Mario Rodríguez (footballer, born 1960)

Mario Rodríguez
Personal information
Full name Mario Omar Rodríguez Ramos
Date of birth (1960-08-08) 8 August 1960
Place of birth Coquimbo, Chile
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Maestranza
Progreso Guayacán
1976–1977 Coquimbo Unido
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1986 Coquimbo Unido 187 (0)
1987–1989 Deportes La Serena 83 (0)
1989 Naval 25 (0)
1990–1991 Deportes La Serena 19 (0)
1991 Deportes Laja – (–)
1992 Halcones Negros – (–)
1992 Santiago Wanderers 5 (0)
1993 Coquimbo Unido 7 (0)
1994 Deportes Ovalle 28 (0)
1995 Santiago Wanderers – (–)
International career
1983–1984 Chile Pre-Olympic 11 (0)
Managerial career
2017–2018 Coquimbo Unido (gk coach)
2021–2023 Unión Compañías (gk coach)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mario Omar Rodríguez Ramos (born 8 August 1960), more popularly known as Loco Rodríguez (Madman Rodríguez),[1] is a Chilean former football player who played as a goalkeeper.

Early years

Born in Coquimbo, Chile, Rodríguez was with clubs Maestranza and Progreso Guayacán in his hometown before joining Coquimbo Unido in 1976. He made his senior debut in the 4–1 loss against Cobreloa in Calama on 19 December 1979.[1] He became the regular starting goalkeeper in 1982 after Rolando Rivera injured.[2] A player for them until 1986, he returned for the 1993 season.[3]

Despite Rodríguez became an iconic player for Coquimbo Unido,[4] he switched to the classic rival, Deportes La Serena, in 1987, won the Segunda División de Chile and played for them in the 1988 Primera División de Chile.[1][2] He returned for the 1990 and the 1991 seasons.[3]

In his homeland, Rodríguez also played for Naval de Talcahuano (1989),[5] Santiago Wanderers (1992, 1995)[6] and Deportes Ovalle (1994).[7][1] He also had a brief stint with Deportes Laja in the 1991 Tercera División de Chile under Humberto Cruz and Halcones Negros from Coquimbo in 1992.[1]

Rodríguez retired after representing Santiago Wanderers in the 1995 Copa Chile[8] due to an articular cartilage damage.[2][9]

In 1999, Rodríguez moved to Belgium, returned briefly to the activity and performed as both player and coach.[2]

International career

Rodríguez was called up to the Chile national under-20 team by Pedro García for the 1979 South American Championship. However, he rejected the call-up due to the fact that the Asociación Central de Fútbol de Chile (ACF) (Football Central Association of Chile) faked 17 of 20 players' passports.[1][2]

Later, Rodríguez earned 11 caps for the Chile Pre-Olympic team in friendlies and the 1984 Pre-Olympic Tournament,[10] where Chile qualified to the 1984 Summer Olympics.[2][11]

Coaching career

Rodríguez has worked as a goalkeeping coach for Coquimbo Unido[12] and Unión Compañías.[13] In his hometown and La Serena, he also has coached amateur teams like club Justo Donoso.[2]

Personal life

Rodríguez is well-known by his nickname Loco (Madman) and his moustache.[1][14]

Rodríguez also has worked as a football commentator for media radio such as Radio Montecarlo and Radio Riquelme in his hometown.[2][15][16]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g (JUEGO DE CAMPEONES) Entrevista a Mario "el loco" Rodríguez, un arquero memorable. on YouTube (in Spanish). 20 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Mario Rodríguez: Loco por los tubos". Diario El Día (in Spanish). 17 September 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Coquimbo Unido vs. Deportes La Serena: la lista de futbolistas que han defendido a ambas camisetas". T13 (in Spanish). 23 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Las emblemáticas figuras que brillaron en Coquimbo Unido". Diario AS (in Spanish). 5 November 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Naval 1989 - Campeonato Nacional". www.solofutbol.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Wanderers en Campeonato de Segunda División 1992". Memoria Wanderers (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Ovalle 1994 - Segunda Division". www.solofutbol.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Wanderers en Copa Chile 1995". Memoria Wanderers (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Wanderers en Campeonato de Segunda División 1995". Memoria Wanderers (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 July 2025. Se fue: Mario RODRÍGUEZ, arquero (se retiró)
  10. ^ "Nóminas de Chile para Torneos Preolímpicos Sudamericanos (hasta 1987)". Partidos de La Roja (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  11. ^ Guarello, Juan Cristóbal; O'Nell, Luis Urrutia (15 December 2014). "1984 - Deudas escandalosas, un Mundial perdido y la CNI entrando a la cancha". Historias Secretas Del Fútbol Chileno II (in Spanish) (1 ed.). Santiago, Chile: Ediciones B Chile S.A. p. 15. ISBN 978-956-304-183-5. Retrieved 16 July 2025. el pórtico lo ocupó Mario Loco Rodríguez, arquero de Coquimbo Unido
  12. ^ "COQUIMBANOS EMBLEMÁTICOS SOLICITAN QUE UNA CALLE LLEVE EL NOMBRE DE ARTURO «CANILLA» DÍAZ". Diario La Región (in Spanish). 6 July 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Mauricio Etcheverry: "La meta del Deportivo Unión Compañías es llegar al profesionalismo"". Ovalle Hoy (in Spanish). 24 September 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2025. mientras que Mario "Loco" Rodríguez será el entrenador de arqueros
  14. ^ Retamal, Rodrigo (14 June 2017). "Cinco arqueros "locos" en la historia del fútbol chileno". La Tercera (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Histórico Arquero de Coquimbo Unido se suma al equipo de RRC Deportes". Radio Riquelme (in Spanish). 12 January 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  16. ^ Rojas, Jorge (29 February 2020). "Mario Rodríguez: "Coquimbo Unido ha mejorado"". Mi Radio (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 July 2025.
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