Life after retirement for footballers can be resolved on different occasions. Some decide to stay linked to the sport by adopting a profession related to the game, such as technical director, field assistant, manager, journalist, representative, among others. However, there are also many stories that have protagonists who hung up their boots to dedicate themselves to very different fields.
If you are a fan of San Lorenzo Maybe you remember this character who was a winner of that unbeatable team in 2007. Roberto Jimenez Jimenezbetter known as “Malingas“, is a former Peruvian player who knew how to break nets in goals in Peru, Chile and Argentina. The one born in Tambo Grande left his mark in our country by being champion twice. However, despite having an extensive career, Malingas’s life had a somewhat unexpected turn for someone who dedicated most of his life to kicking a ball.
What was Roberto Malingas Jiménez’s football career like?
The former goalscoring forward started playing in his homeland for the Sullana Atlético Alliance. Her official debut was in 2003, but she began to have more filming in the following years. Due to his good participation in Peruvian soccer, one of the greats of Argentine soccer noticed him to take his services in 2006.
In that year, Malingas arrived at San Lorenzo de Almagro where he knew how to share the lead with Ezequiel “Pocho” Lavezzi and Leonardo Ulloa in the 2006 Copa Sudamericana. After a bad year, Boedo’s team changed its face in 2007. With the arrival of Ramon Diaz to the technical direction and a true team, San Lorenzo He was champion of the Clausura 2007.
Despite not having had as much participation when competing with highly ranked forwards like Andres Silvera, Gaston Fernandez and Ezequiel Lavezzi, Malingas was able to shout champion with “El Ciclón”. That same year, after finishing the tournament, Roberto Jiménez moved to the south of Capital Federal, more precisely to play in Lanus.
As if touched by a wand, the forward scored a key goal in the final minutes on matchday 10 of Apertura 2007. That goal helped “Granate” to be crowned champion led by Ramón Cabrero, also being the second title in Malingas’ career.
The following year, the former forward returned to his homeland to score goals for one of the greats of his native country: academic. Despite not having so many minutes of play, Malingas shouted champion with the Uthus sealing some years of great sporting success that led him to play 5 games with his team.
After that, reality marked that the forward went through many clubs and did not manage to settle in any of them for long. Until his retirement in 2018, the Peruvian went through: Godoy Cruz, Sporting Cristal, Deportes La Serena, Unión Comercio, Universidad César Vallejo, Los Caimanes, Defensor La Bocana and Sport Loreto.
The life of Roberto Malingas Jiménez after his retirement from football
Once he hung up his boots, Roberto Malingas Jiménez drastically changed his life. The one who once knew how to score goals with different shirts decided to change the green grass of the soccer fields for the green of the field. “Now I dedicate myself to seeing my things, my land. I plant mango, lemon. I am dedicated to agriculture. Since I wake up I go to my plot, I have 10 hectares of land, which I work every day and enjoy my family and my parents, here in my town“the ex-footballer commented to Libero in 2022.
Based in Piura, located in the town of Malingas (hence his nickname), the former forward did not find it difficult to change his profession due to his life experiences. “I was the child who had to get up early to sell bread, to sell juice to help his parents. I finished school and looked at the sky and said, what is going to happen to my life? Fortunately I was able to play soccer. I always tried to handle myself well because football is temporary, with the values that my parents instilled in me. That’s why now I’m here, in a new stage that I have to live, back and happy,” the former player concluded.
Roberto “Malingas” Jiménez will remain in the good memories of the fans of San Lorenzo and Lanús. Although his career is currently just a memory, this former player is another example that adds to the list of footballers who knew how to shine on a playing field and who found happiness in more mundane things.
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
