Mauricio Cruz

{{Short description|Nicaraguan footballer (born 1957)}} {{BLP sources|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox football biography | name= Mauricio Cruz | fullname = Mauricio Antonio Cruz Jiron | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|3|11}} | birth_place =Nicaragua | height = {{height|m=1.70}} | currentclub = | clubnumber = | position = Striker | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 1973–1982 | years2 = 1980–1981 | years3 = 1983 | years4 = 1984–1992 | clubs1 = Diriangén FC | clubs2 = Chicago Horizons ''(Indoor)'' | clubs3 = Universidad | clubs4 = Diriangén FC | caps1 = | caps2 = 24 | goals1 = 170 | goals2 = 7 | manageryears1 = 1993–2001 | manageryears2 = 1992–2006 | manageryears3 = 2008 | manageryears4 = 2008–2010 | manageryears5 = 2017–2019 | manageryears6 = 2021–2022 | managerclubs1 = Nicaragua | managerclubs2 = Diriangén | managerclubs3 = Nicaragua | managerclubs4 = Diriangén | managerclubs5 = Diriangen | managerclubs6 = Deportivo Walter Ferretti | nationalyears1 = 1973–1992 | nationalteam1 = Nicaragua | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | pcupdate = | ntupdate = }}

{{family name hatnote|Cruz|Jiron|lang=Spanish}} '''Mauricio Antonio Cruz Jiron''' (born 11 March 1957) is a former Nicaraguan footballer who currently coaches CD Walter Ferretti in the Primera División de Nicaragua.

==Club career== During his career he played for Diriangén and Honduran outfit Universidad.<ref>[http://archivo.laprensa.hn/Deportes/Ediciones/2009/06/25/Noticias/Desafie-a-Ismael Desafíe a Ismael] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017000120/http://archivo.laprensa.hn/Deportes/Ediciones/2009/06/25/Noticias/Desafie-a-Ismael |date=2013-10-17 }} - La Prensa {{in lang|es}}</ref>

==International career== Cruz made his debut for Nicaragua in the 1970s and represented his country in 2 FIFA World Cup qualification matches, both in 1992 versus El Salvador.<ref>{{FIFA player|94803}}</ref> Cruz represented Nicaragua at the 1975 Pan American Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/panam75det.html|title=Pan-American Games 1975 (Mexico) - Match Details|date= |website=RSSSF|accessdate=2020-04-27}}</ref>

His final international was a July 1992 FIFA World Cup qualification match against El Salvador.

==Managerial career== He has been national team manager during 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and again during a short 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification spell in 2008.<ref>[http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/deportes/4742 “Soy otro técnico”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129103957/http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/deportes/4742 |date=2015-01-29 }} - El Nuevo Diario {{in lang|es}}</ref> Cruz took charge of Diriangén again in summer 2008<ref>[http://barracacique.com/13-directores-tecnicos-han-pasado-durante-la-sequia Trece técnicos han pasado durante la sequía] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20150725014556/http://barracacique.com/13-directores-tecnicos-han-pasado-durante-la-sequia |date=2015-07-25 }} - Barra Cacique {{in lang|es}}</ref> after he had left them in 2006.<ref>[http://impreso.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2008/07/31/deportes/81955 Mauricio Cruz, último campeón] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220100314/http://impreso.elnuevodiario.com.ni/2008/07/31/deportes/81955 |date=2013-12-20 }} - El Nuevo Diario {{in lang|es}}</ref>

==Personal life== He has a brother named Donaldo Jiron.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://deportes.vivenicaragua.com/target-goal/2007/12/11/la-tripleta-galactica-los-mejores-mediocampistas-del-futbol.html La tripleta galáctica: los mejores mediocampistas del futbol] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129113127/http://deportes.vivenicaragua.com/target-goal/2007/12/11/la-tripleta-galactica-los-mejores-mediocampistas-del-futbol.html |date=2015-01-29 }} * [https://www.nasljerseys.com/MISL/Players/C/Cruz.Maricio.htm MISL stats]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Mauricio}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Nicaraguan men's footballers Category:Nicaragua men's international footballers Category:Diriangén FC players Category:Nicaraguan expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Honduras Category:Nicaraguan expatriate sportspeople in Honduras Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:Nicaraguan expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:Chicago Horizons players Category:Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992) players Category:Diriangén F.C. managers Category:Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras players Category:Nicaraguan football managers Category:Nicaragua national football team managers Category:Men's association football forwards