Óscar López ends the wait and follows in the footsteps of Etcheverry, Sandy and Peña

Óscar López needed only a few minutes to reopen a chapter for Bolivian football in Spain. The 20-year-old midfielder came on for Getafe in the 93rd minute of a 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo, officially becoming the fourth footballer born in or linked to Bolivia to play in LaLiga.

His appearance ended a wait of almost two decades since the last Bolivian presence in Spain’s top division. Juan Manuel Peña’s final Primera División appearance came in 2007, making López’s debut a return for Bolivia to one of Europe’s most important leagues.

Marco Antonio “El Diablo” Etcheverry first opened the path when he played for Albacete during the 1992-1993 season. Three years later, Marco Antonio Sandy joined him after appearing for Valladolid in the 1995-1996 campaign.

Peña became the Bolivian with the longest career in Spanish football. He played for Valladolid from 1996 to 2004, then Villarreal until 2007, before finishing with Celta Vigo. He made more than 300 appearances in Spain’s top division and reached a UEFA Champions League semifinal with Villarreal.

López, who was born in Mallorca and has Bolivian ancestry through his mother, now has the chance to build his own record. The challenge is to establish himself at Getafe and earn more minutes while following the players who came before him.