Raúl Cárdenas, Mexican football player and coach, Died at 86

  Sports

Raúl Cárdenas de la Vega was born on October 30, 1928, in Mexico City and died on March 26, 2016.

He was a Mexican football player and coach and was an Olympian.

He started out playing football with Real Club España in the 1947–48 season, making his Mexican Primera División debut against Asturias F.C.

Raul had gone on to play three seasons with España before the club withdrew from the league.

Cardenas also competed for Mexico at the 1948 Summer Olympics.

He played for C.D. Guadalajara, Club Deportivo Marte and Puebla F.C., before joining Zacatepec for 10 seasons.

Raúl Cárdenas de la Vega retired from playing at age 37, to become a coach for Cruz Azul.

Raúl Cárdenas de la Vega represented the Mexico national football team as a player in three FIFA World Cups: 1954, 1958 and 1962 tournaments.

de la Vega also coached the national team in the 1970 FIFA World Cup, held on home soil, where they reached the quarterfinals for the first time in history.

Raúl also managed Cruz Azul towards their first 5 titles in 7 years in 8 finals.

Raúl also managed Club America for their 3rd title.

Raúl Cárdenas passed away at 86 yrs old.