Jesús Zárate Pérez

Jesús Zárate Pérez
Zárate (left) in a match against Querétaro
Personal information
Full name Jesús Zárate Pérez
Date of birth (1943-05-25)25 May 1943
Place of birth Querétaro, State of Querétaro, Mexico
Date of death 23 May 2019(2019-05-23) (aged 75)
Place of death Querétaro, State of Querétaro, Mexico
Position Forward
Youth career
???–1961 Querétaro
1961–1963 Pachuca
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1963–1971 Pachuca (39)
International career
1966 Mexico 6 (2)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Mexico
Central American and Caribbean Games
Puerto Rico 1966 Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jesús Zárate Pérez (25 May 1943 – 23 May 2019) was a Mexican footballer. Nicknamed "Chucho", he played for Pachuca throughout his entire career, commonly being the top goalscorer for the club throughout the 1960s to the early 1970s. He also briefly represented Mexico for the 1966 Central American and Caribbean Games, winning the tournament.

Club career

Zárate began his career by playing for his native Querétaro throughout his youth career.[1] Beginning in 1961, he chose to play for Pachuca after los Tuzos noted his talents throughout his youth career. For the 1963–64 Mexican Primera División, Zárate made his professional debut for the club. He cited his success in scoring goals in home game matches within the Estadio Revolución Mexicana. He was also notable for never smoking nor drinking as well as often wanting to visit his home city of Querétaro whenever the club had away matches against Guadalajara.[2] The 1966–67 Mexican Segunda División was notable for the club as Zárate help contribute to the club reaching the top-flight of Mexican football.[3]

During their first ever away match against Monterrey for the 1967–68 Mexican Primera División on 28 October 1967, Zárate scored vital equalizer after Monterrey player Juan González Martínez scored the first goal in the match with his teammates Francisco Avilán soon initially making the match a 2–1 lead. However, Rayados players Ángel Lama and Raúl Chávez soon made it a 3–2 loss.[4] Despite this, Zárate found more success in the following 1968–69 Mexican Primera División, scoring ten goals that season alone.[5]

Zárate went on to play his entire senior career for Pachuca until the 1970–71 Mexican Primera División where he retired soon after with 39 goals throughout his career.[6]

International career

Zárate made six appearances throughout the 1966 Central American and Caribbean Games in the football tournament. He made his debut on 13 June 1966 in a 1–0 victory against Jamaica. He later scored two goals against El Salvador and Cuba respectively, contributing to the team winning gold at the tournament.[7]

Personal life

Zárate later became a merchant following his retirement from professional football.[1]

He died on 23 May 2019.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Fallece el goleador plumífero "Chucho Zárate"". Andrés Estévez (in Mexican Spanish). 24 May 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  2. ^ C.F Pachuca (23 May 2019). Histórias de Plata: Jesus Zárate (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  3. ^ "Pachuca es de primera". El Sol de Hidalgo (in Mexican Spanish). 20 July 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  4. ^ "RAYADOS VENCIÓ AL PACHUCA EN SU PRIMERA VISITA A MONTERREY EN PRIMERA". C.F. Monterrey (in Mexican Spanish). 13 August 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  5. ^ Lugo, Erik Francisco; Toscano, Martín (7 July 2022). "Mexico 1968/69". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  6. ^ Gasca Bobadilla, Mauricio (15 January 2021). "Los 5 mejores delanteros en la historia de Pachuca". 90min (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  7. ^ Lugo, Erik Francisco; Mendoza, Eduardo (17 December 2023). "Central American and Caribbean Games 1966 (San Juan, Puerto Rico) - Match Details". RSSSF. Retrieved 16 September 2025.