Óscar Pérez life and biography

Óscar "El Conejo" Pérez Rojas is a Mexican football goalkeeper who formerly played for the Mexican team, Cruz Azul .

This shaven-headed veteran of two World Cup finals (on the bench in 1998 and a starter in 2002) had seemed ready to retire from the game last year, only for coach Javier Aguirre to persuade him to join the squad in an understudy and dressing room leader role.

'El Conejo' (the Rabbit) may be small for a keeper, but he is still remarkably supple and agile. He has featured in four Copa America finals with Mexico (1995, 1999, 2001 and 2004) and two Confederations Cups (1997 and 1999). However, this World Cup is an altogether more glorious prize to chase and he will relish the challenge in South Africa this summer.

For most of his professional career, Perez has loyally served Mexico City outfit Cruz Azul. He became famous in 2001 for saving two penalties in one match from Real Madrid superstar Luis Figo.

He was capped 46 times for the Mexican national team between 1997 and 2005. He played four games at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and was selected for the 1998 FIFA World Cup but never played. He has been the starting goalkeeper for Cruz Azul since 1997 when they won the championship in the 1997 Winter Season. More Recently he has been awarded for staying at the club for 400 appearances, making it a record. But now he has moved to UANL Tigres and has now been the starter of 4 games in the Apertura 2008. After spending 1 year at Monterrey, now he moved to Jaguares de Chiapas.

Oscar was noted to be the best goalkeeper in Mexico from the years of 1998 to early 2002. Once Javier Aguirre left the Mexican team, Ricardo Lavolpe became coach, and Oswaldo Sanchez took over his spot. For the World Cup 2010 Perez was called up again following several impressive showings in friendlies leading up to the competition, and surprisingly became first choice again, starting in the 1-1 draw with South Africa.Ever since Perez debuted with Cruz Azul he has been under the same three poles "the blue poles." Perez debuted for the team in 1993 facing Atlas which ended in a 0-0 draw.

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