César Luis Menotti, Argentina’s 1978 world champion coach and central figure in the country’s football, has died at the age of 85, the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) reported this Sunday on its official account on X.
“The Argentine Football Federation regrets to inform with great sadness the death of César Luis Menotti, current director of National Teams and former world champion coach of Argentina,” said the statement
#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
Born in the city of Rosario, Menotti was a player in the 1960s, playing for clubs such as Rosário Central, Racing, Boca Juniors and Pelé’s Santos. He then stood out as a coach, becoming champion with Huracán (in 1973) before commanding the national team. Argentina, where, in addition to winning the World Cup in 1978 and managing it in the 1982 World Cup, he is recognized as a pioneer in the professionalization of the team.
He was also a champion as coach of Barcelona, in Spain, and currently held the position of director of national teams at the AFA.
At halftime of the Argentine league final between Estudiantes and Vélez this Sunday, his death was announced and the fans who filled the stands at the Santiago del Estero stadium held a round of applause.
In turn, the Argentine president, Javier Milei, expressed on his X account his “deep pain at the departure of the leader of a group that gave one of the greatest joys to the country.”
Source: Gazetaesportiva
Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
