Luis Norberto Tirado Gordillo (4 April 1906 – 24 November 1964) was a Chilean footballer and manager. He is best known as the first professional Chilean head coach to manage the Chile national football team, which he led across three separate periods (1946–1949, 1952–1953, and 1954–1956), accumulating a record of 53 matches in charge—a national team record that stood for decades.
Early Life and Playing Career
Born in Copiapó, Chile, Tirado began his football career at age 14 representing the city team of Tocopilla. He later played for Colo-Colo, Santiago National, Magallanes, and Universidad de Chile, primarily in the position of centre-half (central midfielder). He graduated as a primary school teacher in 1926 and later earned a degree in physical education from the University of Chile while still playing.
Managerial Career
Tirado's managerial career began in 1931 with Magallanes. He went on to manage numerous clubs in Chile, including Unión Española (1932–1935), Universidad de Chile (three spells: 1938–1941, 1946–1949, and 1955), Colo-Colo (1944–1946 and 1951), Palestino (1953), Audax Italiano (1959), Deportes Temuco (1960–1963), and Unión San Felipe (1964). Internationally, he managed Peruvian club Sporting Cristal from 1956 to 1958, becoming the club's first ever head coach and leading them to the Peruvian Primera División title in 1956.
As Chile national team manager, he led the team to a silver medal at the 1952 Panamerican Championship and second-place finishes in the 1955 and 1956 South American Championships (now Copa América).
Honours
- Universidad de Chile: Primera División de Chile (1940)
- Colo-Colo: Primera División de Chile (1945)
- Sporting Cristal: Primera División de Peru (1956)
- San Luis de Quillota: Segunda División de Chile (1958)
- Deportes Temuco: Campeonato Regional de Fútbol (1961)
- Chile national team: Silver medal, 1952 Panamerican Championship; runner-up, 1955 and 1956 South American Championships
Tirado is regarded as a pioneering figure in Chilean football, credited with modernizing tactical approaches by promoting defensive marking and a more balanced team structure. He died on 24 November 1964 in San Bernardo, Chile, at age 58.
