{{short description|Honduran footballer and manager (born 1965)}} {{family name hatnote|Cruz|Paredes|lang=Spanish}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Wilmer Cruz | image = | caption = | full_name = Wilmer Enrique Cruz Paredes | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|12|18|df=yes}} | birth_place = Santa Cruz de Yojoa, Honduras | height = | position = Goalkeeper | currentclub = Victoria (Manager) | years1 = 1985–1990 | clubs1 = Real España | caps1 = 56 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 1990–1991 | clubs2 = Platense | caps2 = 28 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 1991–1994 | clubs3 = Real España | caps3 = 58 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 1994–1996 | clubs4 = Motagua | caps4 = 42 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 1997 | clubs5 = Independiente | caps5 = 15 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 1996–1999 | clubs6 = Real España | caps6 = 15 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2000 | clubs7 = Vida | caps7 = 9 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2000 | clubs8 = Savio | caps8 = 18 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2001 | clubs9 = Victoria | caps9 = 3 | goals9 = 0 | years10= 2001–2002 | clubs10= Savio | caps10= 35 | goals10= 0 | nationalyears1 = 1991–2000 | nationalteam1 = Honduras | nationalcaps1 = 63 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | manageryears1 = 2003 | managerclubs1 = Savio | manageryears2 = 2011 | managerclubs2 = Atlético Municipal | manageryears3 = 2011–2012 | managerclubs3 = Parrillas One | manageryears4 = 2012 | managerclubs4 = Atlético Municipal | manageryears5 = 2014–2015 | managerclubs5 = Honduras Progreso | manageryears6 = 2016 | managerclubs6 = Juticalpa | manageryears7 = 2017 | managerclubs7 = Honduras Progreso | manageryears8 = 2019 | managerclubs8 = Juticalpa | manageryears9 = 2019- | managerclubs9 = Victoria }}
'''Wilmer Enrique Cruz Paredes''' (born 18 December 1965) is a Honduran football manager and former player who manages Victoria.
==Club career== Nicknamed ''Pájaro'' (Bird) and ''Supermán'', Cruz played 129 league matches for Real C.D. España and also had spells with Platense F.C., F.C. Motagua and Deportes Savio as well as short stints with C.D.S. Vida, Independiente Villela and C.D. Victoria.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130628020258/http://archivo.laprensa.hn/content/view/full/6646 Desafíe a Ismael] - La Prensa {{in lang|es}}</ref> He played his final league game in January 2001 for Savio against Olimpia.<ref>[http://archivo.laprensa.hn/content/view/full/37020 Ismael responde] - La Prensa {{in lang|es}}</ref>
In September 1999, he was said to be interested to play in Costa Rica but would have to withdraw his candidacy to become mayor of his hometown, Santa Cruz de Yojoa.<ref>[http://wvw.nacion.com/ln_ee/1999/septiembre/07/deportivas2.html Portero hondureño Wílmer Cruz interesado en jugar con el Saprissa] - Nación {{in lang|es}}</ref>
==International career== Cruz made his debut for Honduras in a May 1991 UNCAF Nations Cup match against Panama and has earned a total of 63 caps, scoring no goals. He has represented his country in 16 FIFA World Cup qualification matches<ref>{{FIFA player|162043}}</ref> and played at the 1991, 1993,<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/gold-cam93.html UNCAF Tournament 1993] - RSSSF</ref> 1995<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/gold-cam95.html UNCAF Tournament 1995] - RSSSF</ref> and 1999 UNCAF Nations Cups<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/gold-cam99.html UNCAF Tournament 1999] - RSSSF</ref> as well as at the 1991,<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/91gc-full.html CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 1991 - Full Details] - RSSSF</ref> 1993,<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/93gc-full.html CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 1993 - Full Details] - RSSSF</ref> 1996<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/96gc-full.html CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 1996 - Full Details] - RSSSF</ref> and 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cups.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tables/00gc-full.html CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2000 - Full Details] - RSSSF</ref>
His final international was a May 2000 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Panama.
==Managerial career== After finishing his playing career with Savio, he became in charge of the team in 2003.<ref>[http://www.hondurasfutbol.com/AscOlancho.htm Atlético Olanchano es de primera] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213194905/http://www.hondurasfutbol.com/AscOlancho.htm |date=13 February 2008 }} - Fútbol de Honduras {{in lang|es}}</ref> In May 2011, he was manager of hometown club Atlético Municipal.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130628020427/http://old.latribuna.hn/2011/05/23/wilmer-cruz-los-arbitros-deciden-quienes-son-campeones-y-los-que-descienden/ Wilmer Cruz: Los árbitros deciden quiénes son campeones y los que descienden] - La Tribuna {{in lang|es}}</ref> Cruz resigned as coach of second division Parrillas One in February 2012.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130628020316/http://old.latribuna.hn/2012/02/06/wilmer-cruz-renuncia-del-parrillas-asume-el-argentino-roque-alfaro/ Wilmer Cruz renuncia del Parrillas; asume el argentino Roque Alfaro] - La Tribuna {{in lang|es}}</ref> In February 2013, he was named manager of Honduras Progreso,<ref>[http://www.laprensa.hn/Secciones-Principales/Deportes/Liga-de-Honduras/Wilmer-Cruz-nuevo-tecnico-del-Honduras-de-El-Progreso Wilmer Cruz, nuevo técnico del Honduras de El Progreso] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603000712/http://www.laprensa.hn/Secciones-Principales/Deportes/Liga-de-Honduras/Wilmer-Cruz-nuevo-tecnico-del-Honduras-de-El-Progreso |date=3 June 2013 }} - La Prensa {{in lang|es}}</ref> succeeding Gilberto Machado.
On 19 February 2019, Cruz was once again appointed as manager of Juticalpa.<ref>[https://www.oncenoticias.hn/oficial-wilmer-cruz-es-el-nuevo-entrenador-de-juticalpa-fc/ OFICIAL | Wilmer Cruz es el nuevo entrenador de Juticalpa FC], oncenoticias.hn, 19 February 2019</ref>
===C.D. Victoria=== On 21 May 2019, it was announced that Cruz was named manager of Victoria in the Honduran second division.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.diez.hn/videos/mid-V4ID2FK7 |title=Oficial: Wilmer Cruz es nuevo técnico del Victoria de la Liga de Ascenso |publisher=www.diez.hn |date=21 May 2019 |access-date=9 July 2019 |archive-date=9 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709065321/https://www.diez.hn/videos/mid-V4ID2FK7 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Honours== '''Real Espana''' * Liga Profesional de Honduras: 1988–89, 1993–94 * Honduran Cup: 1992
'''Honduras''' * Copa Centroamericana: 1993, 1995
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{NFT player|29672}} * {{Worldfootball.net|wilmer-cruz|new_id=pe101937}}
{{Navboxes |title=Honduras squads | bg = blue | fg = White |list1= {{Honduras Squad 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup}} {{Honduras Squad 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup}} {{Honduras Squad 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup}} {{Honduras Squad 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Wilmer}} Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Cortés Department Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Honduran men's footballers Category:Honduras men's international footballers Category:1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup players Category:1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup players Category:1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup players Category:2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup players Category:Independiente Villela players Category:Real C.D. España players Category:Platense F.C. players Category:F.C. Motagua players Category:C.D.S. Vida players Category:Deportes Savio F.C. players Category:C.D. Victoria players Category:Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras players Category:Honduran football managers Category:Juticalpa F.C. managers