Walter Centeno


Wálter Centeno Corea is a retired Costa Rican football midfielder who is one of Costa Rica's best players.
He had sublime vision and passing skills. He also had good dribbling abilities, great technique and a top eye for goal. He was a regular member of the national team. He holds the record for appearances with the Costa Rican national team, having gained 137 caps and scored 24 goals along the way.

Club career

Saprissa

Nicknamed Paté, Centeno started his career at Saprissa, who loaned him out to Belén for whom he would make his professional debut on 4 February 1995 against Alajuelense. He scored his first goal on 3 September 1995 for Belén against Turrialba. He earned his nickname in his childhood due to his love for eating pate's.

AEK Athens

After 7 years at Saprissa he had a short spell abroad when he moved to AEK Athens of Greece. While playing for AEK, he participated in the UEFA Champions League Group Stage managing to score in the team's away home draws against Real Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico. He however returned to Saprissa after one season in Europe.

Back at Saprissa

He was named the Best player of the 2003–04 Costa Rican season by the Costa Rican sports media, after scoring 9 goals while orchestrating Saprissa's offense, helping the team to win the league.
With Saprissa, he has won 10 national championships and 1 CONCACAF Champions Cup, won the title with a 3–2 aggregate win over Mexico's UNAM Pumas in the final, and was part of the team that played the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship Toyota Cup, where Saprissa finished third behind São Paulo and Liverpool. His appearance at this tournament was considered as outstanding by FIFA experts.
He retired in 2012, his final league match was on 5 May 2012 for Saprissa against Santos de Guápiles. Saprissa retired the no. 8 shirt in his honour as well as definitely retiring the no. 10 shirt of Alonso Solís.

Puerto Rico

In April 2013, Centeno came out of retirement to join Puerto Rican side Bayamón.

International career

Centeno played his first game for the Costa Rican national team on 27 September 1995 against Jamaica. He has been a fixture for the team for the last thirteen years, playing in the Pan American Games held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, in 1995; the Copa América tournaments of 1997, 2001 and 2004; plus the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and 2006. On 1 April 2009, he surpassed the record of caps for Costa Rica as at 18 November 2009 he has 137 caps and 24 goals. He was the captain of Costa Rica national football team for the last part of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifications. Rodrigo Kenton, the appointed manager replacing the fired Hernan Medford, chose him for covering this important role in the team because of his experience, hardening and leadership. Centeno played his last game on the national team on 18 November 2009, where they tied 1–1, in which he scored. The game meant that Costa Rica will not be in World Cup 2010. Centeno's goal was his last with as an International player, and it also marked the last goal of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying stage.
Shortly after that game, he announced his quitting from national team.

International goals

GoalDateVenueOpponentResultCompetition
124 February 1999San José, Costa Rica9–0Friendly
225 November 1999Alajuela, Costa Rica4–0Friendly
31 July 2000Alajuela, Costa Rica5–1Friendly
430 May 2001San Pedro Sula, Honduras2–12001 UNCAF Nations Cup
53 June 2001San Pedro Sula, Honduras1–12001 UNCAF Nations Cup
626 January 2001Miami, United States2–12002 CONCACAF Gold Cup
79 May 2002San Salvador, El Salvador1–2Friendly
813 February 2003Panama City, Panama1–12003 UNCAF Nations Cup
916 July 2003Boston, United States3–02003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1019 July 2003Boston, United States5–22003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1119 July 2003Boston, United States5–22003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1219 July 2003Boston, United States5–22003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1312 January 2005San José, Costa Rica3–3Friendly
143 September 2005Panama City, Panama3–12006 FIFA World Cup qualification
157 September 2005San José, Costa Rica2–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
166 June 2007Miami, United States1–22007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
179 June 2007Miami, United States1–12007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1811 June 2007Miami, United States1–02007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1917 October 2007San José, Costa Rica1–1Friendly
2011 October 2008Paramaribo, Suriname4–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification
211 April 2009San José, Costa Rica1–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
2210 July 2009Florida, United States2–22009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2310 October 2009San José, Costa Rica4–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification
2418 November 2009Montevideo, Uruguay1–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Personal life

Centeno is a son of Benigno Centeno and Lidieth Corea and he is married to Vivian Gutiérrez with whom he has three children.

Honours

Club