uillermo ‘Teacher’ Berrío, who died of a heart attack on Sunday at the age of 54, is remembered as a former player and coach of Colombian football, with an extensive professional career and a symbol of Atlético Huila.
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Born in Amagá (Antioquia), Berrío went to Cali with his family at a very young age and started his work in football there, playing in the smaller divisions of América de Cali, a club where he started his career as a professional footballer in 1986.
He had an excellent time in Tournament B, earning four promotions as a player: with Envigado, in 1991; Atlético Huila, in 1992; Deportivo Pereira, in 2000, and Deportes Quindío, in 2001.
Teacher Berrío in his time as a football player.
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He also played in the first division Cúcuta Deportivo, Atlético Bucaramanga and Deportes Tolima, in addition to a two-year spell in Peruvian football, in Unión Minas and Juan Aurich, and in Venezuela, as he was on loan to Deportivo Táchira for six months before returning to Deportes Tolima.
He is the highest historical scorer for Huila in the first division, with 48 goals scored. In fact, the opita club was one of the first to declare a record of condolence for the death of the football player, which it considers a symbol of the institution.
The chairman, members of the board of directors, administrative and sports staff of the Club Deportivo Atlético Huila deeply regret the death of Guillermo ‘Teacher’ Berrío, symbolic player of our institution, leader of the promotion in 1992 … pic.twitter.com/26Vp3WtjAn
– Atlético Huila (@AtleticoHuilaof) April 12, 2021
After retiring as a player, Berrío became the coach of Atlético Huila’s small divisions and was also Néstor Otero’s technical assistant in the main team.
In 2008 he has the opportunity to direct the last 5 dates of the last championship as an interim.
Guillermo Berrío scored 48 goals with Huila and is their top goalscorer. Then he coached the same club.
Archive / TIME
Halfway through the Apertura tournament in 2009, he takes over the club again, before Miguel Augusto Prince’s departure. He was then confirmed in office.
He held the position until April 6, 2011, when he left the Dimayor after attacking an umpire.
He was also a technician Independent Medellin between 2011 and 2012. In 2013 he joined Alianza Petrolera. His last coaching experience was with Deportivo Pasto, which he led in 2015.
The teacher’s nickname was given by a colleague from the block where he lived in Cali. “In the Doce de Octubre block where players like El Palomo (Usuriaga), Mánimal Cortés and Niche Guerrero have appeared, we had a partner we called the crazy man who knew a lot about football. In the front we had a kind of manga (paddock) that we adapted to play soccer with Guadua arches. He would stand there, watch me play and say to me, ‘This man is a teacher with that ball, that’s why I’m going to put you El Teacher,’ Berrío told Fútbol Code at the time.
Berrío died of a heart attack while playing a soccer game with his friends in honor of his 54th birthday.
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