Jaime Rodríguez

"Chelona" redirects here. For the locality in Queensland, Australia, see Chelona, Queensland.

For other people with similar names, see Jaime Rodríguez Calderón and James Rodríguez (disambiguation).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rodríguez and the second or maternal family name is Jiménez.

Jaime Alberto Rodríguez Jiménez (17 January 1959 – 14 September 2025) was a Salvadoran football player.^[1][2]

Jaime Rodríguez

Personal information
Full name	Jaime Alberto Rodríguez Jiménez
Date of birth	(1959-01-17)17 January 1959
Place of birth	San Salvador, El Salvador
Date of death	14 September 2025(2025-09-14) (aged 66)
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Right-back Centre back
Youth career
1974	Negocios Internacionales
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1975–1977	Alianza
1978–1979	FAS
1980–1982	Bayer Uerdingen
1982–1987	Léon	139	(6)
1984–1985	→ KPV (loan)	18	(4)
1987–1990	Atlas	67	(11)
1990	Alianza
1991–1992	NKK	18	(5)
1992–1993	Yokohama Flügels	17	(4)
1994	Alianza
International career
1979–1991	El Salvador	50	(1)
Managerial career
2000	Alianza
2002	San Salvador
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Rodríguez represented his country at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.

Playing career

Club career

From a very early age on, Rodríguez showed great skill and talent. After being selected by C.D. Negocios Internacionales then Alianza, he began a prolific football career, in the process becoming a legend in El Salvador, although not as highly rated as Mágico González.

A defender, Rodríguez played professionally for different clubs around the world. Among these were El Salvador's Alianza, Mexico's Club Léon and F.C. Atlas, and Germany's Bayer Uerdingen (now known as KFC Uerdingen 05). He also played for teams in Japan's NKK, Yokohama Flügels and Finland's KPV scoring 4 goals in 18 games during 1984–1985.

International career

Nicknamed La Chelona, Rodríguez represented his country in fifteen FIFA World Cup qualification matches^[3] and played in all three matches at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.

His final international game was an April 1991 UNCAF Nations Cup qualification match against Nicaragua.

Managerial career

After retiring from football, Rodríguez started a coaching career at Alianza, but was sacked in 2002. He was a strong advocate for improvement in football organisations and programs in El Salvador. He was also a strong supporter for financial aid to Salvadoran sporting heroes of the past who were in need.^[4]

In 2009, he became President of the Salvadoran Institute of Sport (INDES) and was appointed coordinator of the El Salvador national team and in 2007 became the assistant coach of the Cuscatlecos.^[5]

Rodríguez participated in a charity match to raise funds for earthquake victims in his native El Salvador.

In 2012, Rodríguez was named member of the football commission of FIFA.^[6]

Death

Rodríguez died from a cardiac arrest on 14 September 2025, at the age of 66.^[7]

Playing statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
NKK	1991–92	JSL Division 2	15	4	–		0	0	15	4
Yokohama Flügels	1992	J1 League	–		0	0	4	0	4	0
	1993		2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	Total		2	0	0	0	4	0	6	0
Career total			17	4	0	0	4	0	21	4

1. Includes Emperor's Cup.
2. Includes J.League Cup.

Honours

As a player

Alianza

• Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador: 1989–90

Yokohama Flügels

• Emperor's Cup: 1993

Individual

• Named in the Top 25 Players in 1986^{[citation needed]}
• Selection of the CONCACAF^{[citation needed]}