Reinaldo Navia

Reinaldo Marcelino Navia Amador (born 10 May 1978) is a retired Chilean footballer.

Navia was a member of the Chile national squad that competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics at Sydney, making an offensive duo with the historic Chilean striker Ivan Zamorano and earning a bronze medal.

Club career

Early career

Born and raised in Quillota, he joined Santiago Wanderers youth ranks for made his professional debut with the team in 1995, aged 17.

After five successful seasons in Wanderers, he was transferred to UAG Tecos of Mexico in 2001. He remained in Tecos during two seasons, scoring 30 goals in 62 appearances.

In January 2003, Navia joined Monarcas Morelia. He immediately greatly impressed to Monarcas, scoring in one season scored 26 goals over the Torneo Clausura and Apertura. At the end of season, it was rumored that many clubs of Europe were interested in him.

América

In December 2003, was announced that América's Dutchman coach Leo Beenhakker was interested in having Navia in his squad after his notable season in Morelia. On 26 December, it was announced that Navia signed a three-year contract with América, receiving a salary of $1.4 million per season for an undisclosed fee. One day later he was presented as new player of the club.

He made his club debut in the InterLiga 2004 in a 3–2 victory over Atlante, scoring a twice during the game. On 14 January, he again scored for InterLiga, now against his former club Morelia in a 3–1 away win. In the first leg final, Navia scored twice in the 2–1 win against Atlas. Finally América was champion of the InterLiga qualifying to the Copa Libertadores and Navia was the goalscorer of the tournament with 6 goals. On 24 January, Navia made his league in the Clásico Joven against Cruz Azul. His first goal in the league was at the 2nd minute of game in a 3–2 win against Veracruz. On 11 March, Navia scored an important goal for the Libertadores in a 2–1 win over São Caetano with an impressive header at the 85th minute. On 11 May, Navia scored the only goal of América in the 1–0 win at the derby against Guadalajara with a semi-bicycle kick. Because of the incidents that he and six teammates performed in the game against São Caetano, Navia had to pay a fine of $180.000.

On 6 November 2004, Navia suffered a serious injury in the 1–0 victory over UANL Tigres in a league game at Estadio Azteca. Six days later, América confirmed one week later that Navia had ruptured the kneecap ligament in his left knee. On 23 July 2005, Navia back to play for América after eight months for the Campeón de Campeones final as a 30th-minute substitution in a 0–0 draw against Pumas UNAM. In October, was revelated that La Liga side Racing de Santander are interesting on sign to Navia in a six-months loan.

In December 2005, Monterrey's coach Miguel Herrera confirmed the arrival of Navia to The Striped Ones for replace to Guillermo Franco. In the Clausura 2006, he only scored 3 goals in 13 appearances. In the Holy week, Navia was excluded from the squad because he was not present in a training with the reserves squad and also the president of the club accused him of being guilty of the bad season of Monterrey. On 29 May, Navia joined San Luis. After another irregular season, in 2007 he moved to Atlas.

Racing and LDU Quito

After of failed to join Colo-Colo for indiscipline problems in the Copa América, on 24 August 2007, Navia had come to verbal agreements with Racing Club de Avellaneda, being presented as new player of the club one day later saying: "I want to collaborate in a team that need be champion".

Navia made his Primera División debut for the Academy on 3 October, as a 73rd-minute substitution in a 3–2 home defeat against Tigre. Three days later he made his first start for Racing in a 2–2 draw with Rosario Central, being replaced in the 63rd minute. His firsts 90th minutes for the club was in the last week of the tournament against in a 1–0 victory over Colón. He had more continuity in the team during the season 2008, especially in the final part of the tournament with the coach Juan Manuel Llop. On 17 May, as a starter he scored his first goal for the club at 14th minute in a 2–1 loss against Boca Juniors at La Bombonera.

Navia joined LDU Quito on 24 July 2008, signing a one-year contract for an undisclosed fee. Shortly after his arrival he looked his move to Quito as a chance for return to the Chile national team after an abrupt departure after of the Copa América 2007.

His debut came on 14 August for the first round Copa Sudamericana against Bolívar, game on that he scored the club's fourth goal in a 4–2 victory. Navia made his first league appearance in a 0–0 draw with Tecnico Universitario. For the Sudamericana in the second leg of the first round's, he scored his side's goal in a 2–1 away loss to Bolívar. On 14 September, he scored a goal against Deportivo Cuenca at 90-minute, defeating 2–1 to Cuenca. His goal made that Liga qualified to the playoffs in the second place of the Group stage. In the final stage the club was runner-up of the tournament and in the league last game he scored a twice in a 4–3 victory over Macará.

On 21 December 2008, he played in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup against Manchester United as an 87th-minute substitution for Luis Bolaños. In this game Liga was defeated 1–0 with a goal of Wayne Rooney at 73rd minute. After of the runner-up achieved the club, many fans at Casa Blanca Stadium received to the team in his arrival to Ecuador. Navia affirmed that he are very excited as his teammates. On 16 February 2009, he suffered a two-months injury risking his permanence in the team, because his contract expire on June.

Santiago Morning

On 6 August 2009, after a failed transfer to Universidad Católica, he joined to Santiago Morning for an undisclosed fee on a six-months deal with purchase option for one season, because that he not had an option of play in other club international. In the same day, he was presented as new player of Morning with the number 10 and he said: "Do not compare myself to anyone... I have made my career, I know who I am, I know I can give and I hope to perform" affirmed Navia.

At the end of the month, he made his morning debut against Cobresal as a 59th-minute substitute for Miguel Hernández. On 26 September, he scored his first goal in his return to Chile in a 3–1 victory over Universidad de Chile at Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso Stadium. In his third appearance for the Copa Chile against Curicó Unido he scored his second for the club. Because of the good morning performance in the regular phase of the tournament, the team qualified to the playoffs, but was eliminated in the semifinals by Católica, in the second leg of the semifinals, Navia scored his third side's goal in a 5–3 loss to Las Condes's side.

Return to Mexico

In December 2009, he failed to join to CD Veracruz, because the known 'gentlemen's deal' that he agreed when he played for América in 2004 and shortly after he was released, for the pact the 'eagles' charged US$300.000. During February 2010, he was on trial with the Major League Soccer side New England Revolution, he was on talks with the team. After he failed to join to Revolution, was announced that Navia had come to verbal agreements with Sporting Cristal of Peru, but he despite this offer for economic issues, including after of pass the medical and immediately joined to Irapuato of the Liga de Ascenso. Navia's club debut came on 24 July in a 1–0 defeat against Mérida at Carlos Iturrialde Stadium. He scored his first goal for Irapuato in a 4–1 victory over La Piedad. At the end of season, he resigned his contract and finished as released player.

Ñublense

On 5 March 2011, it was announced that Navia returned to Chilean football for join Ñublense, replacing Luis Flores Abarca, who retired due to heart problems. On 13 March, he made his league debut for the club in a 2–0 defeat against Universidad Católica. In his second game for the club, he scored his first goal for the club and the only of the match against Unión San Felipe after a penalty kick scored in the 16th minute.

Atlanta Silverbacks

Navia signed with Atlanta Silverbacks of the second division North American Soccer League on 5 January 2012.

International career

Navia was a frequent player at forward for the Chile national team, where he wore Iván Zamorano's classic number; 9. He made his international debut on 17 February 1999, in a match against Guatemala. Prior to this, he played for Chile B against England B on February 10, 1998. Chile won by 2-1. In 2007, it was rumored that he might return to his homeland to play for Colo-Colo to replace the departing Humberto Suazo, however, in July 2007, Colo-Colo announced they would not take him due to his bad behavior during the ''2007 Copa América'' in Venezuela. He was never called up again.

International goals

Honours

Club

*;Santiago Wanderers
** Segunda División de Chile (1): 1995

;América
** Mexican Primera División (1): 2005 Clausura
** Campeón de Campeones (1): 2005

International

*;Chile
** 2000 Summer Olympics (1): Bronze

Individual

*;Atlanta Silverbacks
** NASL Player of the Month: April 2012
** NASL Player of the Week: Week 4, 2012

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Navia, Reinaldo
1978 births
Living people
People from Quillota
Chilean footballers
Chilean expatriate footballers
Chile international footballers
Olympic footballers of Chile
Olympic bronze medalists for Chile
Footballers at the 2000 Summer Olympics
2001 Copa América players
2007 Copa América players
Santiago Wanderers footballers
Tecos F.C. footballers
Atlético Morelia players
Club América footballers
C.F. Monterrey players
San Luis F.C. players
Atlas F.C. footballers
Racing Club de Avellaneda footballers
L.D.U. Quito footballers
Santiago Morning footballers
Irapuato F.C. footballers
Ñublense footballers
Atlanta Silverbacks players
Expatriate footballers in Mexico
Expatriate footballers in Argentina
Expatriate footballers in Ecuador
Expatriate soccer players in the United States
Chilean expatriate sportspeople in Mexico
Chilean expatriate sportspeople in Argentina
Chilean expatriate sportspeople in Ecuador
Chilean expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Olympic medalists in football
Chilean Primera División players
Liga MX players
Argentine Primera División players
Ecuadorian Serie A players
Primera B de Chile players
Ascenso MX players
North American Soccer League players
Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Association football forwards