Hall of Fame

Elected to the Hall of Fame are people who over the years have made extraordinary contributions to football, youths and Gothia Cup.

MEMBERS

Guimares

José Guimarães

Elected: 2007

Country: Brazil
Club: Pequeninos Do Jockey


José Guimaraes Junior from Brazil has on July 17, 2007 been elected into the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame. During 20 years Guimaraes has brought more than 1000 young Brazilian football players to Sweden. In Brazil he has used football to give hope and education to the children that have needed it the most. Some of them like Ze Roberto and Julio Baptista, have also become world class players. Guimaraes humble personality and wisdom is an example for all those young people to follow.

Anders Wendel

Anders Wendel

Elected: 2007

Country: Sweden
Club: Råå IF


Anders Wedel was elected to the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame on July 17 2007. Throughout 30 years Anders has visited Gothia Cup, he has shown great commitment and humbleness towards the thousands of kids from his club Råå IF that have participated in the tournament during this 30 years. Leaders like Anders Wendel constitute the condition for a successful future for Swedish football.

Tomas Lozano

Tomas Lozano

Elected: 2007

Country: Phillipines
Club: Makati FC


Tomas Lozano from the Philippines has on July 17, 2007 been elected into the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame. During a period of 25 years Tomas Lozano has given more than 1500 young people from the Philippines the opportunity to go abroad and to widen their knowledge about international culture and football. Tomas Lozano as a person is a good example to follow for all those young people.

Paulo Mascarenas

Paulo Mascarenhas

Elected: 2008

Country: Brazil
Club: Agent


During more than 20 years, Paulo Mascarenhas has been working to build the Brazilian wonder in the Gothia Cup. Paulo has throughout the years given more than 10000 young players from Brazil the opportunity to travel to Gothenburg and the Gothia Cup.

Csaba Somfai

Csaba Somfai

Elected: 2008

Country: Hungary
Club: Kölcsey Gimnazium


Csaba Somfai has been part of Gothia Cup for over 19 years. Csaba has been a role model for young footballers from Kölcsey Gimnazium, showing commitment and humbleness. Csaba’s visionary training methods have been of great success for many of his novice players.

Gerhard Becker

Gerhard Becker

Elected: 2008

Country: Germany
Club: TSV Friesen Hänigsen


Gerhard has visited Gothia Cup for 28 years, he has helped more than thousand youngsters from TSV Friesen Hänigsen fulfill their dream of playing at Gothia Cup. Gerahrd constitutes the condition for a successful future for international football.

Patricia Espinosa

Patricia Espinosa

Elected: 2009

Country: Mexico
Club: Agent


Patricia has been to Gothia Cup for more than 28 years. She has been also responsible of the fact that more than one thousand Mexican young footballers have played in Gothia Cup. Patricia carries Gothia very close to her heart and vice versa. These are some of the things that makes Patricia a valuable member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame.

Dante Mandriotti

Dante Mandriotti

Elected: 2009

Country: Peru
Club: AD Cantolao


For 23 years, Dante Mandriotti regularly visited the Gothia Cup with his club AD Cantolao. Mr. Mandriotti has been responsible for almost 1000 Peruvian youth had the opportunity to visit the tournament. Dante Mandriotti is a respected and visionary leader with high impact on youth football development in Peru.

Mamuka Kvaratskhelia

Mamuka Kvaratskhelia

Elected: 2010

Country: Georgia
Club: Vake-Wit


Mamuka Kvaratskhelia is a person that is living, eating and breathing football. In his home country of Georgia he has done tremendous efforts for the development of football on all levels. At the Gothia Cup we appreciate what he has done for the young players. Year after year Mamuka brings children from Georgia to Sweden for an intercultural experience. Mamuka Kvaratskhelia is a fighter, both off and on the field, who has a strong belief in Fair Play for everyone. Today Mamuka Kvaratskhelia has been selected into the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame.

Boriss Dugan

Boriss Dugan

Elected: 2010

Country: Estonia
Club: FC Ajax


Tallins, Boriss Dugan has done tremendous efforts for the development of football on youth level in Estonia. At the Gothia Cup we appreciate what he has done for the young players. Year after year Boriss Dugan brings children from Estonia to Sweden for an intercultural experience. Boriss Dugan is a person that has a strong belief in Fair Play for everyone. Something he and his players have showed many times during the Gothia Cup. Today Boriss Dugan has been selected into the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame.

Lars Samuelsson

Lars Samuelsson

Elected: 2011

Country: Sweden
Club: Torna Hällestad IF


Lars Samuelson introduced the Gothia Cup in the village of Torna Hällestad and after that, hundreds of young people from the region annually had the Gothia Cup that summer’s major destinations. No one was able to communicate the ”football language” like Lars. ”Despite little language skills Lars acquired friends around the world and the famous hat was soon filled with pins from near and far. Lars Samuelsson selected today, 19 July 2011, posthumously in as a most worthy participants in the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame.

Rinaldo Cometti

Rinaldo Cometti

Elected: 2011

Country: Italy
Club: Agent


During more than 30 years Rinaldo Cometti has been the official representative of the Gothia Cup in Italy. He has given more than 100 Italian teams the possibility to attend the tournament. Cometti is a dear and well known guest at the tournament and his love for football and commitment in youth football makes him a worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame into which Commetti has been selected on July 19, 2011.

Karl Otto Lie

Karl Otto Lie

Elected: 2012

Country: Norway
Club: Agent


During 25 years Karl Otto Lie has been working to make it possible for Norwegian youths to participate in the Gothia Cup. He has helped more than 2000 players from Norway to travel to Gothenburg and participate in the Gothia Cup. Karl Otto Lie is an avid supporter of youth football and his efforts in both Norway and the Gothia Cup makes him a worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame.

Ed Puskarich

Ed Puskarich

Elected: 2012

Country: USA
Club: Stars 'n Stripes


During 25 years Ed Puskarich has been one of our closest friends in USA. He has given more than 2000 American boys and girls the possibility to attend the Gothia Cup. Ed Puskarich is a dear and well known guest at the tournament and his love for soccer and commitment in youth football makes him a worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall.

Sven-Erik Jensen

Sven-Erik Jensen

Elected: 2013

Country: Denmark
Club: Agent


During 20 years Sven-Erik Jensen has been one of our most successful agents for the US market. He has given more than 6000 American boys and girls the possibility to attend the Gothia Cup. Sven-Erik Jensen is a dear and well known guest at the tournament and his work to bring young people to the Gothia Cup makes him a worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame into which Jensen has been selected on July 16, 2013.

Byron Maldonado

Byron Maldonado

Elected: 2013

Country: Guatemala
Club: La Academia FC


During 23 years Byron Maldonado has visited Gothia Cup with his club La Academia FC. Mr. Maldonado has been responsible for that nearly a thousand young Guatemalans have had the opportunity to participate in our tournament. Byron Maldonado is a respected sports coach who has meant a lot to the development of youth soccer in Guatemala. This makes Byron Maldonado a worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame.

Danny Beamer

Danny Beamer

Elected: 2014

Country: USA
Club: Roanoke Stars


For 20 years, Danny Beamer has been one of our most loyal representatives. All teams who come up with Danny have demonstrated outstanding behavior both on and off the fields. Danny Beamer is a dear guest at the tournament, and the great work he does bringing young people to the Gothia Cup, makes him a worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame, to which Danny Beamer was elected on July 15, 2014.

Rolf Eggenberger/Mischa Kasics

Rolf Eggenberger/Mischa Kasics

Elected: 2014

Country: Switzerland
Club: FC Neumünster Zürich


Rolf and Mischa have brought nearly 1000 young footballers from Switzerland over a 30 year period. They have always been good representatives for the Gothia Cup in Switzerland and have always been popular guests in the Gothia Cup. It makes Rolf and Mischa to worthy members of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame, to which they were elected on July 15, 2014.

Rolando Aguilera

Rolando Aguilera

Elected: 2014

Country: Bolivia
Club: Tahuichi


Rolando Aguilera was a charismatic personality with a global perspective in his actions. His creation Academia Tahuichi came to have an enormous impact both in Bolivia and abroad. No club has meant more to the development of the Gothia Cup than Tahuichi. Today we elect Rolando Aguilera posthumously in the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame.

Adhemar Rocha Filho

Adhemar Rocha Filho

Elected: 2015

Country: Brazil
Club: Agent


During 35 years, Adhemar Rocha Filho has been one of our most faithful representatives. In 1980 he organized the first team from Brazil to participate in the tournament. Adhemar has taken thousands of young people from Brazil to the Gothia Cup and is a beloved and well-known guest at the tournament. All this makes Adhemar Rocha Filho a worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame to which he was elected July 14, 2015.

Jim Hackett

Jim Hackett

Elected: 2015

Country: England
Club: Agent


For 20 years, Jim Hackett has been one of our most loyal representatives. All the teams that have participated through Jim have shown excellent behavior both on and off the pitch. Jim Hackett has taken thousands of young people from England to the Gothia Cup and is a beloved and well-known guest at the tournament. All this makes Jim Hackett a worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame to which he was elected July 14, 2015.

Hans Walter Eiteljörge

Hans Walter Eiteljörge

Elected: 2016

Country: Germany
Club: SC Borgfeld eV


For 25 years, Hans Walter Eiteljörge and his club SC Borgfeld eV have been among our most loyal guests. All teams that have come to Gothemburg with Hans Walter have always shown outstanding behaviour, both on and off the playing field. Hans Walter has taken hundreds of young Germans to the Gothia Cup and is a popular and well-known guest in the tournament. This makes him a worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame, an honour for which he was awarded on July 19th, 2016.

Hugo Petrella

Hugo Petrella

Elected: 2016

Country: Argentina
Club: CEF 18 Tucuman


For 15 years Mr. Hugo Petrella has been one of our most faithful visitors, together with his club CEF 18 from Tucumán. All teams that have participated with Mr. Petrella have always shown exceptional behaviour on and off the playing fields. Hugo Petrella has enabled hundreds of young Argentines to participate in the Gothia Cup and is a much loved and known guest in the tournament. All this makes him worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame to which he was elected on July 19, 2016.

Leonardo Mascarenhas

Leonardo Mascarenhas

Elected: 2017

Country: Brazil
Club: Agent


During almost 30 years Leonardo Mascarenhas has been one of our most loyal and active representatives. He has brought thousands of Brasilian youngsters to the Gothia Cup, more than anyone else, and is a dear and well-known guest at the tournament. All this makes him a worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame to which he has been selected on July 18, 2017.

Christian Pornin

Christian Pornin

Elected: 2017

Country: Frankrike


Since early 1980 Christian Pornin has been one of our most loyal representatives. All the teams that have been coming with Christian have always shown outstanding behaviour both on and off the playing fields. Christian Pornin has brought thousands of French youngsters to the Gothia Cup and is a dear and well-known guest at the tournament. All this makes him a worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame to which he has been selected on July 18, 2017.

Juan Llandrich

Juan Llandrich

Elected: 2018

Country: Spain
Club: CE Sant Gabriel


Juan Llandrich Canals was a person who lived for youth football, both male and female, and for his club CE Sant Gabriel. With his Sant Gabriel, he won Gothia Cup five times but he participated so many more times. He more or less introduced Spanish football to the Gothia Cup. Juan Llandrich Canals sadly passed away in 2018 and was inducted into the Hall of fame posthumously, on July 17, 2018.

Andreas Kolland

Andreas Kolland

Elected: 2019

Country: Germany
Club: KFV Segeberg


Since 1993 Andreas Kolland has been one of our most loyal ambassadors. All the teams that have been coming with Andreas have always shown outstanding behaviour both on and off the playing fields. In addition, six times has Andreas as a coach won the tournament. Andreas Kolland has brought almost 200 teams from KFV Segeberg to the Gothia Cup and is a dear and well-known guest at the tournament. All this makes him a worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame to which he has been selected on July 16, 2019.

Ludvik Arnarson

Ludvik Arnarson

Elected: 2022

Country: Iceland
Club: Agent


Since 1997 Ludvik Arnarson has been one of our most important representatives. Ludvik Arnarson has brought more than 400 teams from Iceland to the Gothia Cup during a period of 26 years. All the teams that have been coming with Ludvik have always acted as excellent ambassadors for the country of Iceland. All this makes him a worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame to which he has been selected on July 19, 2022.

Barry Walmsley

Barry Walmsley

Elected: 2022

Country: USA
Club: Agent


Since 1992 Barry Walmsley has been one of our most important representatives and is a dear and well-known guest at the tournament.  During the years Barry has brought more than 250 US teams to the Gothia Cup. All the teams that have been coming with Barry have always acted as excellent ambassadors for their clubs and their country. All this makes him a worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame to which he has been selected on July 19th, 2022.

Inaki Egues

Iñaki Egues

Elected: 2023

Country: Spain
Club: Agent


All the teams that have been coming with Iñaki have always acted as excellent ambassadors for the home country of Spain and some of the players has also become known throughout the world. All this makes him a worthy member of the Gothia Cup Hall of Fame to which he has been selected on July 18, 2023.

Ziad Saade

Ziad Saade

Elected: 2024
Country: Lebanon
Club: Agent


During his over 20 years as a Gothia Cup representative, Ziad Saade has brought over 200 Lebanese teams to western Sweden to participate in the world's largest youth football tournament. We are pleased that he’s now being inducted into the Hall of Fame, and we hope that he continues to attract teams of that caliber in the future.