Francisco Javier Cruz

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Template:Short description Template:Family name hatnote Template:Infobox football biography

Francisco Javier Cruz Jiménez (born 24 May 1966) is a Mexican former professional footballer who played for Monterrey and Tigres UANL, becoming one of the few players to be successful in both professional teams from Monterrey. He is nicknamed El Abuelo, which means "The Grandfather".

He also played for a short time in Spain, for CD Logroñés

He scored many goals for both Rayados and Tigres, even in the Clásico Regiomontano, where he became an idol of the city. Because of this, he is loved by fans of both teams, a rarity in the competing atmosphere of Monterrey.

Early life

Born in Cedral, Cruz moved to Monterrey at the age of 5. Cruz is the 8th youngest of 10 children.[1] Although Cruz demonstrated a passion and skill for the sport, his dad discouraged him from pursuing a career in football.[1]

Club career

C.F. Monterrey

He was instrumental in the conquest of the first championship for Rayados. Topscorer for that Mexico 86 tournament (tied with Sergio Lira from Tampico with 14 goals). He also served the assist to Sergio "Alvin" Perez's goal that kept the team from being relegated in May 1999.

Tigres UANL

He played with Tigres UANL for a while, where he scored many goals. He was instrumental in returning the team to the First Division after its privatization.

In April 1998, he signed with the San Antonio Pumas of the USISL.[2]

International career

File:Cruz vs cabanas.jpg
Cruz (in white) and Cabañas during Mexico's 1986 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay

"El Abuelo" Cruz also played several games with Mexico, including the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against West Germany in the Estadio Universitario of Monterrey. In extra time, he scored a goal that the referee annulled due to an offside ruling involving another player. The game ended on penalty kicks with Mexico eliminated.

He missed the 1994 FIFA World Cup due to an injury which he suffered by scoring the goal that qualified Mexico into the competition.

Template:International goals header |- | 1. || May 13, 1987 || Toluca, Mexico || {{ Template:Yesno

| alias = Bermuda | flag alias = Flag of Bermuda.svg | flag alias-1875 = Flag of Bermuda (1875–1910).svg | flag alias-1910 = Flag of Bermuda 1910.svg | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | variant =

}} || 6–0 || Win || Olympic Games Qualification |- | 2. || February 10, 1993 || Monterrey, Mexico || {{ Template:Yesno

| alias = Romania | flag alias = Flag of Romania.svg | flag alias-1859 = Flag of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia (1859 - 1862).svg | flag alias-1862 = Flag of the United Principalities of Romania (1862–1866).svg | flag alias-1866 = Flag of Romania.svg | flag alias-1947 = Flag of Romania (January-March 1948).svg | flag alias-1948 = Flag of Romania (1948-1952).svg | flag alias-1952 = Flag of Romania (1952-1965).svg | flag alias-1965 = Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg | flag alias-naval = Flag of Romania.svg | flag alias-naval-1860 = Flag of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia (1859 - 1862).svg | flag alias-naval-1862 = Flag of the United Principalities of Romania (1862–1866).svg | flag alias-naval-1866 = Flag of Romania.svg | flag alias-naval-1922 = Naval Ensign of Romania (1922–1947).svg | flag alias-naval-1947 = Flag of Romania (January-March 1948).svg | flag alias-naval-1948 = Flag of Romania (1948–1952).svg | flag alias-naval-1950 = Naval Ensign of Romania (1950–1952).svg | flag alias-naval-1952 = Naval Ensign of Romania (1952–1965).svg | flag alias-naval-1965 = Flag of Romania (1965–1989).svg | link alias-naval = Romanian Naval Forces | flag alias-air force = Flag of the Romanian Air Force (obverse).svg | flag alias-air force-1947 = Flag of Romania (January-March 1948).svg | flag alias-air force-1948 = Flag of Romania (1948–1952).svg | flag alias-air force-1950 = Flag of Air Force of Romania (1950-1952, obverse).svg | flag alias-air force-1952 = Flag of Air Force of Romania (1952-1965, obverse).svg | flag alias-air force-1965 = Flag of Romania (1965–1989).svg | link alias-air force = Romanian Air Force | flag alias-army = Flag of the Romanian Land Forces (Obverse).svg | flag alias-army-1859 = Flag of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia (1859 - 1862).svg | flag alias-army-1862 = Flag of the United Principalities of Romania (1862–1866).svg | flag alias-army-1866 = Flag of Romania.svg | flag alias-army-1947 = Flag of Romania (January-March 1948).svg | flag alias-army-1948 = Flag of Romania (1948–1952).svg | flag alias-army-1950 = Battle flag of Romania (1950-1952, obverse).svg | flag alias-army-1952 = Battle flag of Romania (1952-1965, obverse).svg | flag alias-army-1965 = Battle flag of Romania (1966-1989, obverse).svg | link alias-army = Romanian Land Forces | flag alias-navy = Flag of the Romanian Naval Forces (Obverse).svg | flag alias-navy-1860 = Flag of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia (1859 - 1862).svg | flag alias-navy-1862 = Flag of the United Principalities of Romania (1862–1866).svg | flag alias-navy-1866 = Flag of Romania.svg | flag alias-navy-1922 = Naval Ensign of Romania (1922–1947).svg | flag alias-navy-1947 = Flag of Romania (January-March 1948).svg | flag alias-navy-1948 = Flag of Romania (1948–1952).svg | flag alias-navy-1950 = Flag of Naval Force of Romania (1950-1951, obverse).svg | flag alias-navy-1952 = Flag of terrestrial units of the Naval Force of Romania (1952-1965, obverse).svg | flag alias-navy-1965 = Flag of Romania (1965–1989).svg | link alias-navy = Romanian Naval Forces | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | variant =

}} || 2–0 || Win || Friendly |- | 3. || May 9, 1993 || Toronto, Canada || {{ Template:Yesno

| alias = Canada | flag alias = Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg | flag alias-1867-official = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg | flag alias-1868 = Canadian Red Ensign (1868–1921).svg | flag alias-1905 = Canadian Red Ensign (1905–1922).svg | flag alias-1907 = Canadian Red Ensign (1907–1921).png | flag alias-1921 = Canadian Red Ensign (1921–1957).svg | flag alias-1957 = Canadian Red Ensign (1957–1965).svg | flag alias-1964 = Flag of Canada (1964).svg | flag alias-1965 = Flag of Canada (WFB 2000).png | flag alias-2004 = Flag of Canada (WFB 2004).gif | flag alias-armed forces = Canadian Forces Flag.svg | link alias-armed forces = Canadian Armed Forces | flag alias-naval = Naval ensign of Canada.svg | link alias-naval = Royal Canadian Navy | flag alias-naval-1868 = Blue Ensign of Canada (1868–1921).svg | flag alias-naval-1911 = Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg | flag alias-naval-1921 = Canadian Blue Ensign (1921–1957).svg | flag alias-naval-1957 = Canadian Blue Ensign (1957–1965).svg | flag alias-naval-1965 = Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg | flag alias-coast guard = Coastguard Flag of Canada.svg | link alias-coast guard = Canadian Coast Guard | flag alias-air force = Royal Canadian Air Force ensign.svg | flag alias-air force-1924 = Ensign of the Royal Canadian Air Force.svg | link alias-air force = Royal Canadian Air Force | flag alias-army-1939 = Flag of the Canadian Army (1939–1944).svg | flag alias-army-1968 = Flag of the Canadian Army (1968–1998).svg | flag alias-army-1989 = Flag of the Canadian Army (1968–1998).svg | flag alias-army-2013 = Flag of the Canadian Army (2013–2016).svg | flag alias-army = Flag of the Canadian Army.svg | link alias-army = Canadian Army | flag alias-military = Flag of the Canadian Forces.svg | link alias-military = Canadian Armed Forces | flag alias-navy = Naval ensign of Canada.svg | link alias-navy = Royal Canadian Navy | link alias-football = Canada men's national soccer team | size = | name = | altlink = national football team | altvar = football | variant =

}} || 2–1 || Win || 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification |}

Retirement

He retired as a player on May 9, 1999.

As of April 16, 2006. He tried to get a Team as a coach, but he never got to be one, He also started working with Tigres UANL, as a recruiter but he let that down also, According to an interview, he aspires to coach a team in the Liga de Ascenso.[3]

Personal life

Cruz gave himself the nickname El Abuelo in his teenage years in honor of his late grandfather.[1]

In an interview, Cruz claimed to have fell into a depression following his retirement. His mental state worsened following the death of his mother due to a heart attack in 2004 and his father's death the year later.[1] Shortly after the death of his parents, Cruz developed an eating disorder and reached a weight of 313 pounds.[1] Cruz underwent gastric bypass surgery after being diagnosed with high blood pressure and diabetes.[1]

Cruz has three daughters from a previous marriage.[1]

References

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  1. ↑ a b c d e f g Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ All-new Pumas change everything San Antonio Express-News - Friday, April 3, 1998
  3. ↑ http://www.tabascohoy.com.mx/nota.php?id_nota=102999 Template:Bare URL inline

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External links

Template:Primera División de México top scorers Template:Mexico Squad 1986 World Cup

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