With Menotti at the helm: The day that 22 players changed the history of Argentina
JM González
May 7, 2024

Argentina is in mourning. The South American country mourns the departure of one of its great idols. César Luis Menotti died at the age of 85, the coach who led the Albiceleste team in winning its first world title. Farewell to one of the men who changed the history of football in his country.

In recent days ‘Flaco’ had not been feeling well, with health problems that even led to him being hospitalized on more than one occasion. The death finally occurred on Sunday, May 5, the same day that the final of the Argentine tournament was played in which Estudiantes de La Plata was crowned after beating Vélez on penalties.

And when it comes to cups, Menotti was one who knew how to raise some in his career. As a player he only won the League in 1965 with Boca Juniors. As a coach, more successes would come. The title obtained in 1973 by the historic Huracán del ‘Flaco’ would catapult him directly to the Argentine National Team, with whom he would win the 1978 World Cup and the 1979 Youth World Cup, with a certain Diego Maradona as a figure.

HISTORY

The great feat that will surely remain in Argentine history was that of 1978, when the political scene in the country, with a dictatorship that began two years ago with the military man Jorge Videla at the head, called for distraction from the horrors that were coming to light. light at that time. The World Cup was held in Argentina and Menotti would be the coach in charge of leading the 22 players who would make history as the first world champions for the Andeans.

Menotti led the Argentine team since 1974, when the AFA was taken over by David Bracuto, the same man who was president of Huracán when César led the ‘Globo’ to glory. Four years of process until reaching the 78 World Cup, where a prodigious team led by Mario Kempes as a scorer would win the World Cup at the Monumental Stadium, after beating the Netherlands 3-1.

Menotti’s history as Argentina’s coach ended in 1982, when Carlos Bilardo took over and would begin another successful process for the albiceleste that would culminate with the 1986 world title. ‘Flaco’ would later coach Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid in Spain; to Boca, River, Independiente and Rosario in their country; to Sampdoria in Italy, to Peñarol in Uruguay and to Puebla and Tecos in Mexico until his retirement in 2007.

Of course, later he would have a last chapter with the albiceleste, this time as Director of National Teams of the AFA between 2019 and 2023. In that process Argentina would return to the top of the world with Lionel Scaloni as coach and with Menotti as great support for the work of the young coach when his continuity was doubted. The rest would be history: a Copa América title in 2021, the Finalissima against Italy in 2022 and the Qatar World Cup straight into the Albiceleste’s showcases.

FOOTBALL CRYES ‘EL FLACO’

After hearing the news, several Argentine and world soccer figures expressed their condolences. “One of the great references of our football left us”, Lionel Messi published. “Goodbye, dear César. Thank you for everything you gave to Argentina and to football in general”, said Ubaldo Fillol.

Even President Javier Milei spoke out, expressing “deep pain at the departure of the leader of a group that has given one of the greatest joys to the country”.

In the final between Estudiantes and Vélez, tributes were also paid to Menotti. In addition, several Argentine clubs expressed their condolences and gratitude for the legacy on social networks.

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