Pablo Larios Iwasaki (Japanese: パブロ・ラリオス・イワサキ, July 31, 1960 – January 31, 2019) was a Mexican professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He was nicknamed "El Arquero de la Selva" (The Goalkeeper of the Jungle), both for being from Zacatepec, a town in the Mexican state of Morelos known for his humid and warm climate, and for starting his career with his hometown's football club.[1]

Pablo Larios
Personal information
Full name Pablo Larios Iwasaki
Date of birth (1960-07-31)July 31, 1960
Place of birth Zacatepec, Morelos, Mexico
Date of death January 31, 2019(2019-01-31) (aged 58)
Place of death Puebla, Mexico
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10+12 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1984 Zacatepec 76 (0)
1984–1989 Cruz Azul 138 (0)
1989–1994 Puebla 198 (0)
1994–1997 Toros Neza 105 (0)
1997 Zacatepec 0 (0)
1998–1999 Toros Neza 22 (0)
Total 539 (0)
International career
1983–1991 Mexico 48 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Mexico
Third place CONCACAF Gold Cup 1991
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career edit

Larios was a goalkeeper for Zacatepec, Cruz Azul, Puebla and Toros Neza during his playing career. He played for the Mexico national football team at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, where Mexico reached the quarter-finals and 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[2] He also participated in the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship.[3]

He was the goalkeeper trainer in the 2006 FIFA World Cup working for Ricardo Lavolpe.[citation needed]

Personal life edit

He has Japanese ancestors on his maternal side.[1]

In early September 2008, Larios's 19-year-old son, Pablo Larios Garza, was reported missing. After an intense search, he was found dead by the border police near the area of Grajeno, approximately 600 feet away from Rio Grande. He attempted to illegally cross the border to visit his girlfriend, who lived in the US, since he had lost his visa.[4]

Death edit

On Thursday January 31, 2019 Larios was pronounced dead at a hospital in Puebla, at the age of 58. The former goalkeeper had been admitted to an emergency hospital due to an intestinal occlusion and respiratory arrest, for which he underwent surgery from which he did not survive.[5]

Honours edit

Zacatepec

Puebla

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Barrón, Carlos (31 January 2019). "Pablo Larios, atrapado en su selva". Mediotiempo.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  2. ^ "Pablo Larios, de luto" [Pablo Larios in mourning] (in Spanish). Esto. 10 September 2008.
  3. ^ "FIFA World Youth Championship Japan 1979 - Teams - Mexico". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  4. ^ Note at Mexican newspaper El Universal (in Spanish)
  5. ^ "Fallece el histórico portero Pablo Larios". El Universal (in Spanish). 31 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Copa de Campeones y Subcampeones CONCACAF 1991". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 February 2019.

External links edit