Julio César Cortés

Julio César "El Pocho" Cortés Lagos (29 March 1941 – 24 July 2025) was a Uruguayan footballer and manager. As a footballer, he played as a midfielder for teams in Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, Guatemala, the United States, El Salvador, and Costa Rica. He notably played for Peñarol between 1966 and 1971, where he won two league titles,Source:  the 1966 Copa Libertadores, and the 1966 Intercontinental Cup.

He was capped 30 times for Uruguay between 1962 and 1970, scoring three goals. He played for Uruguay at three FIFA World Cups in 1962, 1966, and 1970. At the 1966 FIFA World Cup, he kicked referee Jim Finney after Uruguay's 4–0 loss to West Germany in the quarter-finals, which got him suspended for a year from international football.Why not everyone remembers the 1966 World Cup as fondly as England The Guardian, 24 July 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2025.Hereford’s most celebrated referee dies at 83 The Hereford Times, 3 April 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2025.

After retiring from football, he became a manager. He mainly coached teams in Central America, and was also the manager of Guatemala two times, in 1987 and between 2000 and 2003. He also managed them at the 1987 Pan American Games, the 2001 UNCAF Nations Cup, the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the 2003 UNCAF Nations Cup. At the 2001 UNCAF Nations Cup, he helped Guatemala win their first international title in 34 years. 

After he was fired in April 2003, Cortés sued the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala (FEDEFUT) for breach of contract, and demanded payment of part of his remuneration as the national team's coach. The case was taken before FIFA, who in 2006, ruled that the FEDEFUT had to pay him part of what he demanded.

Cortés died on 24 July 2025, at the age of 84.

Honours
Player
Peñarol
 Copa Libertadores: 1966
 Uruguayan Primera División: 1967, 1968
 Intercontinental Cup: 1966

Uruguay
 FIFA World Cup fourth place: 1970 FIFA World Cup

Manager
Suchitepéquez
 Liga Mayor A: 1983

Juventud Retalteca
 Copa de Guatemala: 1984–85

Guatemala
 UNCAF Nations Cup: 2001

Jalapa
 Copa Centenario: 2005

References

Other websites





Category:1941 births
Category:2025 deaths
Category:Footballers from Montevideo
Category:Uruguayan footballers
Category:Association football midfielders
Category:Argentine Primera División players
Category:1962 FIFA World Cup players
Category:1966 FIFA World Cup players
Category:1970 FIFA World Cup players
Category:Uruguayan football managers