José Milton Melgar Soruco (born September 20, 1959 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra) is a retired Bolivian football midfielder. In 2006, he was appointed by the Bolivian Government under President Evo Morales as Minister of Sports, but he resigned a year later. He currently runs his own youth football academy in his hometown. ^[1]

[edit] Club career

At club level Melgar played for Blooming, Bolívar, Oriente Petrolero and Real Santa Cruz in Bolivia, as well as, Everton (VdM) and Cobreloa in Chile. Milton also played in Argentina for the two giants and fierce rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate.

In addition, during his career he also had 53 Copa Libertadores appearances with 2 goals scored.

[edit] National team

Melgar was capped 89 times and scored 6 international goals for Bolivia between 1980 and 1997.^[2] His tally of 89 caps was a national record until 2002. Melgar played all three matches at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, and his club at that time was The Strongest.

[edit] Managerial career

Following his retirenment, Melgar pursed a managerial career. In 2000, he made his official debut as manager with Oriente Petrolero. Later in the year he also managed Blooming. In 2002 he assumed his duties as the U-17 and U-20 national teams, but his period was unsuccessful. He currently is the Minister of Sports of the Government of Bolivia, under President Evo Morales^[3].

[edit] Club titles

Season	Club	Title
1984	Blooming	Bolivian League Championship
1990	Oriente Petrolero	Bolivian League Championship
1993	The Strongest	Bolivian League Championship

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• International statistics at rsssf
• Statistics at National-Football-Teams.com

José Milton Melgar international tournaments v • d • e Bolivia squad – 1989 Copa América 1 Galarza • 2 Arías • 3 Borja • 4 Etcheverry • 5 Ferrufino • 6 Fontana • 7 García • 8 Martínez • 9 Melgar • 10 Paniagua • 11 Á. Peña • 12 Barrero • 13 Rimba • 14 Roca • 15 Saldías • 16 Salinas • 17 Sánchez • 18 Takeo • 19 Villegas • 20 Castillo • Coach: Habberger v • d • e Bolivia squad – 1991 Copa América 1 Barrero • 2 Rimba • 3 Jiguchi • 4 Saldías • 5 Ferrufino • 6 Rivero • 7 Borja • 8 Melgar • 9 Suárez • 10 Etcheverry • 11 Moreno • 12 M. Soria • 13 J. Peña • 14 Medrano • 15 Soruco • 16 Sánchez • 17 Chávez • 18 Molina • 19 Á. Peña • 20 R. Castillo • 21 Baldivieso • 22 Aragón • Coach: Blacutt v • d • e Bolivia squad – 1993 Copa América 1 Rojas • 2 J. Peña • 3 Sandy • 4 Rimba • 5 Quinteros • 6 Borja • 7 Villarroel • 8 Melgar • 9 Á. Peña • 10 Etcheverry • 11 Moreno • 12 Torrico • 13 Soruco • 14 Ríos • 15 Pérez • 16 Cristaldo • 17 Ramallo • 18 Noro • 19 I. Castillo • 20 R. Castillo • 21 Sánchez • 22 Baldivieso • Coach: Azkargorta v • d • e Bolivia squad – 1994 FIFA World Cup 1 Trucco • 2 J. Peña • 3 Sandy • 4 Rimba • 5 Quinteros • 6 Borja • 7 Pinedo • 8 Melgar • 9 A. Peña • 10 Etcheverry • 11 Moreno • 12 Rojas • 13 Soruco • 14 Ramos • 15 Soria • 16 Cristaldo • 17 O. Sánchez • 18 Ramallo • 19 Torrico • 20 Castillo • 21 E. Sánchez • 22 Baldivieso • Coach: Azkargorta v • d • e Bolivia squad – 1995 Copa América 1 Trucco • 2 Castillo • 3 Sandy • 4 Rimba • 5 J. Peña • 6 Cristaldo • 7 Angola • 8 Melgar • 9 A. Peña • 10 Etcheverry • 11 Mercado • 12 Torrico • 13 Sánchez • 14 Ramos • 15 Quinteros • 16 Ruiz • 17 Suárez • 18 Borja • 19 Arteaga • 20 Baldivieso • 21 Medeiros • 22 Soria • Coach: López Habas v • d • e Bolivia squad – 1997 Copa América Runners-up 1 Trucco • 2 Peña • 3 Sandy • 4 Rimba • 5 Ó. Sánchez • 6 V. Soria • 7 S. Castillo • 8 Melgar • 9 Moreno • 10 Etcheverry • 11 Gutiérrez • 12 M. Soria • 13 Jiguchi • 14 Tufiño • 15 Blanco • 16 Cristaldo • 17 Méndez • 18 Coimbra • 19 I. Castillo • 20 R. Castillo • 21 E. Sánchez • 22 Baldivieso • Coach: López Habas

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