Martin Arzuaga He is one of the strikers who left a pleasant memory in Peruvian football, despite not having spent much time in our football. The Colombian is considered an idol at Junior de Barranquilla, a club he is a fan of and where he played for eight seasons. The “coffee” striker also had an important step in Argentine football, which is remembered by fans of several of the most important teams in this country.
Arzuaga played with San Martín for the Libertadores in 2009. Photo: GLR
His Legacy in Junior
Martín Arzuaga was born on July 23, 1981 and made his professional football debut at the age of 19, defending the jersey Junior from Barranquilla in 2000. However, he only played one game and had to be loaned out to Barranquilla FC in the Second Division at the end of the season. There he scored two goals in 10 games and returned to ‘Tiburón’ in mid-2001.
He stayed with Barranquilla’s team until the end of 2005 and was crowned champion of the final tournament in 2004. He scored one goal in the final of that competition and also scored the last goal on penalties. In 2006 he was the protagonist of a frustrated pass from River Plate. The “Millionaire” box paid 50% of the attacker’s pass; However, due to a knee injury, he failed the medical tests.
The funny thing was that it happened to him too santos from Brazil and blue cross and yet he was signed by Red Sharks from Mexico. With the Veracruz team, he played less than fifteen games and barely scored three goals. In 2007 he joined Godoy Cruz from Argentina’s First Division. He did well personally with ‘Tomba’ as he managed to win the title. However, at the end of the season, the team was relegated and Arzuaga had to pack his bags.
For the second semester of that year, he joined Rosario Central, a team with which he scored five goals. One of them to River Plate and he celebrated by kissing his knee in reference to his cut transfer. He returned to Junior in 2008, although things didn’t go so well for him this time as a problem with Tiburones Rojos prevented him from playing in the Colombian tournament.
His passage through Peru
Arzuaga arrived on San Martin Early 2009. With the “sacred” team he played the Copa Libertadores and the local tournament. With those of Santa Anita, he played 28 games and scored 15 goals, including a hat-trick against Sporting Cristal. For the second half of the year, he joined the ranks of Juan Aurich, a club where he failed to score a single goal in his 11 games.
Arzuaga played for San Martín and Aurich in 2009. Photo: GLR
He returned to Junior the following year, scoring 9 goals in 23 games played and winning that year’s title. In 2011 he was loaned to Boyacá Chicó and in 2012 he returned to Peru, this time to play there Jose Galvez by Chimbote. With the Buenos Aires team, he played 29 games and scored 13 goals. However, a brawl with Jersson Vásquez led to his split from the squad.
his last steps
After his third adventure in Peru, the “bull” would return to his country to play with Uniautónoma in the second division, where he would be a character. He was last on his loved ones’ team in 2014: he scored five goals in 16 games. After that, he would make short moves for Jaguares de Córdoba, Alianza Petrolera, Real Cartagena and Valledupar FC, a team where he would retire.
Arzuaga returned to Peru in 2012 to play for José Gálvez. Photo: GLR
What happened to “Toro” Arzuaga?
At 41, Martín Arzuaga remains linked to football. He has a YouTube channel En la arena con el Toro Martín Arzuaga. There he conducts interviews with Colombian soccer players and former players. He has also served as a commentator and panelist on sports programs in his country.