Role Footballer Height 1.80 m | 1986–1989 Cerro Cora Name Victor Avalos | |
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Full name Victor Hugo Avalos Acosta Date of birth (1971-11-06)6 November 1971 Date of death 3 April 2009(2009-04-03) (aged 37) Died April 3, 2009, San Vicente | ||
Place of death San Vicente, Paraguay | ||
Homenaje a Victor Hugo Avalos
Víctor Hugo Ávalos Acosta (6 November 1971 – 2 April 2009) was a Paraguayan footballer, most remembered for his spells at Quilmes, Independiente Medellín and Chilean football.
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Mainly a central midfielder who could also operate as an attacking playmaker, he died in 2009 from a heart attack during an amateur football game.
Club career
Born in the capital Asunción, Ávalos joined hometown's Club Cerro Corá, growing up at the club's football academy and making his Primera División debut in 1990, aged 19. His style of play caught the attention of Argentine Primera División side Quilmes Atlético Club, and he went on to play all the games of the 1991–92 season for the Buenos Aires-based outfit.
The next season Ávalos joined Independiente Medellín of Colombia, playing 36 matches and scoring three goals. Afterwards he returned to his country, signing for powerhouse Club Olimpia and helping the team win the Primera División title in 1995.
In 1997 Ávalos joined Club Guaraní, eventually being club captain. In January 2004, aged 32, he arrived at Deportes Temuco of the Chilean Primera División, going on to remain the vast majority of his remaining career in the country, representing in quick succession C.D. Universidad de Concepción, Deportes Puerto Montt, C.D.P. Curicó Unido and Santiago Wanderers of Valparaíso (playing seventeen 2007 Apertura games for the latter club); the following year he returned to his homeland to play for Club Silvio Pettirossi, having previously appeared for C.D.F.A. Arturo Fernández Vial in the Primera B.
International career
Ávalos was capped once by the Paraguayan national side, on 14 February 1996 against Bolivia. He replaced Club Atlético Independiente's Roberto Acuña in the 52nd minute of a 1–4 away friendly loss prior to the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Additionally, Ávalos played four times for the U-20s in 1991, competing in the South American Youth Championship in Venezuela.
Honours
Death
On 2 April 2009, during his debut at Paraguayan amateur club Villa Florida, Ávalos scored a goal against Salesianito in San Vicente (Asunción). During the subsequent celebrations, he suffered a heart attack, being afflicted by several cardiac arrests, dying at the age of 37.
Weeks later, Ávalos' former club Deportes Temuco made him a tribute match, which featured players as strikers Lucas Barrios and César Díaz, as well as Sergio Bernabé Vargas, historic goalkeeper of the Chilean football team.