Arnold Cruz

Arnold Javier Cruz Argueta (born 22 December 1970) is a retired Honduran football defender. He currently is manager of second division side UPNFM.

Club career Nicknamed Chele, Cruz started his professional career at Olimpia before moving abroad to join compatriot César Obando at Mexican outfit UA Tamaulipas. He then played for fellow Mexicans Toluca and Morelia and joined Major League Soccer in 1997, where he would turn out for D.C. United and San Jose Clash. The much-travelled defender enjoyed a season in Argentinian football with Chacarita Juniors in between two more spells with Olimpia and played for Costa Rican side Cartaginés and the Salvadorans of Águila.

He finally returned to Honduras and Olimpia in 2005 and finished his career at Platense in Liga Nacional de Honduras.

International career Cruz made his debut for Honduras in a May 1991 UNCAF Nations Cup match against Panama and has earned a total of 50 caps, scoring 3 goals. He has represented his country in 18 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and played at the 1991, 1993, 1995 and 2003 UNCAF Nations Cups as well as at the 1991, 1996 and 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cups.

His final international was a June 2003 friendly match against Venezuela.

International goals Scores and results list Honduras' goal tally first. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 22 September 1992 Estadio Nacional, Tegucigalpa, Honduras 4–1 5–1 Friendly match 2. 17 November 1996 Estadio Francisco Morazán, San Pedro Sula, Honduras 3–0 11–3 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification 3. 20 August 2000 New York City, USA 2–0 4–0 Friendly match

Retirement He retired in 2008 and became assistant coach for Nahúm Espinoza at Platense. In 2011, he worked for a Youth Institution of the Honduran government. He became manager of UPNFM for the 2013 Clausura.

Honours and awards

Club C.D. Olimpia Liga Profesional de Honduras (1): 1992–93

Country Honduras Copa Centroamericana (2): 1993, 1995