var playerInfo={"ZALJn2JruOlJVgxyUnj2AQ==":"0","ZALJn2JruOmj5de6aBZ6M3NAKrmDC1MF":"1","CKOSZhGGhgcg8Sy4bmphzA==":"\u0e42\u0e04\u0e25\u0e31\u0e21\u0e40\u0e1a\u0e35\u0e22","5lQ0KypN2cc=":"\u0e40\u0e14\u0e1b\u0e2d\u0e23\u0e4c\u0e15\u0e34\u0e42\u0e27 \u0e40\u0e1b\u0e44\u0e23\u0e23\u0e48\u0e32","jWRgBLuvlLZc2Pals0c0Gw==":"During his time in charge of Ecuador, Luis Fernando Suarez has shown that he is not a man to walk away from a challenge.
In 2004, at the age of 44, the former central midfielder was offered the chance to emulate the successes of his compatriot Hernan Dario Bolillo Gomez at the helm of the Tricolor. Though the side were at that stage in disarray, Suarez grasped the opportunity without hesitation and, through a combination of hard work, charisma and, of course, results, secured Ecuador’s second FIFA World Cup™ qualification four years on from their historic debut appearance.
Born in Medellin in 1959, Suarez is the quintessential Colombian coach: hard-working, friendly and approachable. He enjoys an excellent relationship with the media, has his own website and has even started learning English to ensure that nothing at this summer's finals escapes his attention. His reputation as a top coach was finally sealed in Ecuador following a hugely successful 2003\/04 campaign in charge of Quito side Aucas.
By then, he had already been involved with Ecuador’s national team between 1995 and 1998 as assistant to his compatriot and mentor, Francisco Maturana, and had even taken charge of the squad that competed at the 1997 CONMEBOL Copa America in Bolivia.
For all that he is now inextricably linked to Ecuadorian football, Suarez gained most of his experience as a coach in his native country, where he spent ten years working patiently as a number two before finally striking out on his own in 1999. His odyssey as a coach had begun at the tender age of 29, when he decided to call time on his playing career in order to work as Maturana’s assistant at Atletico Nacional de Medellin. In 1994, he spent a season assisting at Deportivo Pereira, for whom he had also played, before embarking on a three-year stint with the national side under Maturana.
Suarez later returned to Nacional in 1999 as head coach and guided the team to the Colombian championship. He then spent brief spells with both Deportivo Cali and Deportes Tolima in 2001 before moving to Ecuador in 2003 to take over the reins at SD Aucas.
Suarez's international experience also includes spells as assistant coach of various Colombia national youth sides, including that which competed at the FIFA World Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia in 1989 and the preparatory tournament for the Pan-American Games in 1993. Six years later, having served his apprenticeship at full international level with Ecuador, he was involved with the senior Colombia team that took part in the Copa America in Paraguay and with the U-21 side that took part in the annual Toulon tournament.
As a player, Suarez turned out in central midfield for Atletico Nacional between 1980 and 1986 before spending a season with Deportivo Pereira. He subsequently returned to his beloved Nacional and was part of the side which lifted the Copa Libertadores in 1989. He also represented his country at youth level between 1978 and 1979.
Suarez's credentials as a master tactician were put to the ultimate test in July 2004 when, following Ecuador's dismal first-round exit from the Copa America, coach Gómez decided to stand down, leaving their hopes of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup hanging by a thread. Undaunted by the challenge, Suarez had the courage to pick up what was widely considered a poisoned chalice and quickly set about overhauling the squad, restoring confidence and achieving the results needed to secure Ecuador's berth in Germany 2006.
Married with three children, he is now preparing to face the biggest challenge of his career: taking Ecuador into uncharted territory at world football's showpiece event.","PwE3JlWJlwI=":"","+jXT3yQ1QoWBJEIug90itg==":"2024-6-19","UVcwCD7p\/eg=":"3119","J+KvZ9u4Yk8=":"\u0e2b\u0e25\u0e38\u0e22\u0e2a\u0e4c \u0e40\u0e1f\u0e2d\u0e23\u0e4c\u0e19\u0e32\u0e19\u0e42\u0e14 \u0e0b\u0e31\u0e27\u0e40\u0e23\u0e0b","rJS7UGFBmLfF2LATa162xw==":"\u0e04\u0e2d\u0e2a\u0e15\u0e32\u0e23\u0e34\u0e01\u0e32,\u0e41\u0e2d\u0e15\u0e40\u0e25\u0e15\u0e34\u0e42\u0e01\u0e49 \u0e1a\u0e32\u0e41\u0e23\u0e19\u0e04\u0e34\u0e25\u0e25\u0e48\u0e32,\u0e25\u0e32 \u0e2d\u0e35\u0e04\u0e39\u0e14\u0e31\u0e14,CSyD \u0e14\u0e2d\u0e23\u0e32\u0e14\u0e2d\u0e2a \u0e40\u0e14\u0e2d \u0e0b\u0e34\u0e19\u0e32\u0e25\u0e31\u0e27,\u0e22\u0e39\u0e19\u0e34\u0e40\u0e27\u0e2d\u0e23\u0e4c\u0e0b\u0e34\u0e15\u0e32\u0e23\u0e34\u0e42\u0e2d \u0e40\u0e14 \u0e40\u0e14\u0e1b\u0e2d\u0e23\u0e4c\u0e40\u0e15\u0e2a,\u0e2e\u0e2d\u0e19\u0e14\u0e39\u0e23\u0e31\u0e2a(U23),\u0e2e\u0e2d\u0e19\u0e14\u0e39\u0e23\u0e31\u0e2a,\u0e2e\u0e27\u0e19 \u0e2d\u0e39\u0e23\u0e34\u0e0a,\u0e40\u0e2d\u0e01\u0e27\u0e32\u0e14\u0e2d\u0e23\u0e4c,\u0e2d\u0e31\u0e15\u0e40\u0e25\u0e15\u0e34\u0e42\u0e01 \u0e19\u0e32\u0e0b\u0e34\u0e2d\u0e2d\u0e07\u0e19\u0e32\u0e25","e1ypNQUFHYlyLrlxi0s+nA==":"999","RKlKxE6qwtkIK6CO4FO7gQ==":"\u0e04\u0e2d\u0e2a\u0e15\u0e32\u0e23\u0e34\u0e01\u0e32","qdr7xcTUqrQ=":"1","NcGUacbr47\/xfUTX9awwoQ==":"","39fm9jKVm2SBJEIug90itg==":"4","3rMbbTM7HFQ=":"","CkR2sZ0PdGZc2Pals0c0Gw==":"","b8w4ckR0pUaBJEIug90itg==":"1959-12-23","iM6jBnaxnn8=":"Luis Fernando Suarez","ZBfJfWbXWR0=":"44604","e_index":5};
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