Gualberto Fernández: key obituary facts
Is Gualberto Fernández dead? Yes. Gualberto Fernández died on November 13, 2026, at age 85.
Cause of death: Gualberto Fernández's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Gualberto Fernández known for?
He was a Salvadoran footballer.
More about Gualberto Fernández
Born: 12 July 1941.
Place of birth: El Salvador.
Gender: male.
Occupation: association football player, association football coach.
Nationality: El Salvador.
Also known as: Gualberto Fernandez.
Gualberto Fernández, a Salvadoran football player and manager, died November 13, 2026, aged 85.
Born Juan Gualberto Fernández Rivera in El Salvador on July 12, 1941, he played as a goalkeeper and was nicknamed El Pulpo, or “the Octopus.” His playing years spanned Salvadoran football in the 1960s and 1970s, including time with Alianza; he later worked as a manager with Independiente. Fernández represented El Salvador in two international competitions staged in Mexico: the 1968 Olympics and the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
At the Olympics, he appeared in matches against Israel, Hungary and Ghana. El Salvador lost to Israel and Hungary and drew with Ghana. Those Olympic appearances preceded his World Cup representation by two years, linking his national-team career to successive tournaments in the same country. His record reflects both his role as a goalkeeper for El Salvador and his work in Salvadoran club football, followed by a managerial role in the game.