José Cardozo
![]() Cardozo in 2006 | ||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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Full name | José Saturnino Cardozo Otazú | |||||||||||||
Date of birth | 19 March 1971 | |||||||||||||
Place of birth | Nueva Italia, Paraguay | |||||||||||||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||
Position(s) | Striker | |||||||||||||
Team information | ||||||||||||||
Current team | Municipal Liberia (Manager) | |||||||||||||
Youth career | ||||||||||||||
1986–1987 | Unión Pacífico | |||||||||||||
Senior career* | ||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||
1988–1990 |
River Plate Asunción | 26 | (10) | |||||||||||
1990–1992 | St. Gallen | 31 | (12) | |||||||||||
1992–1993 | Universidad Católica | 35 | (12) | |||||||||||
1994–1995 |
Olimpia | 41 | (27) | |||||||||||
1995–2005 | Toluca | 332 | (249) | |||||||||||
2001 | → Cruz Azul (loan) | 0 | (0) | |||||||||||
2005 | → Pachuca (loan) | 0 | (0) | |||||||||||
2005–2006 | San Lorenzo | 23 | (5) | |||||||||||
Total | 488 | (315) | ||||||||||||
International career | ||||||||||||||
1992–1995 | Paraguay U23 | 12 | (7) | |||||||||||
1991–2006 | Paraguay | 82 | (25) | |||||||||||
Managerial career | ||||||||||||||
2006–2007 |
Olimpia | |||||||||||||
2009 | Indios (assistant) | |||||||||||||
2009–2011 |
Olimpia | |||||||||||||
2011–2012 |
Querétaro | |||||||||||||
2012 |
Olimpia | |||||||||||||
2013 | Sportivo Luqueño | |||||||||||||
2013–2016 |
Toluca | |||||||||||||
2016 |
Chiapas | |||||||||||||
2017 | Puebla | |||||||||||||
2017 | Veracruz | |||||||||||||
2018–2019 | Guadalajara | |||||||||||||
2021–2022 | Municipal | |||||||||||||
2022–2023 | Municipal | |||||||||||||
2025– | Municipal Liberia | |||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
José Saturnino Cardozo Otazú (locally [xoˈse satuɾˈnino kaɾˈðoso otaˈsu]; born 19 March 1971) is a Paraguayan football manager and former footballer who played as a striker.
Cardozo spent most of his career with Toluca, where he is the club's all-time leading scorer and won four league titles. He would go on to become the club's head coach from 2013 to 2016. Cardozo ranks as the fourth highest scorer in the history of the Mexican football league.
On the international stage, Cardozo made 82 appearances for Paraguay over a fifteen-year period, scoring 25 goals to become the country's second-highest scorer. He represented the national team in three Copa América tournaments, two FIFA World Cups and the 2004 Summer Olympics, where he won a silver medal.
In the 2002/03 season, José Saturnino Cardozo was recognized as the World Top Scorer in the First Division according to the IFFHS. He scored 58 goals between the Apertura 2002 and Clausura 2003 playing for Deportivo Toluca F.C.
Club career
Born in
Cardozo made his debut for Toluca in the 1995 season, but only appeared in three games, scoring no goals. However, in the subsequent winter season, he scored 7 goals in 13 games. In his ten years with the team, he has scored a record 249 goals for the club, including 36 goals in 25 matches in the 2002 Apertura. Cardozo was top scorer of the league four times (Verano 1998, Verano 1999, Apertura 2002, and Clausura 2003). He moved to the 4th spot in the list of all-time top scorers in the Mexico Primera Division after Jared Borgetti scored his 250th goal with Monarcas Morelia.
Due to his work at Toluca, Cardozo was elected as the Paraguayan Footballer of the Year in the years 2000, 2002 and 2003; and the South American Footballer of the Year in 2002. Despite the fact that he was fiercely opposed to the move, Cardozo was transferred to Argentine team San Lorenzo de Almagro in June 2005, and finished the season with only 4 goals due to injuries that kept him away from playing several games. However, many critics lambasted Cardozo for refusing to play through the pain. While playing for Toluca, Cardozo struggled through the 1997 campaign with hamstring problems and then played through much of the 2001 season despite suffering a broken wrist in the season opener. Cardozo is the all-time leading scorer for Toluca, with 249 goals in 332 appearances.[1]
In July 2006, Cardozo attempted to return to
Paraguay national team
Cardozo was the all-time leading scorer for the
International goals
Paraguay U23
- Score and Result list Paraguay's goal tally first.
# | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 12 August 2004 | Thessaloniki, Greece |
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2–1 | 4–3[6] | 2004 Summer Olympics |
2. | 3–1 | |||||
3. | 21 August 2004 | Thessaloniki, Greece |
![]() |
2–0 | 3–2[7] | 2004 Summer Olympics |
4. | 24 August 2004 | Thessaloniki, Greece |
![]() |
1–0 | 3–1[8] | 2004 Summer Olympics |
5. | 2–0 |
Paraguay
# | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 12 July 1991 | Concepción, Chile | ![]() |
1–4 | Loss | 1991 Copa América | ||||||||||||||||||
2. | 22 June 1995 | Santiago , Chile |
![]() |
3–2 | Win | 1995 Copa Centenario | ||||||||||||||||||
3. | 6 July 1995 | Maldonado, Uruguay | ![]() |
2–1 | Win | 1995 Copa América | ||||||||||||||||||
4. | 12 July 1995 | Maldonado, Uruguay | ![]() |
3–2 | Win | 1995 Copa América | ||||||||||||||||||
5. | 26 July 1996 | Asunción, Paraguay | ![]() |
2–0 | Win | Friendly | ||||||||||||||||||
6. | 30 April 1997 | Asunción, Paraguay | ![]() |
3–1 | Win | 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||||||
7. | 3 June 1998 | București, Romania |
![]() |
2–3 | Loss | Friendly | ||||||||||||||||||
8. | 24 June 1998 | Toulouse, France | ![]() |
3–1[9] | Win | 1998 FIFA World Cup | ||||||||||||||||||
9. | 29 June 2000 | Santiago, Chile | ![]() |
1–3 | Loss | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||||||
10. | 2 September 2000 | Asunción, Paraguay | ![]() |
3–0 | Win | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||||||
11. | 15 November 2000 | Asunción, Paraguay | ![]() |
5–1 | Win | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||||||
12. | 24 April 2001 | Quito, Ecuador | ![]() |
1–2 | Loss | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||||||
13. | 5 September 2001 | Asunción, Paraguay | ![]() |
5–1 | Win | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||||||
14. | 5 September 2001 | Asunción, Paraguay | ![]() |
5–1 | Win | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||||||
15. | 13 February 2002 | Ciudad del Este, Paraguay | ![]() |
2–2 | Draw | Friendly | ||||||||||||||||||
16. | 26 March 2003 | San Diego, United States | ![]() |
1–1 | Draw | Friendly | ||||||||||||||||||
17. | 10 September 2003 | Asunción, Paraguay | ![]() |
4–1 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||||||
18. | 10 September 2003 | Asunción, Paraguay | ![]() |
4–1 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||||||
19. | 10 September 2003 | Asunción, Paraguay | ![]() |
4–1 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||||||
20. | 15 November 2003 | Asunción, Paraguay | ![]() |
2–1 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||||||
21. | 1 June 2004 | La Paz, Bolivia | ![]() |
1–2 | Loss | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||||||
22. | 19 January 2005 | Los Angeles, United States | ![]() |
1–1 | Draw | Friendly | ||||||||||||||||||
23. | 27 March 2005 | Quito, Ecuador | ![]() |
2–5 | Loss | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||||||
24. | 30 March 2005 | Asunción, Paraguay | ![]() |
2–1 | Win | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||||||||||||||||||
25. | 27 May 2006 | Aarhus, Denmark | ![]() |
1–1[10] | Draw | Friendly | ||||||||||||||||||
[11] |
Goals in Deportivo Toluca F.C.
|
Goals per rival in Liga MX
Rival | Nº goles | Torneos |
---|---|---|
Atlas | 22 | 21 Liga, 1 Pre-Pre Libertadores |
Santos | 22 | Liga |
América | 18 | 16 Liga, 2 InterLiga |
Atlante | 18 | Liga |
Tigres | 18 | Liga |
Guadalajara | 17 | 16 Liga, 1 Pre-Pre Libertadores |
Necaxa | 15 | Liga |
Pumas UNAM | 15 | Liga |
Pachuca | 15 | Liga |
Puebla | 13 | Liga |
Tecos UAG | 13 | Liga |
Cruz Azul | 10 | 8 Liga, 2 Pre-Pre Libertadores |
Monterrey | 10 | Liga |
Morelia | 7 | Liga |
Neza | 7 | Liga |
Veracruz | 7 | Liga |
León | 6 | Liga |
Celaya | 5 | Liga |
San Luis | 5 | Liga |
Chiapas | 4 | Liga |
Querétaro | 3 | Liga |
Irapuato | 2 | Liga |
Colibríes | 1 | Liga |
Dorados | 1 | Liga |
La Piedad | 1 | Liga |
Coaching career

Club Olimpia
In November 2006, Club Olimpia's coach
Indios
In October 2009 he was hired to be an assistant coach for the team of Indios de Juarez for the Apertura 2009.[12]
Club Olimpia (Return)
Cardozo returned to Olimpia Asunción in November 2009 following coach Carlos Kiese's resignation.
Querétaro FC
In 2011, he was hired as coach
Club Olimpia (Return)
After spending the 2011 and 2012 seasons at Querétaro, he was appointed to manage Olimpia once again on 25 September 2012 after the departure of Gregorio Perez.
Toluca
On 7 May 2013, Cardozo was announced as the new manager for Club Deportivo Toluca of Mexico where he played for 10 years (1995–2005). On 1 May 2016, during the 2016 Clausura, Cardozo confirmed that he would no longer coach Toluca beyond the end of the season despite still having a year left on his contract. He stated that since he did not meet his objective of reaching the Liga MX playoffs with the club, he had nothing more to do with the club, citing that Toluca was a big club with directors and fans that expected a lot more of the team than he could continue to offer. He stated that when a team can no longer accomplish what is asked of it, that the first change that must come is the manager, no questions about it.[13]
Chiapas
Cardozo had a turbulent season at Chiapas during the Apertura 2016, being sacked in September and then brought back due to the petition of the chiapas players.[14] He was ultimately sacked one week later after two more defeats.[15]
Puebla
Cardozo took over Club Puebla early in the Clausura 2017 season.
Guadalajara
On 12 June 2018, Cardozo was appointed manager of Liga MX club Guadalajara.[16]
Honours
Olimpia
- Paraguayan League: 1993
Toluca
- Mexican Primera División: Verano 1998, Verano 1999, Verano 2000, Apertura 2002
- CONCACAF Champions' Cup: 2003
Cruz Azul
- Copa Libertadores runner-up: 2001
Paraguay
- CONMEBOL Men Pre-Olympic Tournament: 1992
- Olympic Silver Medal: 2004
Individual
- Mexican Primera División Golden Ball: Apertura 2002
- Mexican Primera División Golden Boot: Verano 1998, Verano 1999, Apertura 2002, Clausura 2003
- FIFA World Topscorer of the Year: 2003 (58 goals)
- Paraguayan Footballer of the Year: 2000, 2002, 2003
- South American Footballer of the Year: 2002
- South American Team of the Year: 2002, 2003, 2004[17]
- All-time scorer for Deportivo Toluca (249 goals)
See also
References
- ^ Santos, Marlene (29 June 2008). "En su homenaje con Diablos José Cardozo anotó dos goles" [In his testimonial for the Diablos, José Cardozo scored two goals]. La Jornada (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 July 2012.
- Terra Networks(in Spanish). 8 May 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
- ^ "AOL Deportes". Deportes.aol.com. Retrieved 8 June 2016.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ "Paraguay - Record International Players". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ "Portugal Sub 23 vs Paraguay Sub 23 - Amistosos Selecciones Sub 23 2004: Toda la info, alineaciones y eventos".
- ^ "Olympic Football Tournaments Athens 2004 - Men - Paraguay 4:3 (3:1) Japan - Overview". Fifa.com. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ "Olympic Football Tournaments Athens 2004 - Men - Paraguay 3:2 (1:0) Korea Republic - Overview". Fifa.com. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ "Olympic Football Tournaments Athens 2004 - Men - Iraq 1:3 (0:2) Paraguay - Overview". Fifa.com. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ "Nigeria vs. Paraguay - 24 June 1998". Soccerway.com. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ "Denmark vs. Paraguay - 27 May 2006". Soccerway.com. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ José Saturnino Cardozo - Goals in International Matches
- ^ "Archivo no encontrado". Abc.com. Retrieved 8 June 2016. [permanent dead link ]
- ^ "Faltó meterse en el juego". Tolucafc.com. Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ "Los Jaguares abogan por Cardozo y regresa". 14 September 2016.
- ^ "Cardozo se fue de Chiapas…otra vez | Goal.com".
- ^ "Chivas news: Jose Cardozo announced as Matias Almeyda replacement | Goal.com".
- ^ "South American Team of the Year". 16 January 2009. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
External links
- International statistics at rsssf
- José Cardozo at National-Football-Teams.com
- José Cardozo – Liga MX stats at MedioTiempo.com (archived) (in Spanish)
- Argentine Primera statistics at Fútbol XXI[usurped] (in Spanish)