Arnold Javier Cruz Argueta (born 22 December 1970) is a retired Honduran football defender. He currently is manager of second division side UPNFM.[1]

Arnold Cruz
Personal information
Full name Arnold Javier Cruz Argueta
Date of birth (1970-12-22) 22 December 1970 (age 53)
Place of birth El Progreso, Honduras
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1994 Olimpia
1994–1995 UA Tamaulipas 26 (3)
1995–1996 Toluca 21 (0)
1996–1997 Atlético Morelia 9 (0)
1997 D.C. United 5 (0)
1997 San Jose Clash 20 (0)
1998 Platense
1999 Olimpia
2000 Chacarita Juniors 13 (0)
2000–2001 Olimpia
2001 Universidad
2002–2003 Cartaginés 67
2004–2005 Águila
2005–2007 Olimpia
2007–2008 Platense 18
International career
1991–2003 Honduras 50 (3)
Managerial career
2008 Platense (assistant)
2013–2014 UPNFM
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2007
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 2000

Club career edit

Nicknamed Chele,[2] Cruz started his professional career at Olimpia before moving abroad to join compatriot César Obando at Mexican outfit UA Tamaulipas. He then played for fellow Mexicans Toluca and Morelia[3] and joined Major League Soccer in 1997, where he would turn out for D.C. United and San Jose Clash.[4] The much-travelled defender enjoyed a season in Argentinian football with Chacarita Juniors[5] in between two more spells with Olimpia and played for Costa Rican side Cartaginés and the Salvadorans of Águila.[6]

He finally returned to Honduras and Olimpia in 2005 and finished his career at Platense in Liga Nacional de Honduras.

International career edit

Cruz made his debut for Honduras in a May 1991 UNCAF Nations Cup match against Panama and has earned a total of 50 caps, scoring 3 goals. He has represented his country in 18 FIFA World Cup qualification matches[7] and played at the 1991, 1993,[8] 1995[9] and 2003 UNCAF Nations Cups[10] as well as at the 1991,[11] 1996[12] and 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cups.[13]

His final international was a June 2003 friendly match against Venezuela.

International goals edit

Scores and results list Honduras' goal tally first.
N. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 22 September 1992 Estadio Nacional, Tegucigalpa, Honduras   Jamaica 4–1 5–1 Friendly match
2. 17 November 1996 Estadio Francisco Morazán, San Pedro Sula, Honduras   Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3–0 11–3 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
3. 20 August 2000 New York City, USA   Haiti 2–0 4–0 Friendly match

Retirement edit

He retired in 2008 and became assistant coach for Nahúm Espinoza at Platense. In 2011, he worked for a Youth Institution of the Honduran government.[14] He became manager of UPNFM for the 2013 Clausura.

Honours and awards edit

Club edit

C.D. Olimpia

Country edit

Honduras

References edit

External links edit