Aurelio Valenzuela

Aurelio Gerardo Valenzuela Flores (born 2 December 1942) is a Chilean football manager and former player who played as a playmaker.

Playing career

Born in Arica, Chile, Valenzuela played for two clubs in the Chilean Primera División. He made his professional debut in 1962 with San Luis de Quillota, playing for them until 1964. As a member of them, he also faced the English club Stoke City in a friendly match on 3 June 1964.

In 1965, he switched to Santiago Morning until 1969. After the team was relegated to the Segunda División in 1969, he moved to play to Mexico thanks to Carlos Reinoso, then a player of América, in place of his compatriots Leopoldo Vallejos and Aurelio Vásquez. Back in Chile, he rejoined Santiago Morning until 1972.

At international level, he was a member of the Chile national team between 1965 and 1967.

Coaching career

As a football coach, Valenzuela led Santiago Morning, Audax Italiano, Deportes Iquique, Regional Atacama and Deportes Arica in his homeland. In addition, he led the Cobresal youth system in 1984.

In 1986, he took part in the Colegio de Entrenadores de Fútbol de Chile (National Association of Football Managers of Chile).

Once in Mexico, he led Nacional Tijuana in 2003. He also worked in the youth systems of clubs such as Guadalajara and Toluca.

He has also started football academies like Atenea and the namesake, Aurelio Valenzuela and worked with women players like the Baja California state team in the Olimpiada Nacional tournament.