in 1996, scoring two goals.[9]

In 1996, Cristaldo returned to Paraguay to play for Club Sport Colombia where he stayed until 1997.[10][11]

He returned to Western Suburbs in 1998.[12]

International career

Cristaldo had represented Australia at youth level and whilst in Paraguay in 1993 hoped that his success there would prompt the then Australia national team coach, Eddie Thomson, to consider adding him to the squad.[13]

Management career

Cristaldo moved into coaching after retiring as a player.[14] He has had roles at a number of clubs including Monash City and Sunshine George Cross.[14][15]

After football

Victor's son Christopher is also a professional footballer, and has appeared for Australia U-20 and for Melbourne Victory in the A-League.[16]

References
  1. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/120751073/
  2. Laurie Schwab (26 December 1988). "Uncharitable Crino hist four past JUST". The Age.
  3. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/120751073/
  4. Laurie Schwab (20 February 1986). "Argentine Air Force calls up Melbourne Croatia teenager". The Age.
  5. "Croatia Squads 1953-2006" (PDF). SESASport.com. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  6. Tony Persoglia. "Thomastown 1992". OzFootball. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  7. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/120751073/
  8. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/120751073/
  9. "1996 Victorian State League Division One Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  10. "Cristaldo, Victor". OzFootball. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  11. https://deportescde.com/sejean-comprometido-con-cerro/
  12. "1998 Victorian State League Division One Results". OzFootball. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  13. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/120751073/
  14. "Western Suburbs Club History". Western Suburbs SC. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  15. "Geelong soccer star trying out in Argentina". Geelong Advertiser. 30 April 2010.
  16. Steven Chang (11 September 2013). "New beginnings for Victory's youth". MFootball.com.au.
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