Hugo Sotil

In 1968, Sotil made his debut at the professional level for Municipal in the Peruvian Second Division, which he helped to obtain promotion to the First Division that year.

Sotil also played and scored the opening goal in an all-star match between Europe and South America in 1973 at the Camp Nou in Barcelona. Football greats such as Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Rivellino and Teófilo Cubillas took part in that game. The game finished 4–4 and in Penalty kicks, South America won 7–6.

Sotil (first row, second to right) in 1975

In 1973, he was transferred to FC Barcelona of Spain, where he was teammate of the stars Johan Cruyff, Juan Manuel Asensi and Carles Rexach, among others. He was the club's striker, holding the number ten shirt. He made his debut for Barça on 22 August,[6] winning the Joan Gamper Trophy after beating Borussia Mönchengladbach 4–2 in penalties (2–2 in normal time), with Sotil scoring the opening goal.

In the 1973–1974 season, Barcelona won the Spanish League after 14 trophyless seasons. Sotil was part of the team which demolished Real Madrid 5–0 in the Spanish League game played at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, where he scored the fifth goal.[7] On 21 Aug 1974 Sotil won his second Gamper Trophy after a 4–1 victory against Rangers F.C. By then, he was one of the Spanish League's most recognized football players.

Barcelona's hiring of Dutchman Johan Neeskens, who took a foreigner slot, resulted in his relegation from the first team in the 1974–1975 season. FC Barcelona occupied third place, and Catalan people demanded the return of Sotil to the team first for 1975–1976 season.

He stayed with FC Barcelona for three seasons (1973 to 1976), played 111 games, and scored 33 goals.[8]

In 1977, he returned to Peru and played for Alianza Lima, Sotil had a brief resurgence in form that lasted for two seasons, showing that, although he had lost some of his pace, he retained his skills. He helped the team to win the 1977 and 1978 titles leaving a trail of 23 goals in 48 matches and a good 1978 Copa Libertadores.

In 1979, Sotil went to Colombia, where he did not perform well. Constantly in and out of the lineup and only able to score 8 goals in 33 matches Sotil considered retiring from football.

But Sotil decided he would make one final push going back to Municipal and playing there until 1982, and returning briefly to football in 1984, playing for Espartanos, a small provincial team. He currently works in Peru training youngsters.

Sotil made his debut for the Peru national football team on 4 February 1970, in a friendly game against Bulgaria at Lima, he scored a hat-trick for Peru in a 5–3 win. He made a total of 62 appearances for Peru between 1970 and 1978, scoring 18 goals,.[9]

He was part of the Peru national football team in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico and although he was used most often as a substitute in the tournament, he was still able to play in a 3–2 win against Bulgaria, a 3–0 win against Morocco and a 1–3 loss to West Germany. He was also in the quarterfinal loss against eventual champions Brazil by 2–4. Sotil is also much remembered for his assists, as he helped teammate Teófilo Cubillas to capture the Bronze Boot.

Sotil won the 1975 Copa América, playing only in the final game since his club did not allow him to travel often. Sotil arrived in Caracas, where the final was played, and he went immediately from the airport to the stadium, arriving when all his teammates were warming up. In that game, against Colombia, Sotil scored the only goal, giving Peru its second title as South American champions.

Peru finished first in the South American qualifying subgroup for the 1978 FIFA World Cup qualification after draws with Ecuador, 1–1, and Chile, 1–1, in the first leg and wins by 4–0 against Ecuador a victory against Chile 2–0 in the second leg, with Sotil scoring one and assisting the other to Juan Carlos Oblitas.

At the 1978 FIFA World Cup Sotil appeared in two out of three group stage matches. His first start of the competition was a 3–1 win over Scotland, on 3 June. After a draw with the Netherlands, 0–0, and a win over Iran 4–1, Peru pushed the Netherlands into second place in Group 4. Expectations were high for Peru, however, with 3 losses, Peru finished at the bottom of their group went out in the second round. Sotil failed to score in the tournament.

He became famous for his great passing qualities and excellent dribbling, but allegedly various personal problems curtailed his playing career.[10]

• Spanish League
  • Winner (1): 1973–74
  • Runner-up (1): 1975–76
• Joan Gamper Trophy
  • Winner (4): 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976
• Copa del Rey
  • Runner-up (1): 1973–74

• Peruvian League
  • Winner (2): 1977, 1978
• Metropolitan Championship
  • Winner (1): 1978

• Peruvian Segunda División: 1
  • Winner (1): 1968
• Peruvian League
  • Runner-up (1): 1981

• Copa Perú: 1
  • Winner (1): 1984

• Copa América
  • Winner (1):1975

• 1968 Peruvian Segunda División Top goalscorer (14 goals)[15]
• 1973 Peruvian Footballer of the Year
• 1973 CONMEBOL XI All-Star Team[16]
• 1974 Peruvian Footballer of the Year
• 2006 Named one of the Great Stars of the World Cup History[17]