| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Horacio Raúl Baldessari Guntero | ||
| Date of birth | (1958-11-21)November 21, 1958 (age 67) | ||
| Place of birth | Córdoba,Argentina | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1975 | Sportivo Belgrano | ||
| 1976–1977 | Belgrano de Córdoba | ||
| 1978–1979 | Blooming | ||
| 1980 | Belgrano de Córdoba | ||
| 1981 | Racing de Córdoba | ||
| 1981–1982 | Oriente Petrolero | ||
| 1983 | Bolívar | ||
| 1984 | Blooming | ||
| 1985 | Bolívar | ||
| 1986–1987 | Destroyers | ||
| 1988–1989 | Belgrano de Córdoba | ||
| 1989 | Blooming | ||
| 1990 | Deportivo Municipal | ||
| 1991–1993 | Sporting Cristal | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1994 | Aurich-Cañaña | ||
| 2000 | Deportivo Municipal | ||
| 2007 | Juan Aurich | ||
| 2008 | Atlético Chalaco | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of May 12, 2008 | |||
Horacio Raúl "Pepa" Baldessari (born 21 November 1958 inCórdoba) is a formerArgentine footballstriker who played professionally in Argentina, Bolivia and Peru during the late 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. He also managed some clubs after his retirement, but currently works as a football analyst.
He began his career in 1975 with modest clubSportivo Belgrano, but joinedBelgrano de Córdoba the following season. In 1978, he went abroad to play for Bolivian sideBlooming. Years later he would also play forOriente Petrolero,Bolívar andDestroyers. During his spell in theBolivian league, he scored a total of 161 goals, placing his name eight in the list of all-time topscorers. Even though Baldessari became a naturalized Bolivian, he was never considered as an option for thenational team. In 1988, he returned to Argentina and played for his belovedBelgrano de Córdoba once again. By 1990, he transferred to Peruvian sideDeportivo Municipal before signing with popular teamSporting Cristal the following year. At first he was heavily questioned by club fans and the media about his age; nonetheless,La Pepa proved them wrong and finished the season as the topscorer that year with 25 goals, and consequently helped Cristal win the 1991 Peruvian title. Baldessari always admitted having spent the best years of his career playing for thecerveceros because he received so many affections that made him feel like at home. After his retirement in 1993, Baldessari settled inLima, and became a football analyst for several television and radio networks.
| Season | Club | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Blooming | Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano top scorer: 31 goals |
| 1982 | Oriente Petrolero | Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano top scorer: 25 goals |
| 1991 | Sporting Cristal | Primera División Peruana top scorer: 25 goals |