Date special for the romantic traveler’s landmark. And it is that on this day we celebrate the birthday of one of the best goalkeepers in the history of the Universidad de Chile: the great Manuel Miguel Astorga Carreno. Born on this day in 1937 in Iquique, he played 14 seasons in blue, Becoming a fundamental part of the illustrious Blue Ballet with whom he won 5 national championships.
After leaving his homeland to study and join the U.S., he began an ascending career that would last for 20 years (1956–1976). Despite not standing out for his height (1.75 m), He managed to become a synonym of defense under three sticks, standing out for his great reflexes and elasticity, qualities that earned him the nickname “Rubber”.
His official debut, dressed in blue, took place on September 16, 1956. That day he faced O’Higgins for the national tournament. in a tie that ended in a 2–2 draw. With the passage of time, he managed to cement himself in the starting team and took on the responsibility of defending the goal of a team that would go down in history.
As the pivot of a team led by Luis Álamos, he marked an era in Chilean football during the 1960s, winning five national titles (1959, 1962, 1964, 1965 and 1967). His most memorable performance was in a Superclassic against Colo Colo for the 1965 championship. In that game, Astorga became the hero after saving a penalty in the 91st minute, a crucial action to give us a 4–3 victory.
Already hailed as a benchmark for the U’s, he left the club in 1968 to settle in Huachipato and later recorded a passage through Magallanes. However, his cycle with our organization was not closed and He returned for a second leg in 1973. Thus, he further extended his history and after completing two seasons he has completed a total of 255 games in blue.
On the other hand, he also remained a regular name in the Chilean national team, appearing in 10 games. He made his debut with “La Rosa” on April 13, 1960 in Brussels in a friendly against Belgium (1-1). It should be noted that his high level allowed him to be part of the national team that finished third in the 1962 World Cup and the 1967 Copa América.
Without a doubt, the name of Manuel Astorga stands out as one of the best goalkeepers in the history of Chilean football and above all as a legend of our club. owner of an unforgettable legacy, His great saves, coupled with his respect and affection for the U shirt, endow him as a historic player And an example for the new generation.
