Marcelo Jara

Marcelo Jara
Personal information
Full name Marcelo Antonio Jara Valdés
Date of birth (1972-08-13) 13 August 1972 (age 54)
Place of birth Santiago, Chile
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position Forward
Youth career
Universidad de Chile
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1997 Universidad de Chile 86 (21)
1996 → Unión Española (loan) 23 (5)
1998 Deportes Concepción 25 (2)
1999–2001 Coquimbo Unido 66 (10)
2002–2004 Universidad de Concepción 46 (3)
2003 → Provincial Osorno (loan)
2005 O'Higgins 6 (0)
International career
1991 Chile U20
1993 Chile 1 (0)
Managerial career
2007–2008 Deportes Melipilla (assistant)
2009–2010 General Velásquez
2012–2021 Universidad de Chile (youth)
2020 Universidad de Chile (interim)
2023 Rancagua Sur
2023 Deportes Rengo
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Marcelo Antonio Jara Valdés (born 13 August 1972) is a Chilean football manager and former player who played as a forward.

Career

A product of Universidad de Chile, Jara made his debut in the 1991 Primera División. With them, he won the Chilean Primera División in 1994 and 1995. In 1996, he was loaned out to Unión Española.

Jara developed his entire career in Chile. He also played for Deportes Concepción, Coquimbo Unido, Universidad de Concepción, Provincial Osorno and O'Higgins.

Jara helped Universidad de Concepción to get promotion to Chilean Primera División by first time in the 2002 Primera B.

Jara also helped his last club, O'Higgins, to get promotion to Chilean top division in 2005.

At international level, Jara represented Chile U20 in the 1991 South American Championship and made one appearance for the senior team in the 2–1 home victory against Bolivia on 31 March 1993.

Coaching career

Jara started his career with Deportes Melipilla and General Velásquez. As a coach for the Universidad de Chile youth ranks, he assumed as interim coach for the first team in 2020.

Following Universidad de Chile, Jara led Rancagua Sur and Deportes Rengo in 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Plantel del Club Deportivo Universidad de Concepción en 2002". www.clubdeportivo.udec.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "U. de Chile - campañas - 1991". www.chuncho.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 July 2026. Los debuts de Esteban Valencia y Marcelo Jara.
  3. 1 2 "Marcelo Jara apunta a la "ética cuestionable" de Dudamel como detonante de su salida". TNT Sports Chile (in Spanish). 7 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Ya se conoce el Grupo de Estudio Técnico de la Copa Mundial Sub-20 de la FIFA Chile 2025™". inside.fifa.com (in Spanish). 25 September 2025. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Unión Española: La vida entre la Copa Libertadores y la B -". Pelotudos.cl (in Spanish). 18 May 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2026. Astengo el líder de la defensa, Marcelo Jara vino a ayudar desde la U,...
  6. ↑ "Club Social y de DEPORTES CONCEPCIÓN". Fútbol en América (in Spanish). 28 March 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  7. ↑ ""Toros" se reaniman en la lucha por el ascenso". www.oocities.org (in Spanish). Provincial Osorno. 5 May 2003. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "U. Católica logró en los penales frustrar el sueño sudamericano de Osorno". Cooperativa (in Spanish). 2 September 2003. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Historia - UNA NOCHE FELIZ: RETORNO A PRIMERA". O'Higgins FC (in Spanish). Al plantel ingresan jugadores como Marcelo Jara, Francisco Michea,...
  10. ↑ "Nóminas de Chile para Campeonatos Sudamericanos Sub-20". Partidos de La Roja (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  11. ↑ "Marcelo Jara". Partidos de La Roja (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  12. 1 2 Lizama, Gonzalo (15 August 2023). "Histórico jugador de la U fue presentado como nuevo técnico en equipo de Segunda División". En Cancha (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "La U clasificó en el primer puesto del Grupo A". uchile.cl (in Spanish). 16 October 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2026. El "Ñato", actual técnico de General Velásquez, elenco que milita en la Tercera división
  14. ↑ "Marcelo Jara será el DT interino de la 'U' tras la salida de Hernán Caputto". Vive Pais (in Spanish). 1 November 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2026.