{{short description|Chilean footballer and manager (born 1978)}} {{for-multi|the Uruguayan boxer|Jorge Acuña (boxer)|the Uruguayan footballer|Jorge Acuña (Uruguayan footballer)}} {{family name hatnote|Acuña |Concha|lang=Spanish}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Jorge Acuña | image = | full_name = Jorge Cristian Acuña Concha | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1978|7|31}} | birth_place = Ovalle, Chile | height = 1.78 m | position = Midfielder | currentclub = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Unión Española | years1 = 1999 | clubs1 = Unión Española | caps1 = 37 | goals1 = 1 | years2 = 2000–2002 | clubs2 = Universidad Católica | caps2 = 74 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2003–2006 | clubs3 = Feyenoord | caps3 = 15 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2004–2005 | clubs4 = → Universidad Católica (loan) | caps4 = 38 | goals4 = 2 | years5 = 2005–2006 | clubs5 = → Roosendaa (loan) | caps5 = 24 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2007 | clubs6 = Universidad de Chile | caps6 = 16 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2007–2009 | clubs7 = Mamelodi Sundowns | caps7 = 35 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2009 | clubs8 = Ñublense | caps8 = 12 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2010–2015 | clubs9 = Unión San Felipe | caps9 = 55 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2013 | clubs10 = → Rangers (loan) | caps10 = 12 | goals10 = 0 | years11 = 2015–2016 | clubs11 = Cobresal | caps11 = 8 | goals11 = 0 | years12 = 2017 | clubs12 = Unión San Felipe | caps12 = 6 | goals12 = 0 | totalcaps = 332 | totalgoals = 3 | nationalyears1 = 2003–2006 | nationalteam1 = Chile | nationalcaps1 = 16 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | manageryears1 = 2018 | managerclubs1 = Santa María U17 (city team) | manageryears2 = 2020–2021 | managerclubs2 = Unión San Felipe (youth) | manageryears3 = 2020–2021 | managerclubs3 = Unión San Felipe (assistant) | manageryears4 = 2021 | managerclubs4 = Unión San Felipe | manageryears5 = 2023 | managerclubs5 = Santiago City }} '''Jorge Cristian Acuña Concha''' (born 31 July 1978), also known by his nickname '''Kike Acuña''',<ref name=tntsports/> is a Chilean football manager and former player who played as a midfielder.
==Club career== Born in Ovalle, IV Region of Coquimbo, Acuña joined Santiago–based club Unión Española youth set-up where was promoted to the first adult team in 1999. After spending a season with the Spaniards, in January 2000, he moved to powerhouse Universidad Católica where he helped the club to win the 2002 Torneo Apertura, being a key playing in the title earning.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}
In 2002, Acuña signed a contract with Dutch club Feyenoord.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.espnfc.com/story/256143/acuna-nets-three-year-feyenoord-deal | title = Acuna nets three-year Feyenoord deal | publisher = ESPN | date = 28 January 2002 | access-date = 6 August 2015}}</ref> Following a Feyenoord Reserve match on 15 April 2004, he and other Feyenoord players, including Robin van Persie, were attacked by AFC Ajax hooligans. Acuña was taken to the hospital with head, neck and rib injuries.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/fans-attack-puts-feyenoord-player-in-hospital-56269.html | title = Fans' attack puts Feyenoord player in hospital | work = The Independent | date = 16 April 2004 | access-date = 6 August 2015}}</ref> Then he joined on loan to RBC Roosendaal to play the 2005–06 Eredivisie season. After completing 24 league appearances, Acuña finished his spell at North Brabant and later was released from Feyenoord in January 2006 which didn't renew his contract.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}
After months as a free agent he was on trial at English clubs Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic. However, on 23 January 2007, Acuña finally signed for Universidad de Chile, Católica's cross town rivals.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.emol.com/noticias/deportes/2007/01/23/243277/jorge-acuna-llega-al-pais-para-firmar-por-la-universidad-de-chile.html | title = Jorge Acuña llega al país para firmar por la Universidad de Chile | publisher = Emol | date = 23 February 2007 | access-date = 6 August 2015}}</ref> He arrived to the club during an institutional crisis, only playing 16 league games and then being fired by coach Arturo Salah after missing a training.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.emol.com/noticias/deportes/2007/07/17/262836/arturo-salah-despidio-a-jorge-acuna-de-la-u.html | title = Arturo Salah despidió a Jorge Acuña de la U | publisher = Emol | date = 17 July 2007 | access-date = 6 August 2015}}</ref>
On 8 August 2007, it was reported that Acuña moved to South African side Mamelodi Sundowns of the Premier Soccer League.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://article.wn.com/view/2007/08/08/Downs_snatch_Chilean_star_Acuna/ | title = Downs snatch Chilean star Acuna | via = World News Network | last = Kwenaite | first = Thomas | date = 8 August 2007 | access-date = 6 August 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://nl.women.soccerway.com/news/2007/August/09/chilean-star-joins-south-african-champions/n104345/ | title = Chilean star joins South African champions | work = nl.women.soccerway.com | date = 9 August 2007 | access-date = 6 August 2015}}</ref> After two seasons playing at ''The Brazilians'', he decided to left them after differences with club's chairman Patrice Motsepe who according Acuña discriminated him for be white.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/deportes/futbol/jorge-acuna/jorge-acuna-se-siente-victima-del-racismo-en-sudafrica/2009-02-10/113913.html | title = Jorge Acuña se siente víctima del racismo en Sudáfrica | publisher = Radio Cooperativa | date = 10 February 2009 | access-date = 6 August 2015}}</ref>
After leaving Unión San Felipe, on 2018 he played for both Rebeldes F.C. and Las Higueras de Santa María at amateur level.<ref name=portaligas>{{cite web |title=¡Imperdible! Las 50 preguntas a Jorge 'Kike' Acuña |url=http://portaligas.cl/50-preguntas-a-jorge-kike-acuna/ |website=Portaligas |access-date=23 August 2021 |language=es |quote=Además de estar en Rebeldes también estoy en el club Las Higueras de Santa María.}}</ref>
==Managerial career== After coaching the under-17 football team of the commune Santa María,<ref name=portaligas/> on 2020 he began his managerial career as manager of Unión San Felipe at under-17 level.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jorge Acuña y su nueva etapa en la Sub 17 de San Felipe: "El que se porte mal conmigo, no jugará" |url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/deportes13/jorge-acuna-sub-17-san-felipe-09-03-2020 |publisher=T13 |access-date=29 April 2021 |language=es |date=9 March 2020}}</ref> In November 2020, after Unión San Felipe changed his technical staff, Acuña became assistant coach of Héctor Roco,{{citation needed|date=November 2025}} the manager of the first team.<ref name=tntsports>{{cite web |title="Kike" Acuña y su nueva labor en Primera B |url=https://tntsports.cl/primerab/Kike-Acuna-y-su-nueva-labor-en-Primera-B-20201129-0012.html |publisher=TNT Sports Chile |access-date=29 April 2021 |language=es-ES |date=29 November 2020}}</ref>
On 28 April 2021, he took the challenge of coaching Unión San Felipe as a caretaker manager after Tomás Arrotea<ref>[https://www.bdfa.com.ar/jugadores-TOMAS-ARROTEA-MOLINA-17597.html Tomás Arrotea] at BDFA</ref> was released,<ref>{{cite web |title=Cae el primer DT en el fútbol chileno y asume 'Kike' Acuña |url=https://chile.as.com/chile/2021/04/28/futbol/1619626359_452002.html |publisher=AS Chile |access-date=29 April 2021 |language=es-cl |date=28 April 2021}}</ref> being later ratified on 26 May 26, 2021,<ref>{{cite web |title=La buena noticia que recibió el invicto "Kike" Acuña en Unión San Felipe |url=https://www.primerabchile.cl/noticias-destacadas2/la-buena-noticia-que-recibio-el-invicto-kike-acuna-en-union-san-felipe/ |website=PrimeraBChile.cl |access-date=23 August 2021 |language=es |date=26 May 2021}}</ref> and released on August of the same year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jorge Acuña, desvinculado de Unión San Felipe |url=https://chile.as.com/chile/2021/08/02/futbol/1627862298_541635.html |publisher=AS Chile |access-date=23 August 2021 |language=es-cl |date=1 August 2021}}</ref>
For the 2023 season, he signed with Santiago City FC in the Chilean Tercera A.<ref>{{cite instagram |user=sancityfc |postid=CmdI4nkuyqV |title=Bienvenido al Santiago City |date=22 December 2022 |access-date=22 December 2022 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jorge Acuña dejó de ser entrenador de Santiago City |url=https://www.alairelibre.cl/noticias/deportes/futbol/jorge-acuna/jorge-acuna-dejo-de-ser-entrenador-de-santiago-city/2023-06-04/115535.html |website=alairelibre.cl |publisher=Radio Cooperativa |access-date=5 June 2023 |language=es |date=4 June 2023}}</ref>
==Personal life== His cousin, Diego Abarca, is an American soccer player who is the son of his cousin, Sandra Ramírez, and the former Chilean professional footballer José Abarca.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vega |first1=Diego |title=El sobrino del 'Kike' Acuña que juega en Estados Unidos y sueña con la Roja |url=https://chile.as.com/futbol/el-sobrino-del-kike-acuna-que-juega-en-estados-unidos-y-suena-con-la-roja-n/#:~:text=Diego%20Abarca%20tiene%2016%20años,de%20(Ben)%20Brereton”.&text=Con%2016%20años%2C%20Diego%20Abarca,de%20la%20United%20Soccer%20League. |publisher=AS Chile |access-date=12 July 2022 |language=es |date=13 May 2022}}</ref>
In 2016, Acuña was a candidate to councillor for San Felipe commune.<ref>{{cite web |title=Así les fue a los 17 ex jugadores que fueron candidatos |url=https://chile.as.com/chile/2016/10/24/futbol/1477267867_896412.html |website=Diario AS |access-date=23 June 2025 |language=es |date=24 October 2016}}</ref>
In October 2025, Acuña entered the dance TV show {{ill|Fiebre de Baile|es|Fiebre de baile|vertical-align=sup}} (Dance Fever) from Chilevisión.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Acevedo |first1=Soledad |title=CHV: Jorge “Kike” Acuña es el nuevo confirmado en el regreso de “Fiebre de Baile”Jorge “Kike” Acuña es el nuevo confirmado en el regreso de “Fiebre de Baile” |url=https://anda.cl/chv-jorge-kike-acuna-es-el-nuevo-confirmado-en-el-regreso-de-fiebre-de-bailejorge-kike-acuna-es-el-nuevo-confirmado-en-el-regreso-de-fie |access-date=6 October 2025 |work=Anda |date=25 August 2025 |language=es}}</ref>
Acuña owns a Panini store in Pirque, Chile.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Escobillana |first1=Felipe |title="Vengan a mi tienda por las láminas": la invitación de Kike Acuña por el álbum del Mundial |url=https://redgol.cl/mundial/si-no-encuentran-laminas-vengan-a-mi-tienda-la-invitacion-de-kike-acuna-a-los-fanaticos-del-album-del-mundial |website=RedGol |access-date=15 May 2026 |language=es |date=14 May 2026}}</ref>
==Honours== ===Player=== ;Universidad Católica * Primera División de Chile: 2002 Apertura
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerway|jorge-acuna/64503}} *{{NFT player|1429}}
{{Navboxes top|title=Managerial positions}} {{Unión San Felipe managers}} {{Santiago City FC managers}} {{Navboxes bottom}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Acuna, Jorge}} Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:People from Ovalle Category:Footballers from Coquimbo Region Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Chilean men's footballers Category:Chile men's international footballers Category:Unión Española footballers Category:Club Deportivo Universidad Católica footballers Category:Feyenoord players Category:RBC Roosendaal players Category:Club Universidad de Chile footballers Category:Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. players Category:Ñublense footballers Category:Unión San Felipe footballers Category:Rangers de Talca footballers Category:C.D. Cobresal footballers Category:Chilean Primera División players Category:Eredivisie players Category:Primera B de Chile players Category:South African Premier Division players Category:Chilean expatriate men's footballers Category:Chilean expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands Category:Chilean expatriate sportspeople in South Africa Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in South Africa Category:Chilean football coaches <!--as assistant/youth teams coach--> Category:Chilean football managers Category:Primera B de Chile managers Category:Unión San Felipe managers Category:Santiago City FC managers Category:Chilean sportsperson-politicians Category:21st-century Chilean politicians