Nelson Acosta

He managed the national team of Chile from 1996 to 2001, leading them to the 1998 FIFA World Cup despite having only managed club football with no national team experience before taking over the Chile job. He guided Chile to its first World Cup finals appearance after a 16-year absence. Finishing second in Group B behind Italy, Chile reached the Round of 16 for the first time since 1962, losing 4-1 to Brazil at the Parc des Princes. He would soon obtain a fourth place in the 1999 Copa América held in Paraguay and a historic bronze medal in charge of the U-23 team in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. His dismal results in the qualifiers for the 2002 World Cup led to his dismissal after 66 official matches at the helm with a home defeat against Argentina (0-2) in 2000, two months after his exploits with the U-23 Olympic team. As well as a poor relationship with then president of the ANFP Mario Mosquera, the Uruguayan-born manager was criticised for his tactical approaches and the call-up of some players. At the helm of Cobreloa, he won the 2003 Apertura Tournament (after 11 years without a title) and reached the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores that same year, eliminated by the eventual holders Boca Juniors. Acosta took over Bolivia in 2004, but failed miserably and returned to manage Cobreloa winning the 2004 Clausura tournament. From his domestic league success, Acosta was once again appointed as Chile manager replacing Juvenal Olmos in early June 2005. On the 7th July…

Acosta is a naturalized Chilean by residence. Before embarking on his coaching career, he owned a boutique clothing store in Concepción what he managed while he played for Lota Schwager. Since 2016, he suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

Player

Club

Peñarol Primera División (3): 1973, 1974, 1975

Managerial

Club

Unión Española Copa Chile (2): 1992, 1993 Cobreloa Primera División de Chile (2): 2003–A, 2004–C Everton Primera División de Chile (1): 2008–A

International

Chile Summer Olympics Tournament Bronze Medal (1): 2000