There was a time when one of the main debates in the Peru team revolved around who should be the right-back in the starting XI. Ricardo Gareca had stopped considering Luis Advíncula. The “opponents” of the discussion in this respect were Aldo Corzo and Renzo Revoredo, both with similar playing characteristics. Eventually, many called out a name when asking, “Corzo or Revoredo?” Cord Cleque. The then Sport Huancayo right-back was one of the best at that position in League 1.
Cord Cleque had the best years of his pro career at Rojo Matador. The Peruvian full-back caught the attention of many due to his great physical strength and size and because he was one of those best able to reach the line to shoot crosses. This led to Ricardo Gareca calling him up for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Bolivia in La Paz and teams like Alianza Lima having him on the radar.
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Cord Cleque and his promotion to the Peru national team
Cord Jesús Cleque Sánchez was born on October 9, 1986 in Lima, Peru. His name entered the orbit of Peruvian football in 2008 when he was part of the surprise team of Íntimos Cable Visión de Ate Vitarte that reached the quarterfinals of the Peru Cup. Cleque made the leap to professional football when he joined Atlético Minero in 2010 and established himself as a right-back in the starting XI throughout the second division season.
Cord Cleque had a good season with Íntimos Cable Visión in the 2008 Peru Cup. Photo: Íntimos Cable Visión
In 2011 he signed with Sport Áncash where he surprised many by establishing himself as the undisputed left-back. He returned to the right the following year and once again performed well. After three seasons of regular promotion, Cord Cleque was finally able to make his Premier League debut at the age of 27: he was signed by Sport Huancayo in 2013 to play in the Descentralizado and the Copa Sudamericana.
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In the six years he was at Huancayo, Cleque has always been in the starting XI except for a few appointments in 2017 and after an injury in 2018 that gave Sebastián Lojas the opportunity to take his place. This regularity attracted the interest of several teams in the media and Alianza Lima was one of the most popular. Unfortunately, he was unable to make his pass due to a knee injury, nor was he able to make his debut for the Peru team in 2016.
Cord Cleque with César Ortíz, Edwin Retamozo and Victor Peña after being called up to the Peru team. Photo: FPF
What happened to Cord Cleque?
After 200 games at Sport Huancayo, Cord Cleque has been announced as Unión Comercio’s new reinforcement for the 2019 season. However, he never made his debut with Poderoso del Altomayo and signed with Comerciantes Unidos mid-year. Always starting in Liga 2 with the Águilas Cutervinas, he managed to play in the first round of the playoffs, even scoring a goal that saw them eliminated by Atlético Grau.
Cord Cleque’s last experience in League 1 came in 2020 with Carlos Stein, a team where he started as a starter but handed the job to Jeremy Rostaing in a couple of games. He signed for Alianza Atlético in 2021 but the club’s president changed his mind and left him up in the air just before the passport book was closed.
Cord Cleque last played in League 1 with Carlos Stein in 2020. Photo: DeChalaca
Since then, Cleque has not played in League 1 or League 2, but announced that he is playing in a professional Masters tournament. In conclusion, without announcing his resignation, he said that after leaving the court he would aspire to the position of Technical Director.