Franklin Erasmo Lobos Ramírez (born June 2, 1957 in Copiapó) is a retired Chilean footballer. Lobos debuted in 1980 for Regional Atacama, and retired in 1995, playing for the same club he started his career with. He was nicknamed El Mortero Mágico (The Magic Mortar).[1] He eventually became a miner and was one of the miners trapped underground for two months in the 2010 Copiapó mining accident. On October 13, 2010, Lobos was the 27th of 33 miners to be rescued.

Franklin Lobos
Lobos following his rescue from the 2010 Copiapó mining accident
Personal information
Full name Franklin Erasmo Lobos Ramírez
Date of birth (1957-06-02) June 2, 1957 (age 66)
Place of birth Copiapó, Chile
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1981 Regional Atacama
1982 Deportes Antofagasta
1983–1985 Cobresal
1986–1987 Deportes Antofagasta
1988–1989 Cobresal
1990–1991 La Serena
1992 Santiago Wanderers
1993 Municipal Iquique
1994 Unión La Calera
1995 Regional Atacama
International career
Chile Olympic
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Football career edit

Club edit

Lobos made his professional debut for Chilean Second Division team Regional Atacama in 1980, scoring in his first match for the club.[2] After leaving Regional Atacama in 1981, Lobos played a year with Deportes Antofagasta before moving to Cobresal in 1983.

In what would be the first of his two stints with Cobresal, Lobos tasted success in his first year as the team representing the small mining town of El Salvador won the 1983 Second Division title.[1] In the national championship of Chile of 1984, Cobresal was runner-up. Lobos returned to Deportes Antofagasta for 1986 and 1987. In 1988, he rejoined Cobresal where he played until 1989.

Until leaving high level football in 1995, Lobos played for a number of clubs including La Serena, Santiago Wanderers, Municipal Iquique and Unión La Calera.[3]

He was known for his powerful free kicks.[4]

International edit

Lobos represented Chile in the CONMEBOL Men Pre-Olympic Tournament, a qualifying tournament for the 1984 Olympic Games.[5][6]

Honours edit

After football edit

After his sporting career ended Lobos became a taxi-driver and, in 2005, a miner.[1][7] He worked as a truck driver in the Copiapó mine,[1] where in August 2010, he was one of the 33 miners trapped in the 2010 Copiapó mining accident.[5][8] He was the 27th miner to be rescued on October 13[9][10] and thus holds the record for the seventh longest time ever being trapped underground. Guinness World Records was asked by the rescue team for all the miners, including Lobos, to be honored with the record.[11]

He has two daughters.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Jonathan Franklin (September 7, 2010). "Trapped Chilean miners: How did a former footballing hero come to be one of the 33?". The Guardian. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  2. ^ Thompson, Wright. "Above and Beyond". Outside the Lines. ESPN. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  3. ^ "Manuel Rodríguez, ex entrenador de Cobresal: "Franklin Lobos es pura risa y se metió a la mina para mantener a su familia"". Noticias Web. 23 August 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2010. Defendió también a Unión La Calera, Iquique, Wanderers, Copiapó y Antofagasta, además de Cobresal[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Chilean international is among the surviving miners". FIFPro News. FIFPro. August 26, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  5. ^ a b Former Player Is Among 33 Stranded Miners NY Times, August 27, 2010
  6. ^ Ivan, Pablo. "Bajo la tierra - Treinta Dos Mineros Chilenos y un Crack" (in Spanish). Canaltrans.com. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
  7. ^ "Lobos, le mineur footballeur". SoFoot.com (in French). October 13, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
  8. ^ "Ex futbolista se encuentra entre los mineros atrapados en Copiapó". Terra.cl. August 6, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  9. ^ « 2010 Copiapó mining rescue », peoplestar.co.uk, Retrieved on 2010-10-13.
  10. ^ Allen, Nick (12 October 2010). "Chile miners rescue: profiles of the 33 men". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  11. ^ Warren, Michael (14 October 2010). "Chile miners start new lives, adjust to freedom". Yahoo!. Retrieved 14 October 2010.