The popular ‘Petróleo’ caused a sensation at the 2013 Copa Libertadores, where he guided Real Garcilaso to the quarter-finals after finishing runners-up in the club’s first year of professional football. What happened to him?
Sporting Cristal’s big win and comeback against Nacional 5-1 became one of the most memorable episodes for Peruvian teams Libertadores Cup in many years. Overcoming a stage in international tournaments is always difficult for our country, so this achievement and the way it came about excited many sky-blue fans. In this context it should be remembered Fredy “Petroleo” Garciathe DT of the last important season of a Peruvian club in Libertadores.
Also wearing a light blue jersey but without cap in their history, ‘Petróleo’ García’s Real Garcilaso made their debut in the 2013 Copa Libertadores as domestic runners-up and with just one season in the top division. He won two games away from Peru, reached the quarterfinals and was the big upset of the tournament. However, what happened to the technical director of this feat?
Fredy García and his remarkable time at Real Garcilaso
Fredy García Loayza is a coach who triumphed in promotion to the Copa Libertadores. Without a doubt, the best period of his career was the first three years in charge of Real Garcilaso. ‘Petróleo’ started his career as a manager at Coronel Bolognesi after having worked as a technical assistant for some time. He won his first title with Cobresol when he became second division champion in 2010.
However, what he later achieved with what is now Cusco FC was impressive: in less than two years he went from winning the Copa Perú to leading the Copa Libertadores. He only had to become national champion as he played back-to-back finals but failed to win either. His stint at Real Garcilaso ended in mid-2014 when he was replaced by Luis ‘Puchito’ Flores.
Fredy “Petróleo” García won the 2011 Copa Peru with Real Garcilaso. Photo: GLR archives
What happened to Fredy “Petróleo” García?
After his success at Real Garcilaso, Fredy García did not have the opportunity to lead a club with the same team for a whole season. In 2015 he had brief stints in Ayacucho and León de Huánuco, and in 2016 he led nine appointments for the recently promoted Comerciantes Unidos. His last professional football experience was in 2017 before the arrival of “Checho” Ibarra as Cienciano’s manager.
“Petróleo” managed Alfonso Ugarte at the 2018 Copa Perú and he has not appeared at any other club since then. In 2021 he said he was in Tacna with family because of the pandemic and in another interview he explained why he hadn’t been a team coach for several years. According to García, he’s always been ready to lead as long as it’s about his technical lead.
Cienciano was the last professional team managed by Fredy ‘Pretróleo’ García. Photo: Cienciano
“The problem is that they always ask me what my fees are and who I would come with from my technical command. What I always answer is that I usually work with three or four people. In the end they tell me they want me to go alone. If they tell me that, I’ll say no because it’s a collaborative effort. I thank them and they don’t call anymore,” he told Depor.
How has ‘Petróleo’ García fared in the Copa Libertadores with Real Garcilaso?
Real Garcilaso scored 10 points in the group stage of the 2013 Copa Libertadores, the result of three wins, one draw and two losses. In the round of 16, they won the first leg against Nacional de Uruguay 1-0 and won on penalties after losing by the same result in Montevideo. The Cusco team’s adventure ended when they were eliminated by Independiente Santa Fe in the quarterfinals (5-1 aggregate).