Jafet Soto

Jafet Soto
Soto in 2020
Personal information
Full name Jafet Soto Molina
Date of birth (1976-04-01) April 1, 1976
Place of birth San José, Costa Rica
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1995 Herediano
1995–1998 Atlético Morelia 67 (10)
1998 Atlas 21 (3)
1998–1999 Pachuca 30 (2)
1999–2000 Puebla 33 (14)
2000–2001 UAG 28 (9)
2001 Morelia 1 (0)
2002 Puebla 15 (2)
2003 Herediano
2003–2004 Puebla 16 (3)
2004–2006 Herediano 58 (4)
2006 Real Salt Lake 8 (1)
2007–2009 Herediano 48 (7)
International career
1994–2005 Costa Rica 63 (10)
Managerial career
2011–2012 Herediano
2012 Pérez Zeledón
2012–2013 Costa Rica U20
2014– Herediano
2014– Costa Rica (assistant)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jafet Soto Molina (born April 1, 1976), is a Costa Rican football (soccer) coach, general manager and retired player who played for Club Sport Herediano.

Club career

In Costa Rica, Soto has only played for Herediano, where he is considered an idol by local fans. He left the club for a 10-year spell in the Mexican premier league, and played for teams such as Puebla[1] (three stints), Monarcas Morelia[2] (twice),[3] Atlas, Pachuca[4] and Tecos UAG.[5]

In summer 2006, Soto joined Major League Soccer outfit Real Salt Lake[6] and after several months in Salt Lake, Soto went back to his country Costa Rica, where he returned at Herediano as captain of this team. He announced his retirement in November 2008[7] and he played his final game was played on January 17, 2009 against Brujas where he scored a goal in the 19th minute that made Herediano win the match 1-0. He was substituted himself after scoring the goal.[8]

International career

Soto played in the U-20 Football World Youth Championship held in Qatar in 1995.[9]

He made his senior debut for Costa Rica in a January 1994 friendly match against Norway[10] and earned a total of 63 caps, scoring 10 goals.[11] He represented his country in 21 FIFA World Cup qualification matches[9] but injuries and bad luck came his way and denied him of playing in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.[12] He played at the 1999,[13] 2001 UNCAF Nations Cups[14] and 2005 UNCAF Nations Cups[15] as well as at the 2000[16] and 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cups[17] and the 1997 Copa América.[18]

His final international was an October 2005 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Guatemala.

Managerial career

In September 2011, Soto became Herediano's administrative manager. In May 2012 he took charge at Pérez Zeledón,[19] only to leave them in August that year to take over at the Costa Rica U20s.[20] In 2013, he became sports director of Herediano.

In August 2014, Soto returned at the helm at Herediano.[21]

Career statistics

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[22]
National team Year Apps Goals
Costa Rica 1994 2 0
1995 3 1
1996 3 0
1997 9 1
1999 6 1
2000 11 4
2001 6 1
2002 1 0
2003 3 0
2004 1 0
2005 18 2
Total 63 10
Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Soto goal.
List of international goals scored by Jafet Soto
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 28 May 1995 Tampa Stadium, Tampa, United States  United States 2–1 2–1 Friendly [23]
2 9 November 1997 Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico  Mexico 2–3 3–3 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification [24]
3 17 March 1999 Estadio Nacional, San José, Costa Rica  Belize 5–0 7–0 1999 UNCAF Nations Cup [25]
4 26 January 2000 Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San Juan de Tibás, Costa Rica  Trinidad and Tobago 2–1 2–1 Friendly [26]
5 13 February 2000 San Diego Stadium, San Diego, United States  Canada 1–0 2–2 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup [27]
6 9 July 2000 Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San Juan de Tibás, Costa Rica  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 7–1 7–1 Friendly [28]
7 3 September 2000 Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San Juan de Tibás, Costa Rica  Barbados 1–0 3–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification [29]
8 6 January 2001 Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, United States  Guatemala 5–1 5–2 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification [30]
9 7 July 2005 Qwest Field, Seattle, United States  Canada 1–0 1–0 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup [31]
10 9 July 2005 Qwest Field, Seattle, United States  Cuba 2–1 3–1 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup [32]

Honours

Individual


References

  1. ^ Tico es sensación en el Puebla de México - Nación (in Spanish)
  2. ^ Jafet no debutará hoy - Nación (in Spanish)
  3. ^ Jafet Soto regresa al Morelia - Nación (in Spanish)
  4. ^ Jafet al Pachuca - Nación (in Spanish)
  5. ^ Tico Jafet Soto se incorpora al Tecos de Guadalajara - Nación (in Spanish)
  6. ^ Jafet Soto jugará en el Real Salt Lake - Nación (in Spanish)
  7. ^ Jafet Soto se retira del futbol - Nación (in Spanish)
  8. ^ Regresó el futbol Jafet se fue dando triunfo a Herediano - Nación (in Spanish)
  9. ^ a b Jafet SotoFIFA competition record (archived)
  10. ^ Selección Nacional Copa de Oro - Nación (in Spanish)
  11. ^ Appearances for Costa Rica National Team Archived 2009-07-06 at the Wayback Machine - RSSSF
  12. ^ Jafet Soto: ‘No estaba en la argolla de Guima’ - Nación (in Spanish)
  13. ^ UNCAF Tournament 1999 - RSSSF
  14. ^ Qualifying Tournament for Gold Cup 2001 - Details Archived 2008-10-24 at the Wayback Machine - RSSSF
  15. ^ Qualifying Tournament for Gold Cup 2005 - Details Archived 2009-04-02 at the Wayback Machine - RSSSF
  16. ^ CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2000 - Full Details - RSSSF
  17. ^ CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2005 - Full Details Archived 2008-10-24 at the Wayback Machine - RSSSF
  18. ^ Copa América 1997 - RSSSF
  19. ^ Jafet Soto toma las riendas de Pérez Zeledón - Nación (in Spanish)
  20. ^ Jafet Soto a la Selección Sub-20 - Nación (in Spanish)
  21. ^ Jafet Soto es el nuevo entrenador del Herediano - CRHoy (in Spanish)
  22. ^ "Jafet Soto". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  23. ^ "USA vs. Costa Rica". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  24. ^ "Mexico vs. Costa Rica". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  25. ^ "Costa Rica vs. Belize". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  26. ^ "Costa Rica vs. Trinidad & Tobago". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  27. ^ "Costa Rica vs. Canada". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  28. ^ "Costa Rica vs. Saint Vincent & Grenadines". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  29. ^ "Costa Rica vs. Barbados". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  30. ^ "Costa Rica vs. Guatemala". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  31. ^ "Canada vs. Costa Rica". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  32. ^ "Costa Rica vs. Cuba". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 July 2025.