Juan Carlos Cabanillas

Juan Carlos Cabanillas Mendoza is a Peruvian football manager and former player who played as a midfielder.

Club career

After making his first team debut with Sport Boys in 1981, Cabanillas helped the side to win the 1984 Torneo Descentralizado before playing a friendly tournament with Peñarol in late 1985. In the following year, he joined Universitario, but moved to Santa Fe shortly after.
In 1988, Cabanillas switched teams and countries again, after signing for Montevideo Wanderers in Uruguay. He returned to his home country in 1990 with Unión Huaral, and had one-year spells at UTC and Deportivo Municipal before returning to Sport Boys in 1994.
Cabanillas played for Guardia Republicana in 1996, and subsequently returned to the United States in the following year, back to indoor soccer at Indiana Twisters. He then spent the 1998–99 season at Baltimore Blast, and subsequently retired.

Cabanillas made his full international debut with the Peru national team on 19 September 1984, in a 2–0 loss to Uruguay. He featured in a further five matches for the national side until 1988.

After retiring, Cabanillas began his managerial career as an assistant of César González at the Peru national under-17 team in the 2001 Bolivarian Games. In 2004, he became the manager of Atlético Grau, and returned to his first club Sport Boys in the following year, now as manager.
Cabanillas subsequently managed UTC and La Peña Sporting before being named at the helm of the Boys ahead of the 2009 campaign. He lasted 14 matches before being sacked from the latter. In March 2013, he took over Walter Ormeño.
On 13 September 2015, Cabanillas was announced as manager of Carlos A. Mannucci. On 4 October of the following year, despite being in the first position of the Segunda División, he left by mutual consent.
In 2017, Cabanillas took over Carlos Stein, but left the club in July of the following year. In October 2020, he joined Jorge Espejo's staff at Cantolao, as his assistant. He remained in the role in two stints at Deportivo Coopsol, both under Willy Laya.
On 26 August 2025, Cabanillas returned to Sport Boys after being appointed manager of the club. On 15 December, he left as his contract was due to expire.