Paulo Centurión made his debut in his native province of Formosa in 2002 at Club Sol de América in the first division of the regional Liga Formoseña de Fútbol, where he was the best defender of that season.[citation needed] In 2003, he moved to Club Defensa y Justicia, also in Formosa.
Centurion finished runner-up with the club in the Apertura 2006 league tournament, where Comunicaciones lost the final to their archrival Municipal on away goals after a 1–1 draw on aggregate. Despite the loss, Centurión won the award for best Central defender of the Apertura.[citation needed]
In the 2007 Clausura on 7 March 2007, Centurión scored the first goal of the match in a 3–1 victory against Suchitepequez.[4] Centurión played his last official match in a 2–1 win against Xelaju.
After a failure to reach an agreement between the respective clubs, Centurión left the club with a good image for his performance in the Torneo Apertura 2006 and Clausura 2007.
After his time in Guatemalan soccer, Centurión returned to Paraguay to rejoin Club Guarani in July 2007.
There he played the Torneo Clausura 2007 and Torneo Apertura 2008. On 13 April 2008 during the Apertura, Centurión scored his third goal as a professional and second with Club Guarani, in a 2–2 draw against Sportivo Luqueño.[5][6] Having secured his place in the starting 11, Centurión was pursued by several interested clubs. After the Apertura 2008 concluded, C.S.D. Municipal reached an agreement with Club Guarani and Centurión for a one-year loan with an option to purchase.[7] With the transfer, Centurión became one of the few foreigners to play for both clubs. His last match with Guarani occurred against Club Nacional on 29 June 2008.[8]
Municipal
Centurión of Municipal and Jairo Arreola of Comunicaciones, former teammates now rivals contesting the ball in the Guatemalan Clásico
2008 season
On 26 July 2008, Centurión made his official debut with Municipal, where the team faced Deportivo Xinabajul away from home and lost 2–1.[9]
After placing second in the Torneo Apertura 2008, Municipal achieved direct qualification to represent the country in the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League. On 17 September 2008 in Torreón, Mexico, the club made its debut in the contest against Santos Laguna. Santos won 3–2 in a match considered to be the best of the championship.[10] Centurion and his team finished last in the group stage, with one win, three draws, and two losses. In their final match on 30 October 2008, Centurion participated the full 90 minutes, but gave away a penalty as his club tied group winners Santos 4–4.[11]
In the league, the team eventually placed first in the regular season. In the semi-finals they disposed of Deportivo Xinabajul to set up a final with Comunicaciones. Comunicaciones ended up winning with a 3–2 aggregate score at Estadio Mateo Flores, leaving Centurión and his team empty handed without a trophy.[12]
2009 season
Centurión began the 2009 Torneo Clausura by scoring a goal on 19 April 2009 against Heredia Jaguares at home, where the team won 2–1.[13] The team finished second in the regular season and advanced to the semi-finals, defeating Deportivo Suchitepequez 3–2 on aggregate with a great comeback after having lost the first leg 2–0. The Final would be played against Deportivo Jalapa, which resulted in a 4–1 loss on aggregate, again leaving Municipal empty-handed.
After failing to reach an agreement with Guarani, Centurión left the club where he contested the Torneo Apertura 2008, 2008–09 Champions League, and Torneo Clausura 2009, having been an important contributor to Municipal's efforts.
Centurión became one of the few foreign players who have played in the two top soccer teams of Guatemala and have played El Clásico with both teams.[14]
In July 2009 Centurión returned to Club Guarani. He participated in the Clausura 2009 Tournament, where the club qualified for the 2010 Copa Sudamericana with a third place regular season finish.
In the 2010 Torneo Apertura, Club Guaraní won the league, giving Centurión his first title win. This title qualified Guaraní for the 2011 Copa Libertadores. Centurión scored one goal with the club, in a 5–2 victory against Tacuary on 17 February 2010.[15]
In September 2010, Club Atlético River Plate Puerto Rico announced their acquisition of Centurión.[16] He played in the 2010 PRSL Season, becoming one of the team's best players and being named team captain. The team went on to win the Puerto Rico Soccer League championship,[17] with the first match of the final against Puerto Rico Islanders, a 1–0 victory, taking place on Centurión's birthday.[18]
On 2 August 2011, Centurión was signed by Torneo Argentino B club Sarmiento de Resistencia.[19][20] He made his official debut for the club on 6 September 2011 in the Second Round of the Copa Argentina against San Martin of Formosa, where Sarmiento won 4–3 by way of penalties (0–0 draw after 90 minutes).[21] Centurión, along with his team, advanced to the round of 16 after beating higher-division teams like second division club Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy in the round of 64,[22] and 2011–12 Primera División champion Arsenal de Sarandi in the round of 32.[23][24] In the round of 16, Sarmiento faced eventual cup-runner up Racing de Avellaneda; The club lost the match 2–0 and was eliminated from the tournament, although with the best performance from a Torneo Argentino B club.[25]
On 11 September 2011, Centurión officially debuted in the Torneo Argentino B facing Guaraní Antonio Franco with a 1–0 loss. The club finished fourth of 7 in the group standings and barely missed out on qualifying to the next phase based on head-to-head record with third-placed team San Martin de Formosa.[26][27]
2012–13
Unlike the previous tournament, Sarmiento came first out of 14 teams in the Group 4 standings and qualified to the next stage. However, in the next stage, Sarmiento finished last in a group made up of 4 teams and were eliminated.[28] The player's last match with Sarmiento was in a 0–1 loss against General San Martin.[citation needed]
In the 2012–13 Copa Argentina, he played his first game against rivals Chaco For Ever, where Sarmiento won on penalties 4–3 (0–0 after 90 min.),[29] moving on to the next stage to face Jorge Gibson Brown.[30] The result was a 2–0 loss, which resulted in Sarmiento being eliminated.
After no agreement was made, Centurión decided to leave the club after the 2012–13 season in order to return to his hometown and keep playing the same category, giving priority to his family.[citation needed]
Centurión with Sol de América in a match against Atletico Laguna Blanca
Sol de América Formosa
After 11 years, Centurión returned to his native province and rejoined the club that saw him make his debut, Sol de América, for the 2013–14 Torneo Argentino B season.[31]
He made his second debut with Sol de América on 22 September 2013 in Posadas, Misiones, against Asociación Ex Alumnos – 185th. Sol de América had a good performance in the aforementioned tournament, where they finished first in their zone and ended second in their group in the second phase. They were eliminated in the third phase by Union Aconquija.
At the end of the season, Centurión left the club. His last match with Sol de América was against Club Fontana de Resistencia on 10 November 2013; Centurión's team won 3–0.[32]
Antigua Guatemala
Centurion in Antigua celebrating his goal with dedications to his wife who was pregnant
After 4 ½ years, Centurion returns to Guatemalan football and joins Antigua GFC.[33] He made his debut on 26 January 2014 in a 0–0 draw against Coban Imperial.
On 23 February Centurión scored his first goal with the shirt of Antigua against Sacachispas; the match finished in a bulky 6–1 victory in favor of Antigua, and Centurión scored the second goal of the match shortly before halftime.[34] His last official game was on 4 May against Deportivo Carchá. After 6 months Centurión left the Antigueñan club.
Deportivo Coatepeque
Centurion with the ball in a Coatepeque shirt against Suchitepéquez
Shortly after leaving Antigua, he joined another Guatemalan Club, Deportivo Coatepeque, in October 2014.[35]
The team was very committed to the topic of avoiding relegation since in those instances they occupied the last position in the standings. He debuted in a 1–0 loss against Comunicaciones on 18 October 2014.
In the middle of the Apertura, he began to wear the captain's armband. Because of his good performances, he began to receive offers from other teams in Guatemala. However, he gave priority to Coatepeque since he was committed to helping the team avoid relegation.[citation needed] Results were improving with Centurión in the squad, but other teams weren't dropping points, and eventually the team was relegated. His last match for the club was against Comunicaciones on 18 April 2015, which ended in a 4–0 loss.[36]
Universidad San Carlos
Centurión behind Panamanian striker Rolando Blackburn of Comunicaciones
With the 2015–16 season already underway,[37] he receives an offer from Universidad San Carlos and signs a six-month contract for the club on 6 October 2015 which includes a six-month extension to play the Clausura.[38][39] Four days later he officially makes his debut away to Cobán Imperial, being subbed in at the start of the second half of a 2–2 draw.
Centurion's last official match with the club was against his former team Antigua, which ended in a 1–0 loss.
Deportivo Escuintla Heredia
Paulo Centurión celebrating the winning goal against Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, his second goal wearing the colors of Escuintla Heredia
With the league tournament already underway, Centurión received an offer from Deportivo Escuintla Heredia in the Primera División de Ascenso (second tier). What persuaded Centurion to transfer to the club was the head coach; he was the same coach that introduced him to Guatemalan football a decade ago with Comunicaciones, and they developed an excellent friendship.
He debuted in a 1–0 win against Nueva Concepción. In his second game facing Deportivo Chiantla, Centurión scored his team's second goal in a 3–0 victory. In the penultimate matchday of the qualification phase; Escuintla Heredia faced Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa and won 1–0 with a Centurión goal.
As champion of the 2015 Apertura, Escuintla Heredia qualified for the superfinal between the Apertura and Clausura champions, the Clausura champion being Deportivo Carcha.[40][41][42] The superfinal was played on 22 May on neutral ground.[43][44] The match ended 2–2 after extra time, and Escuintla lost the shootout 5–4.[45][46] However, this did not eliminate all possibilities for promotion; they still had a second opportunity to achieve promotion by playing a relegation playoff against the last placed team in the Primera Division, which in this case was Deportivo Malacateco.[47][48][49] The playoff would be played over two legs; the first leg was played on 28 May with Escuintla Heredia losing 2–1 at home.[50][51] The second leg on 5 June at Estadio Santa Lucia ended in a 4–2 defeat, with the aggregate score being 6–3. The result meant that Malacateco remained in the top division, and Escuintla Heredia failed to achieve promotion.[52]
Paulo Centurión heading the ball
After the conclusion of the 2015–2016 Season, Centurion reached an agreement with the club board and extended his contract for one more year, to play the 2016–2017 Season. The Team began the 2016 Apertura with a 1–0 away victory to Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa. They finish the regular phase obtaining qualification to the quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by Deportivo Mixco 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw over two legs.[53][54]
The objective for the 2017 Clausura was the same; to achieve promotion. In their first match of the season the club gets off to a good start with an away victory over Deportivo Iztapa. However the club had a poor season and failed to qualify for the next stage, and at the conclusion of the season Centurion left the club
Return to Comunicaciones
Centurión in Comunicaciones, posing with his son.
After 11 years, Centurión returned to Comunicaciones, club which he left after the 2006–07 season concluded. He was signed to a one-year contract.[55][56] Shortly after being signed, he was sent to the club's second team, Comunicaciones B.
2017 Clausura
Centurión celebrating his first goal at Cremas B
Comunicaciones began the tournament in poor form, losing at home to Universidad SC 1–0. The team was not able to bounce out of this poor form, and Comunicaciones finished the Apertura tournament last in the league table. This put Comunicaciones in a crisis, because now they had to finish in the top three spots in the Clausura table to avoid relegation. The team managed to improve the situation in the Clausura Tournament, where they eventually managed to finish in first place, securing their permanence in the top category and achieving qualification for the playoffs with one matchday left. In the quarterfinals they faced Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa. The first leg, away from home, ended in a 3–1 loss. In the second leg at Estadio Cementos Progreso, Comunicaciones B overturned the result by winning 2-0 and tying 3–3 on aggregate, which qualified them to the semifinal on away goals.[57][58] Through the league's format, Comunicaciones won the right to play a two legged playoff for direct promotion, and for this Deportivo Chiantla would be their opponent, and by positions in their respective groups, Comunicaciones would be the home side in the first leg. Comunicaciones B lost 4–1 on aggregate and were eliminated in the semi-finals.[59][60]
2018 Apertura
For the next season, the club renewed Centurión's contract for one more year. Centurion played in the club's league debut, a 0–0 draw at home to Carchá.
Centurión scored his first goal for the club against Deportivo Sansare, opening the scoring in a match that ended 2–0. Everything was going well, and he scored again in the next game, a bulk 5–1 victory away to Universidad.[61] The club qualified to the playoffs by finishing fourth in the league table. In the quarterfinals they faced Santa Lucia, where they were eliminated, 4–2 on aggregate.[62][63]
Juan Carlos Plata is a Guatemalan professional football manager and former player who played as a striker. He is the highest-scoring player in the history of Guatemala's top division. As of January 2010, Plata has, except for Marc Lloyd-Williams, been the most prolific scorer among all active players in the world in top division leagues, and is among the top 60 goalscorers of all time in the world according to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics.
Club Deportivo Suchitepéquez is a Guatemalan football club that competes in the Primera División de Ascenso, the second division in the nation. They are based in Mazatenango, Department of Suchitepéquez, and their home stadium is the Estadio Carlos Salazar Hijo. The team was founded in 1960, and won two Liga Nacional championships in 1983 and 2016.
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The 2015–16 Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala season was the 17th season in which the Apertura and Clausura season was used. The season began in 2015 and ended in 2016.
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