Javier Margas

Javier Margas

Personal information
Full name	Javier Luciano Margas Loyola
Date of birth	May 10, 1969 (1969-05-10)
Place of birth	Santiago, Chile
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1988–1995	Colo-Colo	160	(10)
1995–1996	Club América	9	(1)
1996	Colo-Colo	7	(0)
1997–1998	Universidad Católica	21	(2)
1998–2001	West Ham United	24	(1)
National team
1990–2000	Chile	63	(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 April 2008. † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Margas and the second or maternal family name is Loyola.

Javier Luciano Margas Loyola (born 10 May 1969 in Santiago de Chile) is a retired Chilean football defender. He played 63 times for the Chile national team. He played the four games for Chile at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He also made appearances on the "Rest of the world" all-stars team. Margas was famous for dyeing his hair in different colors and shapes (most notably with the Chilean Flag colours).

Margas experienced the most successful period in his career with his first club Colo-Colo where he was part of four league championship winning squads, and was part of the famous Copa Libertadores win in 1991, as well as two other international tournaments.

In 1995 Margas joined Club América in Mexico but didn't settle, returning to Colo-Colo in 1996. He then joined Universidad Católica where he was part of the squad that won the Apertura 1997 championship

His last years as a player were spent with West Ham United where he became infamous for disappearing. Staff and players had no idea where Margas had gone, and many weeks passed before Margas was found in his home country Chile, where he was unaware of the controversy of his sudden departure^{[citation needed]}. He scored once during his spell with West Ham, in a 5-0 win over Coventry City in April 2000.

Since his return to Chile he has worked as a youth coach at Colo-Colo, appeared on a reality TV show called "Expedición Robinson", run his own business, and bought dictator Augusto Pinochet's armoured car.

Honours

Club

• Colo-Colo
  • Primera División de Chile: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996
  • Copa Libertadores: 1991
  • Recopa Sudamericana: 1991
  • Copa Interamericana: 1992

• Universidad Católica
  • Primera División de Chile: 1997

International goals

Date	Venue	Opponent	Result	Competition
3 February 1996	Cochabamba, Bolivia	Bolivia	1–1	International Friendly
2 June 1996	Barinas, Venezuela	Venezuela	1–1	FIFA World Cup qualifier
9 October 1996	Asuncion, Paraguay	Paraguay	2–1	FIFA World Cup qualifier
7 November 1997	Antofagasta, Chile	Guatemala	4–1	International Friendly
22 April 1998	Santiago, Chile	Colombia	2–2	International Friendly
26 April 2000	Lima, Perú	Peru	1–1	FIFA World Cup qualifier

External links

• Career history at National Football Teams