Juan Fernando Arango Sáenz (born 16 May 1980) is a Venezuelan former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

Juan Arango
Arango with Borussia M'gladbach in 2012
Personal information
Full nameJuan Fernando Arango Sáenz
Date of birth (1980-05-16) 16 May 1980 (age 44)
Place of birthMaracay, Venezuela
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1986–1996UCV
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1996–1999Nueva Cádiz
1999Zulia12(0)
2000Caracas19(5)
2000–2001Monterrey45(6)
2002–2003Pachuca52(16)
2003–2004Puebla36(8)
2004–2009Mallorca183(45)
2009–2014Borussia Mönchengladbach154(25)
2014–2016Tijuana45(11)
2016New York Cosmos29(15)
2017Zulia15(2)
2017New York Cosmos3(0)
Total593(133)
International career
1999–2015Venezuela129(22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He spent the better part of his professional career in La Liga with Mallorca, appearing in 196 official games, and also played several years with Borussia Mönchengladbach for which he signed at the age of 29.[1]

Arango was Venezuela's record holder in international caps and goals for several years, scoring 22 times in 129 matches between 1999 and 2015.[2][3] He represented the nation in six Copa América tournaments.

Club career

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Early years and Mallorca

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Arango's parents hailed from Colombia, having immigrated to Venezuela before he was born, in the city of Maracay. He started playing as a professional at the age of sixteen with Nueva Cádiz FC, which ascended to the Venezuelan Primera División the following season under the name Zulia FC.

The following year, Arango joined Caracas FC but, after six months playing with the team he was bought by Mexico's C.F. Monterrey. He represented two other clubs in the latter country, C.F. Pachuca and Puebla FC, until 2004, when he joined La Liga side RCD Mallorca in Spain (coached by Benito Floro, also his boss at Monterrey) on a one-year link, with an option for a further three.[4]

On 20 March 2005, Arango suffered a serious injury after a brutal collision with Sevilla FC's Javi Navarro. He fell unconscious, broke his cheekbone, swallowed his tongue and got serious cuts in his face;[5][6] he returned to play a month later and, in the following season, was the team's top scorer with 11 league goals.[7]

In 2006, EFE chose Arango as the third best Latin American player in the Spanish league, with the first place taken by Pablo Aimar. The following year, he also obtained a Spanish passport, in March. On 9 March 2008, he scored his first hat-trick for Mallorca, in a 7–1 home thrashing of Recreativo de Huelva, with teammate Dani Güiza – who finished as the campaign's Pichichi – adding two;[8] he only missed one league game from 2005 to 2008 combined.

Borussia Mönchengladbach

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Arango in action in 2010

On 26 June 2009, as his contract was due to expire at the end of 2009–10, Arango was sold to Borussia Mönchengladbach for 3.6 million, penning a three-year contract.[9] In his third season in the Bundesliga he netted six goals in 34 games and also provided 12 assists, as his team finished fourth and qualified for the UEFA Champions League.[10]

On 10 December 2012, Gladbach manager Lucien Favre hailed Arango as one of the best left-footed players in the world, after the Venezuelan scored a 48-yard stunner in a 2–0 defeat of 1. FSV Mainz 05 the previous day.[11][12] In the following year, he was ranked as the most popular footballer in the world by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.[13]

Arango scored his first goal of the 2013–14 campaign on 24 August 2013, but in a 2–4 away defeat to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.[14] He also found the net in his team's next league fixture, opening the scoring in a 4–1 home success over SV Werder Bremen.[15]

Tijuana

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Arango returned to Mexico at the age of 34, signing with Club Tijuana on 22 May 2014.[16] In April of the following year, he was handed a two-match ban by the Mexican Football Federation after footage showed him biting Monterrey player Jesús Zavala in an action that eluded the referee.[17]

Late career

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On 28 January 2016, Arango joined the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League.[18] Aged 36, he returned to both his country and Zulia one year later.[19]

Arango then had another spell with the Cosmos, leaving in January 2018.[20]

International career

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At the 2004 Copa América, Arango appeared in all three group stage matches for Venezuela. In the 2007 edition, held in his country, he helped the national team finish first in the group stage, and scored in the quarterfinals against Uruguay, but in a 4–1 defeat.[21]

Also in that year, Arango was chosen national team captain by newly appointed coach César Farías. In the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, he helped the Vinotinto to a best-ever fourth-place finish in the continental competition, scoring in the third-place match, a 1–4 loss against Peru[22] for what was his 100th cap.[citation needed]

In his 116th international appearance, Arango levelled the record for the most goals scored for Venezuela with 22 goals, scoring in the 56th minute against Bolivia in a 1–1 draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on 7 June 2013.[23]

Style of play

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A left-footed playmaker, who was known for his technical skills, leadership and ability both to score and create goals, courtesy of his striking ability, crossing and passing, Arango was a classic number ten, who was capable of playing both as an attacking midfielder and as a winger. Nicknamed Arangol, he was also a dead ball specialist, who was highly regarded by pundits for his exceptional accuracy from free kicks and his ability to bend the ball.

Arango was considered by some in the sport as the greatest Venezuelan footballer of all time.[24][25][26][27][28][29][30]

Personal life

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Arango is the son-in law of Argenis Tortolero, brother-in-law of Edson Tortolero, and father of Juan Arango Jr., all of whom were professional footballers.[31][32]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[33][34]
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]ContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Nueva Cádiz1999–2000120120
Caracas1999–2000195195
Monterrey2000–01305305
2001–02131131
Total436436
Pachuca2001–02Liga MX1556[b]4219
2002–03Liga MX37113711
2003–04Liga MX368368
Total8824649428
Mallorca2004–05La Liga346346
2005–06La Liga37113711
2006–07La Liga37930409
2007–08La Liga3812534315
2008–09La Liga37841419
Total1834512419549
Borussia Mönchengladbach2009–10Bundesliga34210353
2010–11Bundesliga25420274
2011–12Bundesliga34631377
2012–13Bundesliga315218[c]3419
2013–14Bundesliga30800308
Total15425938317131
Tijuana2014–15Liga MX24731278
Career total523112248147561127
  1. ^ Includes Copa del Rey, DFB-Pokal, Copa MX
  2. ^ Appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup
  3. ^ Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League

International

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Scores and results list Venezuela's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Arango goal.
List of international goals scored by Juan Arango[2]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
124 April 2001Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal, Venezuela  Colombia2–12–22002 World Cup qualification
24 September 2001Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile  Chile2–02–02002 World Cup qualification
330 April 2003Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal, Venezuela  Trinidad and Tobago1–03–0Friendly
42–0
57 June 2003Lockhart Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, United States  Honduras2–12–1Friendly
615 November 2003Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla, Colombia  Colombia1–01–02006 World Cup qualification
718 November 2003José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela  Bolivia2–12–12006 World Cup qualification
819 February 2004Estadio Olímpico, Caracas, Venezuela  Australia1–11–1Friendly
93 March 2004Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay  Uruguay3–03–02006 World Cup qualification
1028 April 2004Independence Park, Kingston, Jamaica  Jamaica1–21–2Friendly
1123 September 2005José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela  Peru2–12–12006 World Cup qualification
1224 March 2007Metropolitano, Mérida, Venezuela  Cuba1–03–1Friendly
137 July 2007Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal, Venezuela  Uruguay1–11–42007 Copa América
1419 June 2008Estadio Olímpico, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela  Chile2–22–32010 World Cup qualification
1515 October 2008Estadio Olímpico, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela  Ecuador3–13–12010 World Cup qualification
1631 March 2009Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela  Colombia2–02–02010 World Cup qualification
1713 October 2010Olímpico Benito Juárez, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico  Mexico1–02–2Friendly
182–1
1923 July 2011Ciudad de la Plata, La Plata, Argentina  Peru1–21–42011 Copa América
207 September 2012Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru  Peru1–01–22014 World Cup qualification
2116 October 2012Estadio Olímpico, Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela  Ecuador1–01–12014 World Cup qualification
227 June 2013Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia  Bolivia1–01–12014 World Cup qualification

Honours

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Pachuca

New York Cosmos

Venezuela

Individual

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Gladbach's midfield maestro". Bundesliga. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  2. ^ a b Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando (30 January 2014). "Juan Arango Saez – Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  3. ^ Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando. "Venezuela – Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 30 March 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  4. ^ "Arango wings his way to Mallorca". UEFA. 21 July 2004. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  5. ^ Jiménez, Jordi (21 March 2005). "Un codazo de Javi Navarro mandó a Arango a la UCI" [An elbow by Javi Navarro sent Arango to ICU]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  6. ^ "Navarro assault on Arango". YouTube. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  7. ^ "Arango fulmina a la Real con un 'hat trick'" [Arango obliterates Real with a hat-trick]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 18 September 2005. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Barça lose ground with Villarreal loss". UEFA. 9 March 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  9. ^ Muñoz, Paco (27 June 2009). "Arango ya es jugador del Borussia M'Gladbach" [Arango is already a Borussia M'Gladbach player]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  10. ^ Reeves, Bernie (10 July 2013). "Ten things about Juan Arango". Bundesliga. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  11. ^ "Gladbach down Mainz". Sky Sports. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  12. ^ "Arango "one of the best left-footed players in the world"". Bundesliga. 10 December 2012. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  13. ^ "The world's most popular footballer amongst currently active players in 2012". International Federation of Football History & Statistics. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  14. ^ "Goals galore on drama-filled Bundesliga Saturday". Bundesliga. 24 August 2013. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  15. ^ "Borussia Monchengladbach 4–1 Werder Bremen". ESPN FC. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  16. ^ "Arango jugará en los Xolos de Tijuana" [Arango to play for the Xolos of Tijuana]. Marca (in Spanish). 22 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
  17. ^ "Tijuana's Arango gets 2-match ban for bite". 8 April 2015.
  18. ^ "Attacking midfielder Juan Arango joins Cosmos". New York Cosmos. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  19. ^ "Juan Arango sería anunciado como nuevo fichaje del Zulia FC" [Juan Arango would be announced as new Zulia FC signing]. El Universal (in Spanish). 4 January 2017. Archived from the original on 29 May 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  20. ^ "Juan Arango no continuará en el New York Cosmos" [Juan Arango will not continue in New York Cosmos] (in Spanish). Ovación. 5 January 2018. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  21. ^ "Sonó el despertador para la Celeste" [Alarm-clock time for the Celeste] (in Spanish). ESPN Deportes. 7 July 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  22. ^ "Peru 4-1 Venezuela: Paolo Guerrero nets second half hat trick as Peruvians finish third in 2011 Copa America | Goal.com".
  23. ^ "Venezuela denied as Bolivia snatch draw". Bangkok Post. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  24. ^ Rainbow, Jamie (18 January 2013). "Six of the Best: free-kick specialists". World Soccer. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  25. ^ Matchett, Karl (6 February 2017). "Where does Lionel Messi rank among the greatest free-kick takers of all time?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  26. ^ "Gladbach's midfield maestro". Bundesliga. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  27. ^ "In praise of the Bundesliga's Venezuelan magician". Eurosport. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  28. ^ Rosano, Nick (9 May 2014). "FutbolMLS.com Digest: Venezuela star Juan Arango to MLS? Last stop for Cuauhtemoc Blanco?". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  29. ^ "Blog: Arango adds Venezuelan spark to midfield". New York Cosmos. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  30. ^ Whitney, Clark (23 September 2013). "20 Greatest Bundesliga midfielders of all time". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  31. ^ "El primer gol". El Universal. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  32. ^ "Juan Arango Jr.: ¿seguirá los pasos de su padre?" [Juan Arango Jr.: will he follow in his father's footsteps?]. larepublica.pe (in Spanish). 18 April 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  33. ^ "J. Arango". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  34. ^ Juan ArangoUEFA competition record (archive)
  35. ^ "Central American Club Competitions 2002". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  36. ^ a b "New York Cosmos midfielder Juan Arango wins 2016 NASL Golden Ball". North American Soccer League. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  37. ^ "Copa América 2011 - Organization - Reglament". Copa América 2011. Archived from the original on 21 November 2010.
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