Ysrael Zúñiga

Zúñiga initially trained as a dental technician before deciding to become a professional footballer at the relatively late age of 22. He gained some international fame after scoring a league-record equalling 32 goals for Melgar in his first season in the Primera División Peruana in 1999. His goalscoring success prompted English Premier League club Coventry City to purchase him for £750,000 in February 2000. However, he was unable to find any form in England; scoring three goals in 30 appearances spread over two and a half years with Coventry before he was released in the summer of 2002. After leaving Coventry he joined Argentine club Estudiantes, but again struggled to recapture his scoring form. Zúñiga returned to his homeland following the conclusion of his spell in Argentina to join Sporting Cristal, a club he spent time at as a teenager before leaving the game to study to be a dental worker.

He won 21 caps and scored 3 goals for the Peru. He was recalled against Ecuador in June 2007.

International

As of 9 July 2007

Club

Guardia Republicana

Peruvian Segunda División:1995 Sporting Cristal

Peruvian Primera División: 2005 Juan Aurich

Peruvian First Division: 2011 FBC Melgar

Peruvian First Division: 2015