Rafa Puente

Commentator

Soccer Analyst

Former goalkeeper and coach, Rafa Puente, joined ESPN in 2007 as a soccer analyst for ESPN Deportes in the U.S. and ESPN International.  His main responsibilities include co-hosting studio shows Fútbol Picante and Los Capitanes. 

Puente served as a professional goalkeeper for the Mexican National Team and Mexico’s First Division teams Club America and Atlante from 1968-1976).  In 1974, a knee injury forced him off the field, but he continued to be passionately involved in soccer, coaching numerous teams in Mexico’s First Division, including Pachuca, Club Atlante, and Tecos UAG.

Puente made his debut as a sportscaster in 1986 with TV Azteca in Mexico. He was with TV Azteca for nearly 20 years and served as one of the network’s main sportscasters covering six consecutive FIFA World Cups (Mexico 1986, USA 1994, France 1998, Korea/Japan 2002 and Germany 2003.) for the network.

This year, Puente will join ESPN Deportes and ESPN International’s news and information commentator team traveling to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  His primary duties will include filing daily reports for studio shows SportsCenter, Los Capitanes and Fútbol Picante.

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