Xabier Azkargorta, coach who led Bolivia to 1994 World Cup, dies at 72
Spanish coach Xabier Azkargorta, who famously led Bolivia to the 1994 FIFA World Cup, died Friday in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, at age 72 due to cardiac complications.
November 15, 2025 - 04:29 PM ET • 2 min read
Xabier Azkargorta, the Spanish football manager who achieved legendary status in South America after guiding the Bolivian national team to the 1994 FIFA World Cup, died Friday in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. He was 72.
The former coach, known affectionately as "El Bigotón" (The Moustache), died Friday morning due to cardiac complications, according to reports from the region. Azkargorta had been suffering from heart problems for several years, though he had previously stated his condition was stable.
Azkargorta, who was born in Azpeitia, Spain, in 1953, found his greatest professional success and personal connection in Bolivia, where he had resided for an extended period. He took over the national team, known as La Verde, in 1993, leading them through the grueling South American qualifiers to secure a spot in the 1994 World Cup in the United States. This achievement marked a historic milestone, as it was the first and, to date, only time Bolivia has qualified for the tournament on merit. The feat cemented his status as a national hero in the country.
Following the news of his death, several clubs in both Bolivia and Spain expressed their condolences.
Azkargorta began his career as a player, representing clubs such as Real Sociedad, Bilbao Athletic, and Lagun Onak before retiring due to severe knee injuries. He quickly transitioned into coaching, obtaining his national coaching license in 1978.
His early managerial career saw him rise rapidly through the Spanish ranks. In the 1982/83 season, he coached Gimnà stic de Tarragona before making the jump to La Liga with RCD Espanyol. At just 29 years old, he became the youngest coach in the history of the Spanish top flight when he took the helm of the Barcelona-based club. He managed Espanyol for 134 matches between 1983 and 1986, making him one of the club's longest-serving managers.
Azkargorta also managed other prominent Spanish clubs, including Sevilla, Valladolid, and Tenerife, before his career became intrinsically linked with South America.
After his success with the Bolivian national team, Azkargorta returned to the country later in his career to coach several clubs in the División Profesional, including Oriente Petrolero, BolÃvar, and Sport Boys. His final coaching role was with Atlético Palmaflor in 2020, after which he retired from professional football. He continued to live in Santa Cruz, the city where his partner was born.