Justo Villar

Justo Villar

Personal information
Full name	Justo Wilmar Villar Viveros
Date of birth	30 June 1977 (1977-06-30)
Place of birth	Cerrito, Paraguay
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Estudiantes
Number	1
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1996–2000	Sol de América	119	(0)
2001–2004	Libertad	109	(0)
2004–2008	Newell's Old Boys	135	(0)
2008–2011	Real Valladolid	44	(0)
2011–	Estudiantes	2	(0)
National team‡
1999–	Paraguay	93	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 July 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 25 July 2011

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

Justo Wilmar Villar Viveros (born 30 June 1977) is a Paraguayan footballer who plays for Estudiantes de La Plata in Argentina as a goalkeeper.

A Paraguayan international on nearly 100 occasions, he represented the nation in three World Cups and five Copa América tournaments.

Club career

Born in Cerrito, Ñeembucú Department, Villar started his career at Club Sol de América, where he was coached by legendary Ever Hugo Almeida, also a goalkeeper, as the side also included another famed player in that position as the keepers' coach, Modesto Sandoval.

In 2001, he moved to bigger club Club Libertad, where he was reunited with Sandoval; at the club, he won back-to-back national championships, in 2002 and 2003, signing the following year with Argentina's Newell's Old Boys.

As an undisputed starter, Villar helped Newell's to the 2004 Apertura championship, also being considered by the press as the Goalkeeper of the Year; previously, he had won the Paraguayan Footballer of the Year award (2004).

In January 2008, terms were agreed upon between Newell's and Real Valladolid of Spain for Villar's transfer, effective in the summer. On 14 July, he was officially presented by his new team; due to starter Sergio Asenjo's injury, he was able to appear in 15 La Liga matches in his first year.

During 2009–10, Villar constantly battled for first-choice status with Jacobo, appearing in 23 games as Valladolid returned to level two after a three-year stay. He was released in June 2011 at the age of 34.

The following month, Villar returned to Argentina, signing a three-year deal with Estudiantes.

International career

Villar represented Paraguay at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, and received his first full cap two years later.

Having been selected for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, backing up legendary José Luis Chilavert, he was already a starter in the 2006 edition, but had a brief participation: during the first seven minutes of the opener against England, just after Carlos Gamarra's own goal, Villar got injured, was replaced by Aldo Bobadilla, and subsequently was sidelined for the rest of the tournament, in which Paraguay was eliminated in the first round.

In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Villar played all the matches for the eventual quarterfinalists, only conceding two goals, against Italy in the group stage (1–1) and Spain in the last-eight match (0–1, also saving a Xabi Alonso penalty), and was selected as team captain. During the 2011 Copa América, he was again first-choice and captain, and helped his team reach the final, notably saving a penalty in the quarter-finals shootout against Brazil (0–0 after 120 minutes); he was named the Best Goalkeeper for his outstanding displays during the competition, keeping clean sheets in three games.

Honours

Club

Libertad

• Primera División: 2002, 2003

Newell's Old Boys

• Primera División: 2004 Apertura

Country

• Copa América: Runner-up 2011

Individual

• Paraguayan Footballer of the Year: 2004
• Copa América Best Goalkeeper: 2011

External links

• FootballDatabase profile and stats
• BDFutbol profile
• Justo Villar at National-Football-Teams.com
• Paraguay – Record International Players; at RSSSF