ΠΟΔΟΣΦΑΙΡΙΣΤΕΣ

ΡΙΚΑΡΔΟ ΕΝΡΙΚΕ ΜΠΟΤΣΙΝΙ

2012-01-22T02:30:00.006+02:00

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RICARDO ENRIQUE BOCHINI (25.1.1954)

Διεθνείς συμμετοχές 11
Ματς 638 (partidos totales)
Γκολ 97 (goles totales)
Independiente Año 1972-1991

Campeonatos nacionales

Nacional
Independiente
Argentina
1977

Nacional
Independiente
Argentina
1978

Metropolitano
Independiente
Argentina
1983

Primera División
Independiente
Argentina
1988/89

Campeonatos internacionales

Copa Libertadores
Independiente
Argentina
1973

Copa Interamericana
Independiente
Argentina
1973

Copa Intercontinental
Independiente
Argentina
1973

Copa Libertadores
Independiente
Argentina
1974

Copa Interamericana
Independiente
Argentina
1974

Copa Libertadores
Independiente
Argentina
1975

Copa Interamericana
Independiente
Argentina
1976

Copa Libertadores
Independiente
Argentina
1984

Copa Intercontinental
Independiente
Argentina
1984

Copa Mundial de Fútbol
Selección Argentina
Argentina
1986

ΓΚΙΓΙΕΡΜΟ ΜΠΑΡΡΟΣ ΣΤΣΕΛΟΤΤΟ

2010-12-04T22:11:00.011+02:00

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GUILLERMO BARROS SCELOTTO (4.5.1973)

1991–1997 Gimnasia La Plata 181 (45)
1997–2007 Boca Juniors 211 (65)
2007–2010 Columbus Crew 102 (33)
National team 1995–1999 Argentina 10 (0)

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* Pan American Games (1): 1995

Boca Juniors
* Copa Libertadores (4): 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007
* Copa Sudamericana (2): 2004, 2005
* Recopa Sudamericana (2): 2005, 2006
* Primera División Argentina (6): Apertura 1998, Clausura 1999, Apertura 2000, Apertura 2003, Apertura 2005, Clausura 2006
* Intercontinental Cup (2): 2000, 2003

Columbus Crew
* Major League Soccer MLS Cup (1): 2008
* Major League Soccer Supporters Shield (2): 2008, 2009
* Major League Soccer Eastern Conference (2): 2008, 2009

Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
* Copa Centenario de la AFA (1): 1993

Individual
* Major League Soccer MVP: 2008
* MLS Best XI: 2007, 2008
* MLS Cup MVP: 2008

ΚΑΡΛΟΣ ΒΙΑΝΤΣΙ

2010-07-29T01:02:00.057+03:00

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CARLOS BIANCHI (1949)

Full name Carlos Arcecio Bianchi
Date of birth 26 April 1949
Place of birth Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Forward

1967–1973 Vélez Sársfield 165 (121)
1973–1977 Stade de Reims 124 (107)
1977–1979 Paris Saint-Germain 74 (64)
1979–1980 RC Strasbourg 22 (8)
1980–1984 Vélez Sársfield 159 (85)
1984–1985 Stade de Reims 18 (8)
Total 562 (393)

Campeonatos nacionales

Título Club País Año
Torneo Clausura Vélez Sarsfield Argentina 1993
Torneo Apertura Vélez Sarsfield Argentina 1995
Torneo Clausura Vélez Sarsfield Argentina 1996
Torneo Apertura Boca Juniors Argentina 1998
Torneo Clausura Boca Juniors Argentina 1999
Torneo Apertura Boca Juniors Argentina 2000
Torneo Apertura Boca Juniors Argentina 2003

Copas internacionales

Título Club País Año
Copa Libertadores Vélez Sarsfield Argentina 1994
Copa Intercontinental Vélez Sarsfield Argentina 1994
Copa Interamericana Vélez Sarsfield Argentina 1996
Copa Libertadores Boca Juniors Argentina 2000
Copa Intercontinental Boca Juniors Argentina 2000
Copa Libertadores Boca Juniors Argentina 2001
Copa Libertadores Boca Juniors Argentina 2003
Copa Intercontinental Boca Juniors Argentina 2003

ΝΤΑΝΙΕΛ ΠΑΣΣΑΡΕΛΑ

2010-07-27T00:01:00.003+03:00

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DANIEL PASSARELA (1953)

Nome completo Daniel Alberto Passarela
Data de nasc. 25 de Maio de 1953
Local de nasc. Chacabuco, Argentina

1971-1973 Sarmiento 36 (9)
1974-1982 River Plate 226 (90)
1982-1986 Fiorentina 109 (26)
1986-1988 Internazionale 44 (9)
1988-1989 River Plate 32 (9)
1974-1986 Argentina 70 (22)

Just a few days before the presidential election at the club, rumours began to grow claiming that Daniel Passarella is a long time fan of arch-rivals Boca Juniors. This could prevent him from running for River Plate’s presidentcy.
In several interviews, Passarella confirmed that he, and most of his family, were Boca Juniors’ supporters. He even attended trials to play there, but after being rejected, he went straight to River Plate and history from that point is far known: he became an icon of the club and won a large number of titles both as a player and as a manager.
With the elections around the corner we cannot consider this rumors to be random, but River fans know that the ‘Kaiser’ has always given all he got for the club and will probably climb past this obstacle in his path to become River’s president.

ΜΑΝΦΡΕΤ ΜΠΟΥΡΚΣΜΥΛΛΕΡ

2010-07-23T01:40:00.004+03:00

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MANFRED BURGSMÜLLER (1949)

Date of birth December 22, 1949 (1949-12-22)
Place of birth Essen, Germany
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Striker/midfielder

1969-1976 Rot-Weiss Essen 74 (32)
1976 Bayer Uerdingen 7 (1)
1976-1983 Borussia Dortmund 224 (135)
1983-1984 FC Nuremberg 34 (12)
1984-1985 Rot-Weiß Oberhausen 50 (36)
1985-1990 Werder Bremen 115 (34)

1977-1978 West Germany 3 (0)

ΝΤΕΡΕΚ ΝΤΟΥΓΚΑΝ

2010-07-21T22:58:00.003+03:00

Fa Cup third round action at London Road from November 1963. Pat Jennings was in goal for Watford, in the only full season that he spent at Vicarage Road. The most familiar name on the Peterborough side was Derek Dougan..the future Wolves stalwart.
The least said about the equalising goal the better!

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DEREK DOUGAN (20 January 1938 – 24 June 2007)

Full name Alexander Derek Dougan
Date of birth 20 January 1938
Place of birth Belfast, Northern Ireland
Date of death 24 June 2007
Place of death Wolverhampton, England
Playing position Defender / Midfielder / Forward

1954–1957 Distillery 76 (17)
1957–1959 Portsmouth 33 (9)
1959–1961 Blackburn Rovers 59 (26)
1961–1963 Aston Villa 51 (19)
1963–1965 Peterborough United 77 (38)
1965–1967 Leicester City 68 (35)
1967–1976 Wolverhampton Wanderers 258 (95)
1967 → Los Angeles Wolves (guest) 11 (3)
1969 → Kansas City Spurs (guest) 6 (4)
1973 → Shamrock Rovers XI (guest) 10 (1)
1975–1977 Kettering Town 35 (37)
TOTAL 685(294)

1953–1954 Northern Ireland Schoolboys 3 (41)
1954–1955 Northern Ireland U-19's 18 (18)
1956 Northern Ireland Amateurs 13 (12)
1957–1959 Northern Ireland B 3 (2)
1958–1973 Northern Ireland 43 (8)

ΦΛΟΡΙΑΝ ΑΛΜΠΕΡΤ

2010-07-20T23:57:00.019+03:00

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FLÓRIÁN ALBERT (1941)

Date of birth September 15, 1941 (1941-09-15)
Place of birth Hercegszántó, Hungary
Playing position Striker
1958–1974 Ferencvárosi TC 339 (245)
1959–1974 National team Hungary 75 (31)

Der Ungar Florian Albert gilt als einer der Großen einer ganzen Generation hervorragender Spieler. Zwar gewann er nicht so viele Titel, wie es eigentlich seinem Talent entsprochen hätte, aber bis heute gilt er als "der eleganteste Spieler aller Zeiten".
1962 führte er als gerade einmal 20-Jähriger die Ungarn ins Viertelfinale des FIFA-Weltpokals Chile 1962™. Er war zudem mit vier Toren zusammen mit den Brasilianern Vava und Garrincha der erfolgreichste Torjäger.
Der Sohn eines Schmieds wurde unweit der Grenze zu Jugoslawien in der kleinen Stadt Hercegzanto geboren. Seine ersten Erfahrungen sammelte er mit seinen zwei Brüdern. Nach dem Umzug der Familie nach Budapest wechselte er zu Ferencvaros, dem beliebtesten Verein des Landes. Er verbrachte dort seine komplette Karriere und schlug alle Angebote anderer Klubs aus – ein Umstand, der im Fussball immer seltener wird.
Von seinen Trainern wurde er systematisch in höheren Altersklassen eingesetzt und stieg schnell auf. In der ersten Mannschaft debütierte er bereits 1957 mit 16 Jahren, als er eigentlich noch zu den Juniorenspielern zählte. Nach zwei Spieltagen in der Liga streifte er erstmals das Nationaltrikot über. Sein Aufstieg verlief rasant. In dieser Zeit stand die ungarische Verbandsleitung noch unter dem Eindruck der Magischen Magyaren um Puskas, Kocsis sowie Czibor und arbeitete am Neuaufbau der Mannschaft, nachdem deren Stars teilweise nach Spanien abgewandert waren.
Der filigrane Spieler (1,85 Meter bei nur 75 Kilogramm) konnte am Ball alles und ersetzte seine Vorgänger brillant. Er selbst war ein treffsicherer Torjäger und verstand es zudem, seine Mitspieler mit milimetergenauen Pässen in die Tiefe in Szene zu setzen. In einer Mannschaft, die noch gefangen war im Spielsystem von 1954, brach er mit den Tabus. Er wechselte mit Scharfsinn zwischen Kurz- und Langpassspiel und war aufgrund seiner hervorragenden Technik in der Lage, das Tempo im Spiel nach Belieben zu variieren.
Albert ohne Angst vor Brasilien
Bei seiner ersten WM-Teilnahme 1962 erzielte er den Siegtreffer gegen England und brillierte anschließend gegen Bulgarien. Im Viertelfinale unterlag die noch unerfahrene Mannschaft jedoch der Tschechoslowakei (0:1), die ihrerseits das Finale erreichte.
Vier Jahre später beim FIFA-Weltpokal England 1966™ gehörte er zu den herausragenden Spielerpersönlichkeiten. Das Spiel vom 15. Juli in Liverpool gegen Brasilien gilt bis heute als eines der besten Weltmeisterschaftsspiele aller Zeiten. Zwar fehlte Pelé, aber dennoch hatten alle Mannschaften großen Respekt vor den Brasilianern. Die Ungarn mit Florian Albert griffen jedoch aus allen Lagen an und versteckten sich im Gegensatz zu den anderen Mannschaften nicht.
Zwar traf Albert in dieser Partie nicht selbst, aber er bereitete alle drei Treffer seiner Mannschaft vor, darunter jene sagenhafte Volleyabnahme von Janos Farkas, die als beste technische Einlage des Turniers galt. Die Ungarn scheiterten jedoch erneut im Viertelfinale. Ein ums andere Mal verzweifelten sie dabei am russischen Torhüter Lev Yashin.
Im Alter von 25 Jahren hatte Florian Albert seine besten Jahre noch vor sich. 1969 zog er sich jedoch einen komplizierten mehrfachen Bruch des rechten Beines zu. Er spielte noch fünf weitere Jahre, erreichte aber nie wieder seine alte Klasse. Am 29. Mai 1974 feierte er sein 75. und letztes Länderspiel (insgesamt 31 Tore) gegen Jugoslawien.

ΑΛΒΕΡΤΟ ΣΠΕΝΣΕΡ

2010-07-19T17:04:00.004+03:00

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ALBERTO SPENCER (1937-2006)

Full name Alberto Pedro Spencer Herrera
Date of birth December 6, 1937
Place of birth Ancón, Guayas, Ecuador
Date of death November 3, 2006
Playing position Striker
1953–1959 Everest 90 (101)
1960–1970 Peñarol 510 (326)
1971–1972 Barcelona 34 (18)
Total 634 (445)

Alberto Spencer Herrera fue un futbolista ecuatoriano que jugaba de delantero. Es considerado el mejor jugador ecuatoriano de la historia y para la FIFA uno de los 20 mejores futbolistas sudamericanos del siglo XX. En 1959 integró la Selección de fútbol de Ecuador.
Nacido en Ancón, un poblado de la Península de Santa Elena. Spencer era el hijo de un jamaiquino de origen británico. Fue un delantero ambidiestro de gran habilidad, fuerte disparo y excelente definición, en especial de cabeza, que destrozó las defensas rivales por más de una década. Desde su retiro del fútbol profesional, en 1973, se estableció en Montevideo, Uruguay, y en 1982 fue designado cónsul en aquel país. Sufrió un infarto el 14 de septiembre de 2006 durante un examen de rutina con su cardiólogo, y falleció el 3 de noviembre del mismo año tras ser internado en una clínica en Cleveland, Ohio, Estados Unidos.
Comenzó a jugar fútbol en las canchas de tierra de su ciudad natal, en el Club Los Andes. Su hermano, Marcos, jugaba en Everest y lo llevó a ese club en 1953, con el que debutó en 1955 contra Emelec. Ocho días después anotó su primer gol en su carrera ante Nueve de Octubre.
En 1959, gracias a su destacada actuación en la Selección de fútbol de Ecuador en el Sudamericano Extraordinario de 1959 realizado en su país, fue contratado por el Club Atlético Peñarol, que gastó 10 mil dólares en su pase. Con el club uruguayo debutó el 8 de marzo de 1960 en un partido amistoso ante Atlanta de Argentina, convirtiendo 3 goles y en su segundo partido, ante Tigre, hizo otros 2. En Uruguay se convirtió en una leyenda, anotando 326 goles, ganando tres Copa Libertadores, dos Copas Intercontinentales y siete Campeonatos Uruguayos. Tras jugar su segunda Copa Intercontinental, el club Inter de Milán se interesó por él, pero los directivos de CA Peñarol hicieron lo imposible para retenerlo en el club.
Fue en cuatro ocasiones máximo goleador del Campeonato Uruguayo de Fútbol (1961, 1962, 1967 y 1968) y se consagró, además, como máximo artillero en la historia de la Copa Libertadores (con 54 tantos)[2] y segundo de la Copa Intercontinental (con 6 tantos, solo superado por Pelé con 7 goles).
Tras su etapa en el Club Atlético Peñarol, regresó a Ecuador, para jugar un año en el Barcelona de Guayaquil, con el que conquistó el Campeonato de Ecuador en 1971.
Durante su permanencia en el Club Atlético Peñarol le ofrecieron nacionalizarse uruguayo pero no aceptó, sin embargo reforzó a la Selección charrúa en varios encuentros amistosos, logrando incluso marcar un gol.
Terminada su carrera como futbolista, Spencer anotó 451 goles entre partidos oficiales y amistosos; 445 en los clubes que jugó, 4 en la Selección Ecuatoriana y 1 en la Selección Uruguaya.
Spencer consta en el puesto Nº 20 en el Ranking del Mejor jugador sudamericano del siglo.

ΟΒΔΟΥΛΙΟ ΒΑΡΕΛΑ

2010-01-01T23:24:00.006+02:00

OBDULIO JACINTO VARELA (1917-1996)

Place of birth: Paysandú, Uruguay
Height: 1.78 m
Playing position: Center half
1936-1938 Deportivo Juventud
1938-1943 Montevideo Wanderers
1943-1955 C.A. Peñarol
1939-1954 Uruguay 45 (9 goals)

With Uruguay:
• FIFA World Cup winner in 1950
• Copa América winner in 1942
• Copa Baron de Rio Branco winner against Brasil in 1940, 1946, 1948
• Copa Escobar Gerona winner in 1943
With Peñarol:
• Uruguayan first division league champion in 1944, 1945, 1949, 1951, 1953 and 1954
• Torneo de Honor winner in 1944, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953
• Competencia tourney winner in 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1951 1953
Varela was among the 13 best South American players of the 20th century according to the IFFHS' Century Elections.

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Obdulio Varela y el día del fin del mundo

Estoy convencido de que uno no elige a sus modelos, sus ídolos. Son ellos los que nos eligen.
Si hubiera dependido de mi yo habría escogido a Diego Armando, a Enzo, a Franz, a Pep, a Eric… Pero a mi me eligió Obdulio Varela, El Negro Jefe.
Sinceramente, creo que he tenido mucha suerte.
Obdulio Jacinto Muiños Varela nació en Montevideo en 1917. Fue limpiabotas, vendedor a domiclio, peón de albañil, asmático, mulato. También futbolista.

El Negro Jefe
Varela no era rápido; tampoco era muy hábil con el balón. Su técnica, sus conocimientos tácticos, su físico eran los habituales en esa época. Sólo sobresalía en un apartado: el carácter.
Muchos dicen que en una enciclopedia deportiva debería aparecer su foto junto a la palabra Capitán. No exageran.
Durante un Peñarol – Nacional, un compañero suyo recibió una entrada criminal. El Negro Jefe se acercó al árbitro y le dijo: “Señor juez, si alguno de mis futbolistas llega a dar una patada como la que aquel señor acaba de dar, le ruego que lo expulse, porque en mi equipo un jugador que pega así no merece seguir en la cancha“.
El año que Peñarol introdujo publicidad en las camisetas el Negro Jefe se negó a llevarla. Todas las camisetas la lucían, menos la suya. En otra ocasión, tras una victoria de Peñarol sobre River Plate, los directivos decidieron premiar a todos los jugadores con 250 pesos y con 500 al Negro Jefe, que se quejó: “Yo jugué como todos; si ustedes creen que merecí 500 pesos, son 500 para todos; si ellos merecieron 250, yo también“. Y fueron 500 para todos.
Los directivos le odiaban, claro. Aunque no más que el Negro Jefe a ellos.
Por aquel entonces (1949) la situación laboral del futbolista uruguayo dejaba mucho que desear, de modo que los jugadores decidieron crear un sindicato. Los clubs, dueños de todo y de todos se negaron a reconocerlo. La respuesta de los jugadores, encabezados por Varela fue una huelga: no habría más fútbol hasta que se legalizara su sindicato.
Los clubs aceptaron el pulso encantados, intuyendo que la presión social, la falta de trabajo y el inminente Mundial de fútbol acabarían con la huelga. Efectivamente se sucedieron los fines de semana sin balón, se extendía el hambre en el gremio. Pero cuando peor se ponían las cosas más grande se hacía Varela. Trabajador desde niño, casi analfabeto, lideró la huelga durante meses.
El séptimo mes los clubs dieron su brazo a torcer.

El Mundial de Brasil
Acababa de finalizar la II Guerra Mundial y la FIFA hizo lo imposible por volver a organizar competiciones internacionales pero ningún pais europeo estaba en condiciones de organizar el Mundial de 1950.
La alternativa fue Brasil, que por aquel entonces tenía el mejor equipo del mundo. El rey del gol Ademir, la magia de Zizinho y Jair, el inexpugnable Barbosa…, una formación llamada “la diagonal” que dejaba boquiabierto a todo aquel que la veía en acción.

Tras la primera ronda, Brasil, España, Suecia y Uruguay se clasificaron para una liguilla final de la que saldría el campeón del torneo. El seleccionado brasileño derrotó por sendas goleadas a los equipos europeos, 6-1 a España y 7-1 a Suecia. Uruguay empató con España 2-2 y ganó a Suecia 3-2, de forma inmerecida y en el último momento. El último partido de la liguilla no era una final, pero enfrentaba a Brasil con 4 puntos y a Uruguay con 3, por lo que el vencedor sería el campeón del mundo. A la selección de Brasil, soberbia, espectacular e inalcanzable le valía el empate. Y jugaba en casa. Jugaba en Maracaná.
El pais entero se paralizó. Todo estaba listo en Maracaná para las celebraciones del triunfo brasileño, ante nada menos que 180.000 hinchas; los diarios locales ya habían anunciado el partido como el de la primera victoria mundial de Brasil y las camisetas que lo conmemoraban inundaban el estadio. Todo era alegría, magia, esplendor y confianza.
La charla previa en el vestuario urugayo fue deprimente: “Con llegar a la final ya han cumplido, traten de no comerse seis goles y jueguen con guante blanco“. Mientras recorrían el pasillo entre el vestuario y la cancha el Negro Jefe hizo un discurso distinto: “No piensen en toda esa gente, no miren para arriba, el partido se juega abajo, y si ganamos no va a pasar nada, nunca pasa nada“.
Nada más pitar el comienzo del partido Brasil se lanzó en tromba sobre la meta rival. Como hacían siempre. Las ocasiones se sucedían una tras otra. Varela vigilaba a Ademir. Uruguay achicó balones, uno tras otro, hasta que se llegó al descanso. 0-0. Era prácticamente imposible, pero Brasil no había marcado un solo gol. A pesar de todo, la fiesta en las gradas continuaba. Con ese resultado eran campeones.
La segunda parte empezó igual que la primera, con los brasileños atacando como posesos. Pero esta vez Uruguay aguantó apenas dos minutos ya que en el 47 marcó Brasil por medio de Friaca. El estadio, el pais entero enloqueció.
Pero no Varela. Obdulio recorrió los treinta metros que lo separaban del fondo de la red, a paso lento pero firme. Cogió la pelota y la colocó bajo su axila derecha y con el mismo andar de antes fue a reclamarle un inexistente fuera de juego al juez de línea. Segundos después y de la misma forma llevó el balón hasta el centro de la cancha.
La locura colectiva de los 180.000 espectadores fue remitiendo poco a poco. Varela depositó la pelota en el centro del estadio, llamó al árbitro y pidió un traductor para discutir la posición adelantada durante varios minutos. El estadio había enmudecido.
Antes de sacar de centro miró hacia su equipo y les dijo una sola palabra: “Seguidme“.
Obdulio lo recordó así:
…Ahí me di cuenta que si no enfriábamos el juego, si no lo aquietábamos, esa máquina de jugar al fútbol nos iba a demoler. Lo que hice fue demorar la reanudación del juego, nada más. Esos tigres nos comían si les servíamos el bocado muy rápido. Entonces a paso lento crucé la cancha para hablar con el juez de línea, reclamándole un supuesto off-side que no había existido, luego se me acercó el árbitro y me amenazó con expulsarme, pero hice que no lo entendía, aprovechando que él no hablaba castellano y que yo no sabía inglés. Pero mientras hablaba varios jugadores contrarios me insultaban, muy nerviosos, mientras las tribunas bramaban. Esa actitud de los adversarios me hizo abrir los ojos, tenían miedo de nosotros. Entonces, siempre con la pelota entre mi brazo y mi cuerpo, me fui hacia el centro del campo de juego. Luego vi a los rivales que estaban pálidos e inseguros y les dije a mis compañeros que éstos no nos pueden ganar nunca, los nervios nuestros se los habíamos pasado a ellos. El resto fue lo más fácil.”
El balón se puso en juego cuatro minutos después del gol de Friaca. Pero el partido ya era otro. En el minuto 17, Schiaffino empató el partido. Y a falta de 10 minutos, el Negro Jefe pasó el balón a Ghiggia para que marcara el 2-1. Volvió el asedio brasileño, pero los uruguayos se habían convertido en gigantes.
Cuando sonó el pitido final el estadio era una tumba. Sólo se escuchaban llantos. Acababa de suceder una de las mayores sorpresas en la historia del deporte: el Maracanazo.
No hubo ceremonia final, ni música, ni vuelta olímpica. El acto de entrega de la copa a Uruguay terminó siendo solamente eso: la entrega de la misma y un apretón de manos de un confundido Jules Rimet a Obdulio Varela.

La noche eterna
Para los brasileños, la derrota fue una tragedia nacional, la peor de aquel país. Los suicidios, infartos y ataques de locura se multiplicaron entre sus 50 millones de habitantes.
En la noche más triste de Brasil, el Negro Jefe no celebró la victoria con sus compañeros. Se marchó a recorrer bares, afectado por la tristeza inconsolable por los vencidos. Bebió y sufrió con los aficionados brasileños. Al día siguiente el héroe nacional evitó las fotos y los festejos oficiales. “Mi patria es la gente que sufre“, comentó. Le dieron un dinero con el que se compró un coche viejo; se lo robaron a la semana siguiente.
Cuando se retiró del fútbol siguió viviendo en la pobreza con su mujer. Nunca dejó de sufrir por el pueblo brasileño, ni de odiar a los directivos. “Ganamos porque ganamos, nada más“, afirmó muchos años más tarde. “Nos llenaron de pelotazos, fue un disparate. Jugamos cien veces, y sólo ganamos ésa“.
Obdulio Varela, el Negro Jefe, murió en 1996, meses después de morir su mujer.
Sus últimos recuerdos, las botas de Maracaná y su camiseta con el número 5, se guardan en la Federación Uruguaya. Como bien dice Enric González, hasta eso se quedaron los dirigentes.

ΜΑΡΤΙΝ ΠΗΤΕΡΣ

2009-12-25T02:28:00.026+02:00

MARTIN PETERS

Full name Martin Stanford Peters
Date of birth 8 November 1943
Place of birth Plaistow, London, England
Playing position Midfielder
1959–1970 West Ham United 302 (81 goals)
1970–1975 Tottenham Hotspur 189 (46 goals)
1975–1980 Norwich City 206 (44 goals)
1980–1981 Sheffield United 24 (3 goals)
Total 721 (174 goals )
National team 1966–1974 England 67 (20 goals)

European Cup-Winners' Cup: Winner 1965
Football League Cup: Runner-up 1966
League Cup: Winner 1971, 1973
UEFA Cup
Winner: 1972
Runner-up: 1974
Anglo-Italian League Cup: Winner 1971
World Cup: Winner 1966
European Championship: 3rd place 1968

ΕΛΙΑΣ ΦΙΓΚΕΡΟΑ

2009-11-15T13:20:00.028+02:00

ELÍAS FIGUEROA (1946)

Full name Elías Ricardo Figueroa Brander
Date of birth October 25, 1946
Place of birth Valparaíso, Chile
Playing position Centre Back
1964 Unión La Calera 30
1965–1966 Santiago Wanderers 54
1967–1971 Peñarol 241 (6)
1971–1977 Internacional 336 (26)
1977–1980 Palestino 118 (6)
1981–1982 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 22
1982–1983 Colo-Colo 17
Total 818 (38)
National team 1966–1982 Chile 70 (2)

Elías Ricardo Figueroa Brander (born October 25, 1946 in Valparaíso) is a former football (soccer) player from Chile. He was considered the best player in America in 1974, 1975, 1976, one of the world's best defenders in football history and all-time best football player in Chile.
He was designated "Best player" of Uruguay in 1967 and 1968. He was also nominated Best football player in South-America from 1974, 1975 and 1976, Best Defender in World Cup Germany 1974 and "Best player" of Brazilian football in 1975 and 1976. Also "Best player" of Chilean football in 1977 and 1978.
FIFA named him Player of the year in 1976 and one of the world's 100 best living soccer players.

ΛΑΔΙΣΛΑΟ ΜΑΖΟΥΡΚΙΕΒΙΤΣ

2009-11-14T19:39:00.006+02:00

LADISLAO MAZURKIEWICZ (1945)

1961-1963 Racing Montevideo
1964-1970 Peñarol
1971-1973 Atlético Mineiro
1974-1975 Granada
1976-1978 Cobreloa
1979-1980 América de Cali
1980 Peñarol
Nazionale 1965-1974 Uruguay

Campionato uruguaiano: 4 (Peñarol: 1965, 1967, 1968, 1981)
CBF - Brazilian Championship.svg Campionato brasiliano: 1 (Atlético Mineiro: 1971)
Liberators Cup.svg Coppa Libertadores: 1 (Peñarol: 1966)
Copa Intercontinental.svg Coppa Intercontinentale: 1 (Peñarol: 1966)
Campeonato Sudamericano de Selecciones: 1 (1967)

***********************************

Uno de los países más pequeños del continente americano es la República Oriental de Uruguay. Su extensión territorial y su cantidad de habitantes es diminuta si lo comparamos con "gigantes" de la talla de Brasil, Argentina, Estados Unidos, México e incluso otras naciones del Cono Sur.
Sin embargo, su grandeza radica en la calidad de su gente, su historia y principalmente en lo que ha aportado al futbol por más de 100 años.
Una nación de tan sólo 3 millones de habitantes le ha dado al balompié mundial una riqueza envidiable en jugadores de talla mundial, entrenadores de más alto nivel, un amor a la camiseta incuestionable y equipos que han hecho historia en todas las competiciones de nuestro planeta.
Hablar de futbolistas legendarios de Uruguay es remontarnos desde la década de los veinte en el siglo XX hasta la actualidad. Desde José Nasazzi (campeón olímpico en 1924 y 1928 y campeón del mundo en 1930) hasta Alvaro Recoba, Nicolás Olivera o Paolo Montero, pasando por inmortales como Héctor Scarone, Pedro Cea, Obdulio Varela, Roque Máspoli, Alcides Ghiggia, Juan Hohberg, Pedro Virgilio Rocha, Luis Cubilla, Horacio Troche, Víctor Espárrago, Fernando Morena, Enzo Francéscoli, Rubén Sosa, Hugo De Léon y muchos, muchos más.

Mazurkiewicz con su inconfundible vestimenta negra Pero hubo un jugador que marcó toda una época en Uruguay. Tierra de recios zagueros, talentosos mediocampistas y contundentes delanteros, la nación charrúa no es ajena a los grandes porteros.
Ladislao Mazurkiewicz es considerado uno de los mejores guardametas en la historia, tanto en América como en el mundo entero, quizás el más grande de Uruguay y uno de los más sobresalientes en los mundiales de futbol.
Nacido un 14 de febrero de 1945 en Piriápolis, poblado que se encuentra entre Montevideo y Punta del Este, Mazurkiewicz tuvo desde su infancia la predilección por los deportes. El baloncesto era el que más le apasionaba pero al mismo tiempo que lo practicaba empezó a involucrarse en el futbol.
A principios de la década de los sesenta, Mazurkiewicz pertenecía al Racing Club de Montevideo en donde empezó a destacar por la agilidad y seguridad que mostrba bajo los tres palos. Con este pequeño club logró el campeonato de la 4a División en 1962 y su figura comenzó a ser noticia en el ámbito futbolístico.
En 1964, volvió a salir campeón, ahora en el Campeonato Sudamericano Juvenil celebrado en la ciudad de Bogotá en Colombia. Tan destacadas actuaciones empezaron a captar la atención de los directivos de uno de los clubes más grandes de América del Sur, el Peñarol de Montevideo.
Los "Carboneros" pasaban por una gran época ya que habían logrado su primer quinquenio en el futbol profesional uruguayo (ganaron cinco ligas consecutivas de 1958 a 1962), tenían en su haber 2 Copas Libertadores (1960 y 1961) y 1 Copa Intercontinental (1961).
El portero titular de este gran equipo era Luis Maidana, quien ya llevaba varios años en la institución y pronto necesitaría un suplente. Peñarol pagó 500 mil pesos a Racing y se llevó a sus filas a Ladislao Mazurkiewicz cuando tenía tan sólo 19 años de edad.
Sus primeros meses con los aurinegros fueron de aprendizaje esperando una oportunidad con la cual pudiera mostrar sus cualidades en una división más competitiva.
Llegó el histórico 1 de abril de 1965, día del partido de desempate en las semifinales de la Copa Libertadores de 1965 ante el Santos de Brasil, donde actuaba Pelé. Después del partido de vuelta jugado en el Centenario, el cual ganó Peñarol 3-2 y obligó a un tercer partido, Maidana fue separado del plantel por un problema disciplinario. El técnico no tuvo más remedio que alinear al nóvel Mazurkiewicz para el descisivo encuentro.
La actuación de Ladislao fue sensacional en la cancha del Monumental de Núñez (sede neutral para el juego de desempate) y Peñarol venció al Santos 2-1 con lo cual llegó a otra final de la Copa Libertadores. Esa noche comenzó la leyenda de Ladislao Mazurkiewicz.
Mazurkiewicz con el Peñarol en la final de la Copa Libertadores
"Mazurka", como lo conocían sus amigos, nunca más perdió la titularidad del club aurinegro. Días después de la hazaña ante Santos le tocó vivir su primer fracaso con el Peñarol ya que fueron derrotados en tres partidos por el Independiente de Avellaneda en la final de la Copa Libertadores.
Sin embargo, ese descalabro no minó en la grandeza del equipo carbonero ya que un año despúes, y con Ladislao en gran forma se proclamaron nuevamente campeones del torneo continental de América del Sur. "El mejor equipo de América" confirmó su nombre meses después cuando ganaron la Copa Intercontinental al Real Madrid, para convertirse así en el "Mejor equipo del Mundo".

Mazurkiewicz despeja un balón jugando para el Peñarol Prodigiosos reflejos , su seguridad bajo el marco , el extraordinario oportunismo en salidas y despejes, llevaron rápidamente a Mazurkiewicz a la titularidad bajo el marco de la Selección de Uruguay que se preparaba para participar en la Copa del Mundo de Inglaterra 66.
Su presentación en la justa mundialista no pudo ser mejor. El 11 de julio, en el sagrado césped de Wembley, los charrúas le hicieron los honores al Equipo de la Rosa en el partido inaugural del mundial y Mazurkiewicz bajó la cortina por lo que mantuvo el cero todo el partido.
La Copa del Mundo fue buena para Uruguay a pesar de ser objeto de uno de los mayores robos de la historia. Al notar el Comité Organizador y la FIFA, que las naciones americanas, específicamente Argentina y Uruguay por su buen estilo de juego y calidad, eran un serio peligro para sus aspiraciones de que el Trofeo Jules Rimet se quedara en Europa, decidieron programar alevosamente árbitros de las naciones en cuestión para echarlos del torneo.
Así, un silbante inglés dirigió el Alemania vs Uruguay, y un árbitro alemán el Inglaterra vs Argentina. Resultado: partidos polémicos y arbitrajes tendenciosos que propiciaron la eliminación de los vecinos del Río de la Plata.
Ladislao Mazurkiewicz en el partido Alemania vs Uruguay en Inglaterra 66
Ni el gran momento por el que atravesaba Mazurkiewicz pudo evitar la estrepitosa goleada ante los Alemanes en los cuartos de final (4-0), propiciada en su totalidad por la desastrosa actuación del árbitro Finney quien entre otras muchas cosas, no marcó un penal clarísimo a favor de Uruguay y mandó a las regaderas a dos jugadores celestes por entradas similares a las de los germanos en contra de los sudamericanos.
A pesar de este mal sabor de boca, la experiencia fue muy valiosa para el cuadro charrúa y para Mazurkiewicz ya que cuatro años después, en México 70, tuvieron una mejor actuación.

Mazurkiewicz con el Peñarol en la temporada del record Ladislao fue mostrando cada vez más temple, frialdad y carácter para resolver las situaciones complicadas en el momento adecuado. Con Peñarol continuó su carrera de éxitos locales ya que se coronó campeón en 1967 y 1968. Además, en ese 1967 logró implantar el record de más minutos sin recibir gol: 985 minutos con la valla invicta durante 11 fechas del campeonato uruguayo.
Para el mundial de México 1970 y a sus 25 años de edad era ya considerado por mucho como uno de los mejores arqueros del orbe. Uruguay llegó a territorio azteca con la firme intención de hacer válida la historia de que eran campeones del mundo cada 20 años (1930 y 1950, por eso 1970 era propicio).
Conformda por una de las mejores generaciones que ha dado el futbol de Uruguay (estaban entre otros Ildo Maneiro, Roberto Matosas, Pedro Virgilio Rocha, Luis Cubilla, Juan Mujica, el propio Mazurkiewicz, Julio Montero Castillo), la "garra charrúa" calificó en segundo lugar del Grupo 2, debajo de Italia con tan sólo un gol recibido.
En el duelo ante la poderosa Unión Soviética en cuartos de final Mazurkiewicz volvió a ser una pared infranqueable. Mantuvo su arco inviolado los 90 minutos de tiempo regular y los 30 del tiempo sumplementario. El partido se definió en el último minuto del segundo tiempo extra gracias a una genialidad de Víctor Espárrago. Uruguay llegaba a semifinales para enfrentar a Brasil.
Aquel 17 de junio de 1970 en el Estadio Jalisco de Guadalajara, Uruguay no pudo mantener la ventaja de un gol conseguida en los primeros minutos del partido y sucumbió por tres goles a uno ante los futuros campeones del mundo. Pero quedará en la memoria de todos los asistentes al Jalisco ese día y de los millones de televidentes por todo el mundo la jugada que protagonizaron Pelé y Mazurkiewicz cuando el duelo ya estaba definido.
Aunque no fue gol, la finta del gran astro brasileño sobre el guardameta celeste para dejar pasar el balón en plena carrera hacia el arco y después su tiro que pasó a escasos centímetros de la portería, está guardada en el baúl de los recuerdos mundialistas como una de las jugadas más futboleras en la historia, por su concepción y por la grandeza de sus protagonistas.
Uruguay terminó esa Copa del Mundo en cuarto lugar y Mazurkiewicz como elmejor arquero del certamen.
En 1971, Ladislao salió del Peñarol y se fue a jugar con el Atlético Mineiro donde cumplió una gran carrera. Fue campeón nacional con el "Mineirao" y siguió demostrando su calidad en canchas brasileñas.
Llegó el año de 1974 y Mazurkiewicz se alistó para jugar su tercer mundial consecutivo. Sólo que ahora la situación fue diferente ya que el estilo uruguayo pareció quedarse dormido en el tiempo y fue ampliamente superado por cuadros más dinámicos y veloces como Suecia y Holanda.
Después de su paso por Brasil, Ladislao probó suerte en el Viejo Continente y para la temporada 74-75 se enroló con el modesto equipo español Granada CF en la primera división ibérica.
Partido Holanda vs Uruguay en Alemania 74
Después de su paso por canchas españolas, Mazurkiewicz regresó a América del Sur para jugar en Colombia con el América de Cali y pasados los 35 años de edad retornó a su viejo club, el Peñarol de Montevideo donde decidió retirarse a principios de la década de los ochenta.
Tras abandonar el futbol activo se fue al Racing de Montevideo como Preparador Físico. Igualmente cumplió esa función con el cuadro carbonero del Peñarol al igual que el de entrenador de porteros. Y con la selección uruguaya ha sido parte del cuerpo técnico de Víctor Púa en el camino hacia las eliminatoiras
Recientemente fue considerado por una encuesta a nivel nacional como el mejor portero uruguayo de todos los tiempos, por arriba de otra leyenda, Roque Gastón Máspoli.
Ladislao Mazurkiewicz ha sido el último futbolista charrúa en ser nominado a un equipo ideal del mundial. Su calidad fue reconocida mundialmente lo que le valió ser nominado en dos ocasiones para integrar la Selección Resto del Mundo en partidos de homenaje.
Su currículum internacional es bastante amplio ya que jugó 66 partidos de Copa Libertadores, 13 en Copas del Mundo y en más de 40 ocasiones defendió la camiseta nacional celeste.
Gran líder en la cancha y respetado por sus compañeros por la confianza que infundía al estar bajo los tres palos, Ladislao Mazurkiewicz está considerado como uno de los porteros más sobresalientes que ha dado el continente americano y uno de los mejores que se ha parado en un mundial de futbol.

ΜΠΡΑΝΚΟ ΟΜΠΛΑΚ

2009-10-31T15:19:00.011+02:00

Date of birth 27 May 1947
Place of birth Ljubljana
Playing position Midfielder
1965–1973 Olimpija Ljubljana
1973–1975 NK Hajduk Split
1975–1977 FC Schalke 04
1977–1980 FC Bayern Munich
1983–1985 SV Spittal
National team 1970–1977 Yugoslavia 46 (6)

In November 2003 UEFA member football associations organized surveys to find the best national players in 50 year period of existence of UEFA. In Slovenia Branko Oblak was awarded this title, "beating" such a rivals as Srečko Katanec and Zlatko Zahovič.

ΛΟΥΙΣ ΣΟΥΑΡΕΣ

2009-10-19T23:43:00.009+03:00

LUIS SUÁREZ

Date of birth 2 May 1935
Place of birth A Coruña, Galicia, Spain
Height 1.75 m
Playing position Inside Left
1953-1954 Deportivo La Coruña 17 (3 goals)
1954–1955 CD España Industrial - -
1954–1961 FC Barcelona 122 (61 goals)
1961–1970 Internazionale 256 (42 goals)
1970–1973 Sampdoria 63 (9 goals)
National team 1957–1972 Spain 32 (14 goals)

Honours

CF Barcelona
La Liga: 1958-1959, 1959-1960
Copa del Generalísimo: 1957,1959
Fairs Cup: 1958,1960

Inter
Serie A: 1962-63, 1964-65, 1965-66
European Cup: 1964, 1965
Intercontinental Cup: 1964, 1965

European Football Championship: 1964 (Spain)
European Footballer of the Year: 1960 .
Silver Ball: 1961, 1964.
Bronze Ball: 1965.

ΓΙΟΧΑΝ ΝΕΕΣΚΕΝΣ

2009-10-19T13:59:00.006+03:00

JOHAN NEESKENS

Date of birth 15 September 1951
Place of birth Heemstede, Netherlands
Height 1.72 m
Playing position Midfielder
1968–1970 RCH 68 (1 goal)
1970–1974 Ajax 124 (33 goals)
1974–1979 Barcelona 140 (35 goals)
1979–1984 New York Cosmos 094 (17 goals)
1984–1985 FC Groningen 7 -
1985 Minnesota Strikers - -
1985 Fort Lauderdale Sun - -
1986–1987 Löwenbrau (amateurs) - -
1987–1990 FC Baar 23 (5 goals)
1990–1991 FC Zug 1 -
National team 1970–1981 Netherlands 049 (17 goals)

Eredivisie: 1972, 1973
Dutch Cup: 1971, 1972
UEFA Champions League: 1971, 1972, 1973
UEFA Supercup: 1972
Intercontinental Cup: 1972
Copa del Rey: 1978
UEFA Cup Winners Cup: 1979

ΠΩΛ ΦΑΝ ΧΙΜΣΤ

2009-10-18T01:04:00.009+03:00

PAUL VAN HIMST

Date of birth 2 October 1943
Place of birth Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Belgium
Playing position Forward
1959–1975 R.S.C. Anderlecht 457 (233 goals)
1975–1976 R.W.D. Molenbeek 21 (1 goals)
1976–1977 K.S.C. Eendracht Aalst
National team 1960–1974 Belgium 81 (30 goals)

********************

Paul Van Himst at age 16 made his debut for Anderlecht, and at age 17 was selected for the national team for the first of 81 times. Paul Van Himst is the footballer with the longest list of achievements in Belgium: with Anderlecht he was champion eight times and cupwinner four times. Three times he was Belgium's top scorer, four times winning "De Golden Schoen", scoring 235 goals in competition football and 30 goals for the national team. But it is not just the imposing honour roll that makes Paul Van Himst the best Belgian footballer of all times. This "Brusseler" was a pleasure to the eye, an elegant, technically superb and refined footballer, who in his period of glory was known as the white Pele, a genial but simple star, Paul Van Himst, with his extraordinary stong muscles, was a child of Anderlecht. For fifteen years he was the architect and moulder of the Brussels team, the figurehead of the proud, academic football of the purple-white team. His ball control and his slaloms were as inimitable as the way he was able to curl the goal into the goal with the outside of his foot. Van Himst scored goals of almost poignant beauty. But he was also seen as the focal point and the opportunist of the team, with which he experienced both tragedy and triumph. During a bad World Cup for Belgian football in Mexico in 1970, Van Himst and the national team performed poorly, and when later everyone pointed the finger at him , he announced he was quitting the Belgian national team. Only to make a cast-iron comeback in 1972 with Belgium ending number three in the European Cup. Throughout his careeer Van Himst was know for his affability. Grandiloquence was lost on him. A style he continued when, among other things, he became trainer of Anderlecht, with which he won the UEFA Cup in 1983, and the national team that he took to the World Cup in America in 1994. The aura surrounding the now 56 year-old Paul Van Himst remains immense, which is why he was offered the job of ambassador for the coming Euro.
La Cancha was honored to have met and interviewed this giant of football during our recent tour of Europe while attending the FIFA Hall of Fame Awards in Brussells, Belgium. Below is the text of our exclusive interview with the great Paul Van Himst.
Top Right: Paul Van Himst accepts the award for Belgium Player of the Century at the FIFA Hall of Champions ceremony in Brussells, Belgium.

Q: We'd like to ask you about the two largest competition that are coming EURO and World Cup 2002. First, what is yourv position on the EURO2000 being co-hosted by Belgium and Holland.
A: I think it is a very good idea. Belgium is not so big a country and an event as big as the EURO2000 is better hosted by both countries.
Q: What do think are Belgium's chances of winning EURO2000 particularly half of the games are being held on Belgium soil?
A: Winning I think will be very difficult for any team including Belgium. However I believe that Belgium will play in the semi-finals while Holland will be in the finals.
Q: Looking farther ahead at World Cup 2002. Do you think a South American country will win or do you think that Europe will again bring back the cup and if so, why?
A: I think a team from any continent can win the cup not only a European.

Q: And what is your view on having a World Cup every two years.
A: I think every two years is too much. I mean there are so many events such as the European Cup, etc.. I think a World Cup every 4 years is enough.

Q: Now looking at the team you played for Anderlecht, what is your opinion of Anderlecht's coach Aime Anthuenis?
A: I think he is a good coach. He coached Genk last year and he also has a very good team.

Q: As you are aware, your former team Anderlecht played a wonderful game yesterday. Do you
believe they can win the championship this year and why?
A: I think that Anderlecht will win, not only because they are the best team, but because the other
teams are playing very bad at this moment. The other teams have lost so many points so I think there will be no problem for Anderlecht to win this year.

Q: When you were younger who did you admire watching.
A: I enjoyed very much watching another center-forward from Anderlecht. His name is Jef Mermans. In this game you know, there are two positions which are spectacular. One is the forward player who makes goals, and the other is goalkeeper who saves goals. The mid position player is not so exciting to watch but Jef Mermans was a mid position player who scored many goals. After Mermans came Pele. Pele played with his head. He was not only a great player but also is a great person off the field..
Q: I come from America and I'd like to know what you believe America has to do to improve it's level of play?
A: I saw USA in World Cup 1994 and they played very well. America is not so bad eh?
Q: What is your opinion of this years nomimees for World Player 1999?
A: I know them having seen them play on television... Beckham with Manchester United, Rivaldo with Barcelona and Batistuta playing in the European Cup. I think Rivaldo is a very technically sound player. Although he does not play the forward position he makes many goals. I think that Batistuta is the best forward in Europe. In Italian league competition it is very very difficult to make goals even when you are considered a very good player.

Q: How would you rate today's player as compared with the players in your era?
A: That is difficult to say, we had many good players then as there are good players now. Also, the rules have somewhat changed and are still being modified as have training methods.
Q: Lastly, how do you feel about being honored by the FIFA Hall of Champions?.
A: To be recognized for one's achievements is always a wonderful experience. I am very grateful and honored to receive such recognition.

ΓΚΡΖΕΓΟΡΖ ΛΑΤΟ

2009-10-17T16:32:00.022+03:00

GRZEGORZ LATO

Date of birth 8 April 1950
Place of birth Malbork, Poland
Height 1.75 m
Playing position Winger
1966–1980 Stal Mielec 295 (117 goals)
1980–1982 Lokeren 64 (12 goals)
1982–1984 Atlante 45 (15 goals)
Total 404 (144)
National team 1971–1984 Poland 100 (45 goals)

Polish Premier League - 1st place: 1973, 1976
Polish Premier League - 2nd place: 1975
Polish Premier League - 3rd place: 1974, 1979, 1982
Polish Cup - 2nd place: 1976
UEFA Cup - quarter-finalist: 1975/76
CONCACAF Champions Cup - Winner: 1983
Polish Premier League Top Goalscorer: 1973, 1975
Piłka Nożna Player of the Year: 1977
Sport Player of the Year: 1974, 1977
Olympic gold medal: 1972
Olympic silver medeal: 1976
FIFA World Cup - 3rd place: 1974, 1982
FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe: 1974

Grzegorz Lato is one of the great World Cup legends due to the fact that he remains one of surprisingly few attacking players to have done really well in three different World Cups.

The speedy right-winger spent most years of his career at Stal Mielec where he made 272 league appearances and scored 111 goals. Lato helped the club win the Polish league championship twice and was also topscorer in the league twice. The Polish FA prohibited transfers abroad until a player was 30 and that hampered Lato's chances to show off his skills on a weekly basis for a larger audience on the continent.

But whenever he was given the chance at national team level to compete with the best internationally, he always stood the test and shone as bright as anyone else out there. Lato was not the typical crowd pleaser who would run circles around his full-back showing off magical skills, instead he was the complete team player. He knew instantly when to cut inside going for goal and when to make another decision with the ball that would benefit the team.

Poland impressed greatly in the World Cup 1974 in West Germany - two years after winning the Olympics in Munich - and Lato more so than anyone else. He became topscorer in the finals with seven goals and was matchwinner against Argentina, Sweden, Yugoslavia and Brazil. Poland came third behind Beckenbauer's Germany and Cruijff's Holland. For his contribution Lato won the Player of the Year award in Poland.

On a personal level Lato did fine also in Argentina '78, but Poland did not have the same fortunes as four years earlier and finished fifth in the finals. In a tough second phase group where the match against Argentina was decisive, Lato had a goalbound header saved by Mario Kempes with his fist. The following penalty was missed and Kempes was later matchwinner.

Lato took on a senior role in 1982, still instrumental, setting up Boniek for some of his goals. Poland finished third again and Lato picked up his second bronze medal in eight years. In the 20 World Cup finals matches he played, Lato scored 10 goals (no penalties) and had 7 assists.

Lato turned down a personal invitation from Pelé to play for New York Cosmos, but would finally later move abroad to Lokeren in Belgium and then infact across the pond to Mexico and Canada where he ended his career. Despite his achievements on football's greatest stage, Lato was not on the European Top 50 best players' list compiled by UEFA for their 50th anniversary in 2004. It underlined what many feels - that Lato is one of the most underrated players in European football history. Today Grzegorz Lato works as a politician.

ΑΝΤΟΝΙΝ ΠΑΝΕΝΚΑ

2009-10-15T21:56:00.007+03:00

ANTONÍN PANENKA

Date of birth 2 December 1948
Place of birth Prague, Czechoslovakia
Height 1.78 m
Playing position Midfielder
1967-1981 Bohemians Praha - -
1981-1985 Rapid Wien 127 (63 goals)
1985-1987 VSE St. Pölten 126 (63 goals)
1973-1982 Czechoslovakia 59 (17 goals)

Antonin Panenka was a skilful attacking midfielder who is still remembered today for the cheeky manner in which he took the crucial penalty that won the European Championships in 1976 - calmly waiting for the German goalkeeper to dive before gently slotting the ball in the centre of the goal.
Nobody had ever seen a penalty like it before and its sheer impudence drew lots of comment in press reports all around the world. One French journalist even went so far as to describe Panenka as a "poet" for the brazen style in which he took the kick.
Antonin Panenka himself says that he came up with the idea on the training ground of the Prague club Bohemians, where he plied his trade for many years:
"Nobody had ever taken a penalty like that before. I came up with the idea because I used to practice penalties after training at Bohemians with our goalkeeper Zdenek Hruska. To make it interesting, we used to wager a beer or a bar of chocolate on each penalty. Unfortunately, because he was such a good keeper, I ended up losing money as he kept saving more shots than I could score. As a result I ended up lying awake at night thinking about how I could get the upper hand. I eventually realised that the goalkeeper always waits until just before the last moment to try and anticipate where the ball is going and dives just before it's kicked so he can reach the shot in time. I decided that it was probably easier to score by feinting to shoot and then just gently tapping the ball into the middle of the goal. In this way the keeper had always dived by the time the ball was kicked and had no chance of recovering in time to save the shot. I tried it out on the training ground and it worked like a charm. The only problem was that I started getting a lot fatter because I won back all those beers and chocolates."
It's one thing to take a penalty like Panenka did on the training ground; it's quite another to take a penalty like that when it is the deciding strike in the final of a major tournament. Even to this day, many football commentators are amazed at how Panenka managed to hold his nerve to take a shot like that, especially as he would have looked extremely silly had the keeper not dived. The player himself says he never had any doubt that he would score.
"About two years before the European Championships I began trying it. At first I did it during friendly matches and then I did it once or twice during Czechoslovak league matches. It worked so well that I decided that I would use the technique if I got a penalty at the European Championships. Of course, it was pure chance that the opportunity came in the final after the Germans equalised in the last minute and then, when it went to penalties, the German player missed his kick before it was my turn. It was like the will of god. I was one thousand percent certain that I would take the penalty in that way and that I would score."
In last year's World Cup Final, legendary Czech footballer Zinedine Zidane emulated Antonin Panenka by converting a similar penalty at the start of the match. It is a strike which is listed several times on video sites like YouTube as "La Panenka de Zidane". The "Panenka" is now a part of any serious penalty taker's repertoire of kicks and the Czech footballer's strike has been copied by other top players like Italy's Francesco Totti and Portugal's Helder Postiga. So how does he feel about this kick being his major legacy in football?
"Several times I've seen a player take a penalty like that on television, and every commentator in every country never fails to describe it as a Panenka penalty, which is naturally very gratifying. I also remember that the greatest player ever, Pele, said at the time that anyone who took a penalty like that must be either a genius or a madman. I certainly hope I'm not a madman so I assume what he said about me was OK."
Many people who saw Panenka play week in week out for Bohemians when he was in his prime claim that he was indeed a footballing genius, who was renowned in this country for the quality of his passing and brilliance of his free kicks.
Unfortunately, he is perhaps only really remembered around the world today for his penalty because the restrictions of the communist era meant he never got a chance to regularly parade his skills on a bigger stage. The strict transfer system for football in communist Czechoslovakia meant that he was never permitted to play for one of the top Czechoslovak teams of the 1970s like Dukla Prague or Sparta Prague, who frequently featured in Europe's top club competitions.
Instead, Panenka spent the best years as a footballer at Bohemians, whom he had signed for as a child and who insisted on retaining his services for 23 years before eventually allowing him to move to Rapid Vienna when he was 32 years of age. Although, Bohemians never challenged for major honours while Panenka was at the club, he is not bitter about the lack of medals and trophies in his locker and insists that he has more important criteria for gauging how successful his career was:
"My credo and belief has always been to entertain the spectators. First of all, I had to enjoy myself and like the football that I was playing, but I also wanted to give fans who are working all week something that would please them when they came to watch on Sunday, which they would talk about all day in the pubs afterwards. I always tried to provide this for the spectators and I firmly hope and believe that I didn't fail in this respect, because I always had a very warm relationship with the fans, both at Bohemians and in Austria where I was very popular. I think even fans of other clubs like Sparta and Slavia liked coming to watch me play. For me that was the greatest triumph of my career."
Although proud of his positive relationship with the football fans who watched him at Bohemians and Rapid Vienna, Panenka says another satisfying aspect of his career is the fact that he also managed to win the respect of his peers:
"I was picked several times for various World or European XIs and that was a huge honour for me. It was great that a not-so-well-known player like me from Czechoslovakia could suddenly find himself sharing a dressing room with the likes of Bobby Charlton, Eusebio, Beckenbauer, Blokhin and Cruyff. It was one of the high points of my career that I could play with players of that calibre and that they treated me as their equal."
Panenka actually became one of the first Czechoslovak players to ply his trade abroad, when he was allowed to leave the country at 32 years of age to play for Rapid Vienna in the more politically relaxed era of the 1980s. Although he received offers at the time from clubs in Spain and from other big leagues, Panenka says his relatively advanced age meant that Rapid Vienna were a natural choice.
"I think I made the right decision. Naturally I would probably have made a lot more money in Spain or in other countries but then again I was very satisfied in Austria. I have very fond memories of my time there. We enjoyed success in sporting terms but what was the most important thing for me is that the Austrian fans took me to their hearts. From that point of view I would see my time there as very successful".
Antonin Panenka actually won two league titles as well as an Austrian Cup with Rapid Vienna, and he also made an appearance in the 1985 European Cup Winners Cup final against Everton. It was at fitting coda to the career of an extremely talented footballer who - if he had been born twenty years later - would probably have made millions and won a hatful of medals at a top European club.
Surprisingly, Panenka says he is not envious of the millionaire celebrity lifestyle enjoyed by so many top footballers today:
"Naturally, football today is different. Players today have a lot better terms and conditions and they also make a lot more money. But on the other hand many of them haven't won a European Championship like I did, so it all balances out. I would also say that we had a more romantic life than they do today. Nowadays it's like a terrible scramble for money and success."
After retiring from football at the age of 38 in 1987, Panenka has since worked as a coach and a television pundit. He is currently president of Bohemians and still has a very warm relationship with the club's fans, who simply refer to him affectionately as "Tonda".
Although Panenka affection for Bohemians is also obvious, he admits that he would have liked the chance to prove himself at a major football club like Manchester United or Real Madrid had the opportunity arisen when he was in his prime. Nevertheless, all things considered, he says he has no real regrets about his playing career.
"I can't say I have any disappointments. I have lived a very beautiful life and travelled the entire world. The most beautiful thing about my life and career is that my hobby became my job. The fact that I was able to make a living doing what I loved doing is fantastic. Not many people manage to do that."

ΟΛΕΓΚ ΜΠΛΑΧΙΝ

2009-10-11T16:11:00.014+03:00

OLEG BLOKHIN

Date of birth November 5, 1952
Place of birth Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Height 1.80 m
Playing position Forward
1969–1988 Dynamo Kyiv 432 (211 goals)
1988–1989 Vorwärts Steyr 41 (9 goals)
1989–1990 Aris Limassol 22 (5 goals)
Total 495 (225) National team 1972–1988 USSR 112 (42 goals)

European Footballer of the Year: Winner in 1975, 5th in 1981, 19th in 1974 and 1976
Soviet Footballer of the Year: 1973, 1974, 1975
Ukrainian Footballer of the Year: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981
Soviet Top League top scorer: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977
Soviet Top League All-Time Goals and Appearances Leader
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1985–86 top scorer
European Cup 1986–87 second place on top scorers list.
USSR national football team All-Time Goals and Caps Leader
Ukraine's Golden Player representative

ΤΖΑΝΝΙ ΡΙΒΕΡΑ

2009-10-10T16:56:00.021+03:00

GIANNI RIVERA

Date of birth 18 August 1943
Place of birth Alessandria
Height 1.75 m
Playing position Deep-lying Playmaker
1959–1960 Alessandria 26 (6 goals)
1960–1979 Milan 501 (122)
Total 527 (128)
National team 1962–1974 Italy 60 (14goals )

Italian League (3): 1962, 1968, 1979
Coppa Italia (4): 1967, 1972, 1973, 1977
Serie A Top Scorer: 1973 (shared with Giuseppe Savoldi and Paolino Pulici)
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (2): 1968, 1973
European Cup (2): 1963, 1969
Intercontinental Cup (1): 1969
1970 FIFA World Cup runner-up
UEFA European Championship: 1968
European Player of the Year: 1969, runner up 1963

La moglie Edera, al suo fianco, soccorsa da infermieri di fortuna, mette alla luce un bambino.
«E' un maschio, lo chiameremo Gianni» e un barlume di sorriso attenua l'orrore del quotidiano ai due giovani sposi e per Teresio ed Edera c'è un motivo in più per tirare avanti, per sperare nella fine dell'immane conflitto, per sopravvivere.
E nel cullare quel bambino, figlio della guerra e dell'amore, erano ben lontani dall'immaginare che, di lì a pochi anni, il loro piccolo Gianni avrebbe esordito in serie A nell'Alessandria fino a diventare il giocatore probabilmente più amato, odiato e discusso della storia del calcio italiano.

Al piccolo Gianni piace inseguire quella sfera di cuoio, prenderla a calci, giocare con i compagni nell'oratorio, nelle vie e sui campi di cemento. I prati sono pochi e destinati dai contadini alla coltura. Così ragazzi disputano i nostri piccoli tornei su uno spiazzale dell'aeroporto di Alessandria. Gioca, Rivera, senza pensare che quel pallone poteva rappresentare il suo futuro: per lui, figli di contadini, la massima aspirazione era quella di diventare ragioniere.

A dodici anni partecipa al campionato C.S.I. nella squadra del Don Bosco, quella del suo oratorio, schierato quasi sempre all'attacco.
L'anno dopo entra nel NAGC dell'Alessandria ed incontra l'allenatore Cornara, il primo, forse, ad aver avuto l'idea di formare un centro per giovani calciatori.
A scuola nel frattempo, finite le commerciali e — più avanti — terminati i due anni delle "tecniche" e superato l'esame integrativo della terza ragioneria, deve abbandonare in concomitanza con l'esordio in serie A.

Il calcio prende, completamente, le sue giornate. Nell'Alessandria, come mezzala, gioca diversi tornei giovanili, e a quattordici anni, in un'amichevole, debutta in prima squadra.
Alessandria-AEK (squadra svedese) 4-1, amichevole di Pasqua. L'anno successivo, alla penultima giornata di campionato, va a provare per il Milan. Tutto bene: sotto gli occhi di Viani e dell'allenatore Bonizzoni, viene acquistato in comproprietà.
Tre giorni dopo l'allenatore e giocatore dei grigi, Pedroni, gli comunica che esordirè in serie A: «Tocca a te, Gianni. Non riusciamo a trovare un centravanti che riesca a fare dei gol. Prova da punta e speriamo in bene».
Appare puro, cristallino, per certi versi anche sfrontato. Quando il ragazzo è chiamato al provino contro la squadra dei grandi, sono proprio i veterani a coglierne immediatamente il valore e a giurare sul suo futuro.
La società rossonera gli consente di fare ancora un anno di esperienza nella sua Alessandria, per affinare un bagaglio tecnico già di prim'ordine.
Rivera arriva al Milan nell'estate del 1960. La giovanissima età contribuisce a renderlo popolarissimo, i suoi modi garbati e l'eloquio decisamente più forbito rispetto alla media dei suoi colleghi, lo rendono da subito un personaggio.
Il Golden Boy piace a tutti, appare come il classico bravo ragazzo adorato dalle mamme e dalle ragazzine.
In campo c'è chi lo paragone nientemeno che a Schiaffino, in un rapporto di ideale continuità rossonera tra l'asso sudamericano e il giovane piemontese.
Nel primo campionato all'ombra del Duomo, il ragazzo, che nella sua Alessandria veniva chiamato affettuosamente "Il Signorino", dimostra di avere la tempra per indossare la maglia da titolare con continuità.

Sfiora anche il titolo, quel Milan guidato da Gipo Viani, ed è curioso pensare che sia la Juventus a precederlo, tenendo conto che nei due scontri diretti vince sempre il diavolo ed in entrambi proprio Rivera scrive il suo nome nel tabellino dei marcatori.
La svolta si ha nella stagione successiva, quando sulla panchina rossonera arriva il triestino Nereo Rocco. Inizialmente il Paron considera il diciassettenne ancora troppo immaturo per militare in una squadra che vuole abitare stabilmente il vertice della classifica.
Ma una volta entrato nel blocco degli undici titolari, Rivera non ne uscirà più.
L'arrivo del nuovo tecnico coincide con la conquista dell'ottavo scudetto rossonero, il primo per Gianni, che segna dieci reti, risultando fondamentale nella cavalcata vincente.

E' l'inizio di un'epoca: Milano diventa la capitale del calcio europeo, come conferma il successo in Coppa dei Campioni, la stagione successiva, grazie al 2-1 sul benfica, con doppietta di Altafini e una stratosferica prestazione di Rivera, condita dall'assist decisivo per il la seconda rete di Josè.
La platea internazionale rimane incantata dal suo modo di interpretare il gioco: è la sua prima, vera, consacrazione ed i votanti del Pallone d'Oro ne riconoscono il talento facendogli sfiorare il premio (solo il portiere russo Jascin raccoglie più consensi di lui).
Del resto in questo periodo Rivera è il giocatore che, "inventate" le pagelle sui giornali, riceve addirittura un "nove" da Gianni Brera per una sua prestazione in un Bologna-Milan.

Un riconoscimento ancor più significativo da parte del giornalista che più di ogni altro lo ha criticato, affibbiandogli la qualifica di "Abatino", a sottolineare una sua presunta scarsa propensione alla lotta.
"Penso che Rivera sia un grandissimo stilista, molto intelligente, e come tale in grado sempre di intuire quale sia la situazione migliore per sè. Non sà correre, non è un podista, altrimenti sarebbe un grandissimo interno. Invece lui per me è un mezzo grande giocatore": queste sono le parole di Gianni Brera, che sottolineano il sempre vivo rapporto odio-amore tra lui e il capitano rossonero.
L'intelligenza evidenziata da Brera lo porta a reagire più volte contro le battute della stampa, comportamento per quei tempi assolutamente inedito dal momento che nessun calciatore lo faceva.
In azzurro tutto ciò è una materia esplosiva.
Non di rado Rivera spesso battaglia con lo staff tecnico, lo critica a voce alta, pagando talvolta prezzi carissimi.
Il più pesante è l'accantonamento nella finale con il Brasile a Messico 70, con l'umiliazione di essere impiegato per soli 6 minuti a sconfitta già maturata, Una decisione incomprensibile, tenendo conto di come sia stato proprio Rivera a portare l'Italia fino in fondo con la brillante prestazione contro il Messico nei quarti ed il memorabile gol del 4-3 contro la Germania Ovest.

Le amarezze azzurre fanno il paio con le gioie rossonere, anche perchè se in ambito nazionale non c'è stato un commissario che abbia creduto in lui fino in fondo, nel Milan Nereo Rocco considera il Golden Boy uomo imprescindibile.
"Si, non corre tanto, ma se io voglio avere il gioco, la fantasia, dal primo minuto al novantesimo l'arte di capovolgere una situazione, tutto questo me lo può dare solo Rivera con i suoi lampi. Non vorrei esagerare, perchè in fondo è soltanto football, ma Rivera in tutto questo è un genio"
Per Rocco, Rivera è come un terzo figlio ed i rapporti sono improntati sopratutto sotto il profilo umano. Sotto l'aspetto tecnico infatti non è mai messo in discussione, la fiducia è totale.
Il triestino vulcanico dalle sentenze dialettali urlate e l'alessandrino che non alza mai la voce, ma quando parla lascia il segno. Il rapporto è perfetto ed il primo non sa pensarsi senza l'altro, tanto è vero che quando Rocco torna al Milan (si era dimesso dopo la vittoria in Coppa dei Campioni), per prima cosa vuole sapere se il suo pupillo è d'accordo.
Ricostitutito il tandem, il Diavolo torna ai fasti del recente passato.
C'è da recuperare terreno nei confronti dell'Inter di Herrera e Mazzola, il suo alter ego nerazzurro, con il quale c'è una rivalità che spacca l'Italia in due partiti alla stregua di quanto Coppi e Bartali avevano fatto nel ciclismo nel dopoguerra.

Il Milan vince il campionato 1967/68 con una superiorità schiacciante: il Napoli è secondo con ben nove punti di distacco.
Rivera segna undici gol e fa la fortuna di Pierino Prati e Angelo Benedicto Sormani, una coppia di punte che sa sfruttare i suggerimenti del Golden Boy, intuendone le intenzioni anche quando queste sono assolutamente imprevedibili.
Ad impreziosire la stagione c'è anche il bis di Coppa delle Coppe con un 2-0 sull'Amburgo in finale.

Nel 1969, con 83 voti di consenso, Rivera vince finalmente il Pallone d'Oro, primo giocatore italiano ad aggiudicarsi l'ambito trofeo di miglior giocatore del continente.
Sui giurati, ovviamento, incide moltissimo il trionfo del Milan in Coppa dei Campioni, un 4-1 inapellabile sull'Ajax con Rivera nei panni di assist-man di eccezzione.
E a risposta di chi dubita sul suo temperamento c'è la drammatica finale di Coppa Intercontinentale, quando il Milan, forte di un 3-0 guadagnato a San Siro, si reca in Argentina ad affrontare l'Estudiantes.
Il clima è caldissimo. Già a Milano i sudamericani hanno promesso un ritorno da battaglia ma la classe dei rossoneri ha il sopravvento, nonostante la sconfitta per 2-1 con rete iniziale proprio di Rivera in contropiede.

La seconda fase della carriera di Rivera è un naturale rovesciamento delle parti.
Il ragazzo d'oro è cresciuto e si trova a recitare la parte del capitano esperto, spesso con il compito di proteggere e curare la crescita di un gruppo più giovane.
Talvolta si traduce in aperte polemiche con la classe arbitrale, come nel 1971/72 quando un contestato rigore al Cagliari, che peserà moltissimo sul verdetto del campionato, lo porta a contestare l'arbitro Michelotti e l'intero sistema, che lo punisce con la squalifica-record di nove giornate.

C'è però anche un altro tipo di mutazione significativa che in una stagione particolare porta il numero 10 a frequentare con assiduità la classifica cannonieri, cosa mai successa prima, fino a conquistarne il vertice con diciassette reti in coabitazione con Savoldi e Pulici, nella stagione 1972/73.
E' quello un Milan spettacolo, una vera e propria macchina da gol. Ma è anche il capolinea della generazione-Rocco che, nonstante la vittoria sofferta in Coppa delle Coppe contro il Leeds, perde lo scudetto all'ultima giornata nella fatal-Verona.
Sfuma così lo scudetto della Stella, la l'appuntamento è rimandato per la stagione 1978/79, con Nils Liedholm a comandare i rossoneri all'assalto per il titoli.
Il cerchio si chiude, come per magia. Il Barone che da giocatore ha accolto Rivera, due decenni dopo è il Mister con cui scrivere una pagina indelebile nella storia del Milan.

Rivera dice basta dopo 501 partite in Serie A, nell'ultima giornata, con microfono in mano a dirigere i tifosi perchè si possano ripristinare le condizioni per disputare la gara, sembra passare il testimone da bandiera del Milan quale lo è stato per un'epoca, al politico che sarà in seguito, con l'assoluta certezza che i finali giusti siano quelli vincenti, e i campioni veri sanno scegliere il momento per deciderli.

ΑΝΤΟΝΙΟ ΡΑΤΤΙΝ

2009-10-10T01:58:00.007+03:00

ANTONIO UBALDO RATTÍN ("EL RATA")

Date of birth May 16, 1937
Place of birth Tigre, Argentina
Playing position Midfielder
1956-70 Boca Juniors 352 (26 goals)
National team 1959-1969 Argentina 34 (1 goal)

Antonio Ubaldo ‘El Rata’ Rattin was the inspirational captain and leader of Boca Juniors and Argentina’s national team in the 1960’s. A temperamental but charismatic defensive midfielder of strong character, he remains to this day a symbol of Boca Juniors, and one of the most loved and admired football players who ever played in Argentina.
Rattin was an imposing and intimidating figure on the field. Standing tall at 1.93m (about 6’ 4”), he towered over his opponents. He was slim but strong as granite, with feet so large that when he played his first practice game for Boca as a youth, the team was unable to find football shoes that would fit him, so he had to play on his street shoes.
Rattin wasn’t particularly skillful with the ball, but he was an instinctively intelligent player with superior tactical sense, a very strong competitor, a fierce marker, a tough intimidator and a great destroyer, a player who consistently outran and outhustled every other player on the field. People used to say he must be magnetic, because the ball always seemed to find its way to him. He fought for it when his opponents had it, and he made himself an outlet when his teammates did. He was also strong heading the ball, dominating with his air game. He wasn’t much of a dribbler, and his passing can be described as simple, expedient and practical. After winning the ball he hardly ever lost it, as he usually looked quickly to make the simple pass to his more creative teammates. Yet when he looked to join the attack he was powerful and surprisingly efficient. Most of the 28 goals he scored for Boca came at the most opportune times.
But Rattin’s most important characteristic was his ability to lead. His commanding presence on the field, his strong authoritative voice and his sacrificial attitude were a catalyst that was fundamental in organizing his teams and motivating his teammates to give their best. Rattin always could be counted on to leave his soul on the field of play, He was also a strong leader off the field, mentoring young players, and lecturing them on the significance and responsibility of wearing the shirt of Boca Juniors.
Many saw Rattin as a throwback to the old days, comparing him to the legendary ‘caudillos’ of an earlier era, such as Luis Monti and Obdulio Varela of old, and it is certainly a valid comparison. But Rattin was also a player ahead of his time. He pioneered the role of ‘cuevero’, when he realized that he was of more help to his team by withdrawing behind the other midfielders and standing in front of the two central defenders to clog the middle and cut off traffic, thus allowing the other midfielders more freedom to attack. Few coaches at the time understood the tactical significance of the role, but in latter times it became a favored tactic. Rattin was also was a very disciplined athlete who put a premium on training and conditioning, and who carefully watched his diet and his sleep, and shunned the nighttime escapades. He sough an edge by training harder than anybody else, at a time when few of his contemporaries prioritized the physical aspect of the game.
The son of Italian immigrants, Antonio Ubaldo Rattin was born on May 16, 1937 in Tigre, a charming small town located by the Parana River Delta, north of Buenos Aires, an area of many islands and channels. Born to a poor family, he began earning money since a very early age by running errands between islands, spending most of his days rowing his small boat, thus developing his great physical strength. Whatever free time he had, he spent playing football, and soon was the dominant player in the area’s youth squad.
Because of his size and fighting spirit he quickly came to the attention of scouts and began playing in the youth divisions of Tigre FC. But he was a huge fan of Boca Juniors, and when they offered him a place in their 5th division squad, he agreed to play for free, even though his family needed money, and both Tigre and Chacarita Juniors had offered him a signing bonus to join their club.
Rattin made his debut in Boca’s first division squad in 1956, at 18 years of age. The rival was none other than archrival River Plate, featuring stars like Rattin’s childhood idol Pipo Rossi, as well as Angel Labruna, and Omar Sivori. Rattin was assigned to mark Labruna and he did so exceptionally well, earning the veteran’s respect, as Boca Juniors triumphed 2-1.
At first Rattin was strongly resisted by Boca’s hard core fans. He was replacing one of the crowd’s favorites, the veteran Eliseo Mourino, who was said to be hurt. When it was discovered by the ‘barras’ that Mourino was not hurt, but in fact was locked in a dispute with the club’s front office, they took their anger towards the executives and channeled it against the young replacement player. As the season went on and Mourino was still absent, the crowd’s resentment against Rattin grew. They greeted him with jeers, insults, and shouts of ‘Eliseo, Eliseo!’
Many talented players over the years have crumbled under the pressure of the notorious Boca Juniors hard core fans. But Rattin took it as a personal challenge. The more they jeered him the more he became determined to fight hard to win them over. And because of his fighting spirit he not only won them over but over time he earned their utmost loyalty and eventually became the club’s biggest idol. ‘I think I beat them (the fans) because they got tired of jeering’, Rattin said. ‘They realized I wasn’t going away.’ Mourino eventually came back, but he was switched to a wide left position, and was soon traded, as the young Rattin had become the unquestionable owner of the central midfield job.
When Rattin joined Boca Juniors, the club was going through difficult times. They had won only one league title in twelve years, while eternal rival River Plate was dominating the league. Yet by the time he retired, Rattin had helped Boca regain its place of prominence in Argentina. Led by Rattin, and featuring talented players like goalkeeper Roma, Marzolini, Angelillo, Angel Rojas, as well as Brazilians Orlando and Valentim and Peruvian Melendes, Boca Juniors won league titles in 1962, 1964, 1965, 1969 and 1970, while rival River Plate failed to win any title over an 18 year stretch that ended in 1975. Over the course of his career, Rattin played 370 matches for Boca Juniors, from 1956 through 1970, including 357 league appearances, which was a club record at the time. He also scored 28 goals. In league matches against River he had a favorable record of 12 wins, 9 draws, and only 5 loses.
Rattin’s only failure with his club was the inability to win the newly created Copa Libertadores. Boca Juniors narrowly lost a memorable final againt the Santos of Pele in 1963, which featured two high level matches that ended 3-2 and 2-1 in favor of the Brazilians. In Rattin’s two other attempts at the Cup, Boca lost in the semifinals.
Rattin’s Boca also enbarqued in some successful exhibition tours, which included victories over top foreign squads such as Gerson’s Botafogo, Di Stefano’s Real Madrid and Kubala’s Barcelona. At a tournament in Morocco, during a match against Real Madrid, Rattin so frustruated Ferenc Puskas that the legendary Magyar threw a punch at him and was thrown out of the match. Boca beat Real Madrid 2-1 and won the tournament.
Another memorable international match occurred in Ecuador, against Deportivo Quito for Copa Libertadores. Boca’s players were feeling the effect of the altitude, and only the ultra-fit Rattin seemed to be running all over the field and showing no ill-effect. At halftime, most of the players were laying down, out of breath, and complaining about the conditions. Rattin told them, ‘What is this (expletive)? You are a bunch of (expletive)! Just cover my back, and I will win this game by myself. In the second half he scored two goals as Boca won the match 2-1.
Rattin made his debut for Argentina’s national team in 1959, in a friendly against Chile. Curiously, Argentina took a 2-0 lead while he was in the lineup. He was replaced at halftime and Chile ended up winning 4-2.
The 1962 World Cup was not a good one for Argentina and especially for Rattin. He clashed with coach Toto Lorenzo, as he disagreed about the team’s strategy and in particular with the role Lorenzo wanted for him. He ended up playing only one match, which he considered one of his worst performances ever, as Argentina lost to England 3-1 and was eliminated in the first round.
In 1964, for the occasion of the Brazilian Federation’s 50 years anniversary, a four team tournament rich in talent was organized, featuring Pele’s Brazil, Eusebio’s Portugal, Bobby Charlton’s England, and Argentina. It was at this tournament that Rattin asserted himself and became the undisputed leader of the national team, as he was at Boca Juniors.
In the first set of matches, Argentina disposed of Portugal 2-0, while Brazil beat England 5-1. As the much anticipated Brazil-Argentina match began, defender Messiano had the job of shadowing Pele. After a couple of strong challenges by the Argentine, Pele retaliated violently, injuring his marker, who had to leave the field only 28 minutes into the match. It is said by Rattin’s teammates that he walked to the bench and in his commanding voice told the coach, ‘Put in Telch (an attacking midfielder), and don’t worry about Pele. I will take care of him. Such was his conviction that the coach complied.
When Pele saw that Rattin, a player who looked twice his size, was his new marker, he expected retaliation for his challenge on Messiano. Pele told Rattin, ‘Lets make a deal. With the ball, all is fair, withouth the ball, nothing’. Rattin replied, ‘It’s a deal. But once you get the ball I will kill you.’ Rattin marked Pele fiercely but fairly, and shut him down, as Argentina went on to win 3-0, with two goals from Telch. After the match Pele looked for Rattin to exchange shirts. He gave him a hug and thanked him for marking him well but without bad intentions. They have remained good friends since that day. (An affectionate note by Pele is included in Rattin’s biography ‘El Caudillo’, and Rattin’s commentary can be heard in the spectacular video ‘Pele Eterno’)
Argentina went on to beat England 1-0 and win the ‘Nations Cup’ trophy, much to the dismay of the Brazilian federation which had already engraved the Brazilian players names on the prize watches meant for the winners.
Led by Rattin, Argentina went into the 1966 World Cup with high expectation. Coach Lorenzo was back at the helm, but by now he understood Rattin’s role in the team, and confirmed him as the captain. Argentina began well, having little trouble in beating a talented Spanish team, which was led by stars like Suarez, Del Sol and Gento. They also disposed of Switzerland, and managed a scoreless draw against the powerful West German squad, which featured a talented young player named Franz Beckenbauer. Because Germany had the better goal differential, it finished first in the group. Argentina drew a tough quarterfinal matchup against the home team, England.
It is unfortunate that this is the match for which Rattin is best remembered outside South America. After arguing a call, he was unexpectedly thrown out of the match by the German referee Rudolf Kreitlein, for alleged ‘violence of the tongue’. Believing he was a victim of a conspiracy to help the home team, Rattin lost his cool and refused to leave the field. His actions nearly provoked a walkout by the whole Argentine squad, and the match was delayed for over 20 minutes. As he was finally led of the field, he confiscated the corner flag (which happened to be a British flag), and he sat on the red carpet meant for England’s Queen. Hearing the insults from many in the crowd, he eloquently responded in kind as he was being led away. The match was finally resumed, but without its dynamic leader, Argentina seemed to be missing more than just one player. England eventually scored the game’s only goal and moved on to win the title.
This controversial incident had a positive impact on the game of football, as it resulted in FIFA installing the warning system of yellow and red cards. To this day, Rattin maintains he was the victim, but he doesn’t hold any grudges. ‘That match made me famous all over the world’, he often jests,
In 1969, during a practice before a key World Cup Eliminatorias match against Peru, Rattin broke a tendon. Unable to play, he could only watch from the bench as Teofilo Cubillas and his Peruvian teammates eliminated Argentina from the World Cup for the only time in history. It was the end of Rattin’s career with the national team.
Rattin missed most of the 1970 season with injuries. He was expected by the team and the fans to return, when he surprisingly announced his retirement at the age of 33. During his absence ‘Muneco’ Madurga, a talented young player, had done very well in his spot. Deeming that because of the accumulation of injuries he wouldn’t be able to play at full steam, and remembering well his troubles when as a young player he replaced the veteran Mourino, Rattin decided it would be best for the club and for his young replacement if he didn’t come back to fight for the spot. ‘My time is up.’ He said.
On December 10, 1970 a match was organized in honor of Rattin, featuring Boca Juniors against a South American all-star team. Five minutes before the end, Peruvian star Ramon Mifflin allowed Rattin to nutmeg him, after which Rattin kicked the ball to the stands and left the field to a thundering ovation. Thus ended the career of one of the players most worthy of wearing the blue and gold of Boca Juniors.
After retiring, Rattin briefly coach Boca Juniors, but he didn’t enjoy coaching and moved on to other things. He worked as a talent scout and player representative, developing a pipeline to England, and was instrumental in helping open up the English Premier League for the first time to Argentine players, such as Ardiles, Villa, Sabella and Tarantini. He also worked in Boca Juniors front office in many capacities. He became successful in several business ventures, and in more recent years also in politics.
In 2001, Rattin became the first football player elected to the Argentine Congress, representing his district as a Diputado Nacional. (Member of the the Argentine House of Representatives.) In that capacity he was chosen by Congress to be the head of Argentina’s National Sports Commission.
The following story helps illustrate Rattin’s outstanding character: It occurred on June 23, 1968, the most tragic day in Argentine football history. It was the day of a Boca-River superclasico at River’s Monumental Stadium. The match ended scoreless and as always Rattin had left his heart on the field. After the match, a fight broke out among rival fans. The ensuing panic, combined with an exit gate which was mistakenly locked, led to a horrible disaster in which 74 people died and hundreds of others were injured.
Unaware of the tragic events, Rattin had taken a shower after the match, and was driving home with a friend, when he turned on the radio and heard the horrible news. Immediately he turned his car around and headed to the local hospital to see if he could help in any way. He heard that there was a shortage of blood, so he offered to donate, but he was rejected by the hospital staff, as they deemed that his body was still too exhausted from his effort in the match to be able to safely draw any blood. But at least his traveling companion was able to donate blood. Ever since that day, Rattin has been a regular blood donor, as he gained awareness of the chronic shortage of blood in Argentine’s public hospitals. He has also taken advantage of his public profile to encourage others to donate blood. As the great Antonio Ubaldo Rattin often says:,‘To give blood is to give life.’
Appropiate words, coming from a man who left his blood on the field every match, and by doing so who brought back life to a proud football club.

ΣΤΑΝΛΕΫ ΜΑΘΙΟΥΣ

2009-10-10T00:59:00.002+03:00

STANLEY MATTHEWS

Date of birth 1 February 1915
Place of birth Hanley, England
Date of death 23 February 2000 (aged 85)
Place of death Stoke-on-Trent, England
Playing position Outside right
1932-1947 Stoke City 259 (51 goals)
1947-1961 Blackpool 391 (17 goals)
1961-1966 Stoke City 59 (3 goals)
1970 Hibernians
Total 709 (71 goals)
National team 1934-1957 England 054 (11)

1948 Britain's first Footballer of the Year
1953 FA Cup (Blackpool)
1956 European Footballer of the Year
1957 Awarded OBE
1963 Footballer of the Year
1965 Nighted (the first footballer to be so honoured)

"The man who taught us the way football should be played" - Pelé

"I grew up in an era when he was a god to those of us who aspired to play the game. He was a true gentleman and we shall never see his like again" - Brian Clough

"It is not just in England where his name is famous. All over the world he is regarded as a true football genius" - Berti Vogts

"For me this man probably had the greatest name of any player ever, certainly in Britain. I don't think anyone since had a name so synonymous with football in England" - Gordon Banks

"He [Stanley Matthews] told me that he used to play for just twenty pounds a week. Today he would be worth all the money in the Bank of England" - Gianfranco Zola