Cesar Luis Menotti dies, Argentina mourns the coach who brought the first football World Cup
Argentina mourns the passing of Cesar Luis Menotti, technical commissioner of the national team that was world champion in 1978, at 85 years old. The announcement came from the Argentine Football Federation, which in 2019 had appointed him technical director of the national teams. “Afa, through its President Claudio Tapia, deeply regrets the death of César Luis Menotti, former coach of the Argentine national team and currently General Director of the National Teams, and sends his warmest embrace to his family and loved ones”, the words of the Argentine Football Federation.
#DeepDolor The Argentine Football Association regrets to report with great sadness the death of César Luis Menotti, current Director of National Teams and former World Champion coach. @Argentina.
Goodbye, Flaco dear! pic.twitter.com/mKEPPUzo2l
— AFA (@afa) May 5, 2024
Cesar Luis Menotti, who was Flaco, has died: coach of Argentina’s 1978 World Cup
Italian origins – the family was from Ancona – after a career as a footballer between Rosario Central, Racing, Boca and also Santos in Brazil, Cesar Luis Menotti began coaching in the early Seventies, leading Huracan to a historic title. In ’74 he was entrusted with the leadership of the national team and four years later he led them to win their team first World Cup – with Mario Kempes star of that team – won in the tournament played in Argentina. An edition of the World Cup that the Italians remember for the victory in the group of Bearzot’s Azzurri (then fourth, but future champions in Spain in 1982) thanks to Roberto Bettega’s goal. Argentina which won the final in Buenos Aires 3-1 against the Netherlands (a brace from Kempes and a goal from Bertoni).
In 1979 Menotti also led the Argentina of a young Maradona (called up to the senior national team as early as 1977, but out of the ’78 World Cup because he was deemed not yet ready) to success in the Under 20 World Cup while he remained at the helm of the senior national team until 1982.
Then various experiences at club level, also in Europe: Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and, in 1997, Sampdoria in Italy, an experience which however ended with his dismissal after just 8 days.