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Javier Astúa
Personal information
Full name	Javier Astúa Araya
Date of birth	6 November 1968
Place of birth	Quepos, Costa Rica
Date of death	4 January 2022 (aged 53)
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team
1989–1992	Puntarenas
1992	Morelia
1993	Palestino
1994–1995	Alajuelense
1995	San Carlos
1996	Herediano
1999	Carmelita
International career
1992–1994	Costa Rica
Managerial career
2011	Municipal Puntarenas
2013	Jicaral
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Javier Astúa Araya (6 November 1968 – 4 January 2022) was a Costa Rican professional footballer who played as a forward.

Club career

Born in Quepos,^[1] Astúa played several years for Municipal Puntarenas and played two matches for Mexican outfit Morelia in September 1992.^[2] He had a frustrating four-month stint at Chilean side Palestino,^[3] before returning to Costa Rica where he joined Alajuelense. He later played for San Carlos, who released him in November 1995 after an injury-hit spell.^[4] In March 2006, he was released by Herediano.^[5] He finished his career at Carmelita before more injury cut short his career.

He was twice the Costa Rica Premier Division top goalscorer, in 1992 and 1994.^[6]

International career

Astúa made his debut for Costa Rica in an April 1992 friendly against El Salvador and earned a total of 13 caps, scoring seven goals. He has represented his country in four FIFA World Cup qualification matches^[7] and played at the 1993 UNCAF Nations Cup.^[8]

He played his final international game in January 1994 against Norway.

Later life and death

Astúa was married and had a daughter and a son,^[1] who was manager of Third Division side Jicaral in 2013.^[9] He died on 4 January 2022, at the age of 53.^[10]

Career statistics

Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Astúa goal.

List of international goals scored by Javier Astúa
No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	23 August 1992	Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica	Panama	5–0	5–1	1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	5 December 1992	Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino, Tegucigalpa, Honduras	Honduras	1–2	1–2	1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
3	13 December 1992	Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	1–0	5–0	1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
4				3–0
5				4–0
6	16 February 1993	Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica	Nicaragua	1–0	6–0	1993 UNCAF Nations Cup qualification
7	16 February 1993	Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica	Nicaragua	3–0	6–0	1993 UNCAF Nations Cup qualification