Mario Cordero

Mario Cordero Brenes was a Costa Rican football player and coach; he is still considered in his country as one of the top defenders to have played the game.

Club career

Better known as Catato or Piernas de Oro, he was part of the Deportivo Saprissa team that embarked on a World Tour in 1959, becoming the first Latin American team to do so. Catato was the leader and captain of Deportivo Saprissa during the 1950s and early 1960s. He spent one season in the Mexican league, with Atletico Marte. He retired after a match against the Argentinian team Banfield on 25 December 1964. Catato is remembered for his sportsmanship on and off the field, as well as his excellent positioning, powerful shoot and defensive reliability.

International career

During those years, he played the same role in the Costa Rica national football team, making 41 appearances.

Managerial career

As coach, Catato guided Saprissa to four national titles in the 1960s, adding up to the four he had won previously as a player. He also managed Costa Rica's national team.

Death

He died of respiratory arrest on 10 July 2002 in the Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia Hospital in San José.