Manuel López (Chilean footballer)

For other people named Manuel López, see Manuel López (disambiguation).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Soto and the second or maternal family name is Sandoval.

Manuel Ignacio López Urzúa (born 18 June 1972) is a Chilean former professional footballer who played as a defender for clubs in Chile and Mexico.

Manuel López

Personal information
Full name	Manuel Ignacio López Urzúa
Date of birth	(1972-06-18) 18 June 1972 (age 52)
Place of birth	Chile
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
	O'Higgins
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1992–1994	O'Higgins	1	(0)
1993	→ Unión Santa Cruz (loan)	18	(2)
1995–1999	Deportes Puerto Montt	134	(8)
1998	→ Toluca (loan)	18	(0)
2000	León	13	(0)
2000–2002	Huachipato	63	(6)
2002	Cobresal	17	(1)
2003–2004	Deportes Puerto Montt	14	(1)
2005	Deportes Arica	18	(1)
2006	Rangers	6	(1)
2007	Deportes Copiapó	3	(0)
Total		305	(20)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

A product of the O'Higgins youth system,^[1] he made an appearance for the club in the 1994 season,^[2] after playing on loan at Unión Santa Cruz in 1993.^[3]

In Chile he also played for Deportes Puerto Montt, being a well remembered player for the club,^[4] Huachipato, Cobresal,^[5] Deportes Arica, Rangers and Deportes Copiapó.^[6]

As an anecdote, as a member of Deportes Puerto Montt, in July 1999 he took part in a friendly international tournament in Singapore in the context of an economic and cultural exchange between Chile and the Asian country, where they faced Home United FC and Toluca. López was one of the most striking players due to his height.^[7]

Abroad he played in Mexico for both Toluca (loan)^[8][9] and León.^[10] With Toluca, he won the Primera División de México Verano 1998.^[11]

Personal life

He was nicknamed Robocop due to his strong build.^[7]

Honours

Toluca

• Primera División de México: 1998 Verano

References

1. "Campaña actual de Manuel López". oocities.org (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 October 2022.
2. "O'Higgins 1994 - Campeonato Nacional". www.solofutbol.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 October 2022.
3. "Las historias más recordadas de Deportes Santa Cruz" (in Spanish). ANFP. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
4. Barría Vargas, César (18 July 2013). "Puerto Montt: una tarde solidaria en apoyo de Manuel López se vivirá este sábado en el Chinquihue". www.soychile.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 October 2022.
5. Cyberata (16 July 2018). "Mes: julio 2018". cdcobresal.cl (in Spanish). Cobresal. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
6. "Ficha Estadistica de MANUEL LOPEZ -manuel ignacio lopez- (perfil, ficha, profile, stats)". www.bdfa.com.ar (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 October 2022.
7. Pérez, Carlos (15 March 2022). "La aventura asiática de Deportes Puerto Montt". Asifuch (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 October 2022.
8. "Equipos Mexicanos Prefieren Arietes Chilenos" (PDF). Diario de Colima (in Spanish). 14541. Mexico: 17. 2 January 1998. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
9. "LOS EXTRANJEROS DEL VERANO 98". FUTBOL SIN COMPROMISOS (in Spanish). 26 November 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
10. "Los 20 clubes extranjeros donde jugaron más futbolistas chilenos" (in Spanish). AS Chile. 16 December 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
11. "1998 Plantel CAMPEÓN de Deportivo Toluca FC". www.bdfa.com.ar (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 October 2022.

External links

• Manuel López at BDFA (in Spanish)
• Manuel López at Oocities.org (in Spanish)
• Manuel López at playmakerstats.com (English version of ceroacero.es)