Marcelo Salas

José Marcelo Salas Melinao (born 24 December 1974 in Temuco), dubbed as El Matador (due to his goalscoring celebrations),El Fenómeno, and Shileno, is a retired Chilean footballer who played as a striker.

He has played in Chile, Argentina and Italy and has won titles for whom he has played, and was voted South American Footballer of the Year in 1997. A powerful and tenacious forward, with good technique, who was well for known his deft touch with his left foot as well as his aerial ability, Salas had a prolific goalscoring record, and is the all-time top goalscorer for the Chilean national team. He appeared for the team at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, where he scored four goals in four matches. As well as that World Cup, Salas played for Chile at two Copa América tournaments.

Club career

Universidad de Chile

Salas was a youth product of the Deportes Temuco youth team until his father took him to Santiago de Chile to be incorporated into Universidad de Chile, the Chilean club with the highest average attendance in the country.