Pedro Araya Toro

Pedro Damián Araya Toro, known as Pedro Araya, is a Chilean former football player who played as a right winger.

Playing career

As a youth player, Araya played for Juventud Católica from Lo Barnechea before joining Universidad de Chile. He made his professional debut in a Chilean Primera División match against Deportes La Serena in July 1963 and scored by first time in his second official match against Unión San Felipe.
On 6 April 1965, Araya was one of the constituent footballers of, the trade union of professionales footballers in Chile, alongside fellows such as Luis Eyzaguirre, Manuel Astorga, Juan Rodríguez Vega, among others.
Toro represented the football team|Chile national team] at the 1966 [FIFA World Cup|1966 World Cup], and played all three matches for the squad. Between 1964 and 1972, he was capped 65 times and scored 14 goals for his country.
A very skillful and fast player, Araya played as a classic "number 7". Along with Campos and Carlos Leonel Sanchez formed the great offensive triplet of the 'Ballet Azul'. His career also continues in Mexico playing for the San Luis de Potosi and Atlas de Guadalajara.
In America's Cup in Montevideo, 1967, Araya was called by the Uruguayan press: The Chilean Garrincha.

He graduated as a football manager in Mexico and coached Atlético Potosino in the 1987–88 season, with his compatriot Luis Cholo Castro in the squad.
Back in Chile, he started an eponymous football academy based in Nebraska neighborhood in Lo Barnechea commune.

Universidad de Chile

Individual

Araya married a woman from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, where he would move after retiring from football.