by Salvatore Riggio
Argentine football in mourning: Cesar Luis Menotti, known as El Flaco, coach of the Seleccion world champion in 1978, passes away at the age of 85, the title won at the time of the dictatorship
Football loses a man like Cesar Luis Menotti, who gave Argentina their first World Cup title, the home one in 1978, thanks to the exploits of Mario Kempes.
“El Flaco”, this is his nickname, was 85 years old and at the beginning of April he had been admitted to a hospital in Buenos Aires due to his precarious health conditions. As a player he won two championships with Boca Juniors and Santos, as a coach he triumphed in the Spanish Super Cup on the bench of Barcelona. In ’74 he was entrusted with the leadership of the national team and four years later, as mentioned, he led it to win its first World Cup. In 1979, however, the triumph at the Under 20 World Cup with Diego Armando Maradona’s Argentina.
For him also an experience in Italy: eight days as manager of Sampdoria in 1997. It is rumored that he was chosen by the Blucerchiati club after the roll of a dice. Except that his adventure in Serie A ended two months later. Results below expectations, null relationships with the team, exaggerated demands in the transfer market.
It was said that he was unable to combine players like Klinsmann with Tovalieri in attack, but he remains the coach of the Albiceleste’s first world title, the one won during the times of the dictatorship.
The Argentine Football Federation broke the news of the passing of the Seleccion’s symbol: «The AFA – we read in a note -, through its president Claudio Tapia, expresses deep condolences for the passing of Cesar Luis Menotti, former coach of the national team Argentinian who currently held the role of general director of the national teams, and sends his warmest hug to his family and loved ones.”
May 5, 2024 (modified May 5, 2024 | 10:17 pm)
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