World football is suffering! César Luis Menotti, Argentine coach who won the World Championship in 1978 with the Albiceleste team, died on May 5, 2024. Nicknamed “El Flaco”, Menotti left an incomparable legacy in South American football thanks to his time at clubs such as Boca Jrs, Newells Old’ Boys and Independiente. Do you want to know more about the strategist who decided to exclude Diego Maradona in the 82 World Cup in Spain? Well, I’ll tell you in this note What Mag has for you.
One more soccer star says goodbye to us in 2024. According to a statement from the AFA, former Argentine national team coach César Luis Menotti died on May 5 at the age of 85.
His pragmatic style in the game made “El Flaco” one of the most powerful voices in world tactics. He won the first world championship with Argentina in 1978, establishing himself as a legend of gaucho soccer.
WHAT DID CÉSAR LUIS MENOTTI DIE FROM?
The publication of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced the sad fact that mourns football worldwide through a publication in X..
“#ProfundoPain 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 of @Argentina”reads the publication.
At the moment, the causes of “El Flaco”’s death are unknown, although it is not ruled out that it was a natural death due to his advanced age.
WHO WAS CÉSAR LUIS MENOTTI?
Menotti was born in Rosario, the hometown of stars Lionel Messi and Ángel Di María. He managed to stand out as a player for Huracán of Argentina, but he transcended globally as a coach, especially after obtaining the first star for the Albicelestes in 1978 against the Netherlands.
He coached Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Peñarol, Rosario Central, among other clubs.
He was key in Lionel Scaloni’s process as Argentina coach and has been recognized as a precursor of the modern style at the end of the last century.
For Menotti, football was divided into “space, time and deception”. But for those of us who love the most popular sport in the world, you were soccer. Rest in peace, “Flaco”.
PERSONAL DATA OF CÉSAR LUIS MENOTTI
- Full name: César Luis Menotti
- Nickname: El Flaco
- Birth: Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina, November 5, 1938
- Argentina country
- Argentina Nationality
- Died: Buenos Aires, Argentina, May 5, 2024 (85 years old)
- Height: 1.93 m (6′ 4″)
- Coaching career: Sport: Soccer Debut as coach: 1970 (Newell’s Old Boys) Retired as coach: 2007 (Tecos)
- Career as a player: Position: Midfielder Debut as a player: 1960 (Rosario Central) Sports retirement: 1970 (Juventus) Matches (goals): National team: 6 (1) Clubs: 149 (69)
THE BEST PHRASES OF CÉSAR LUIS MENOTTI
Menotti was not just a football coach, but also a philosopher of the game. Throughout his life, “El Flaco” left us several phrases to put in a box. Some of them are:
- “Football is space, time and deception”
- “Football is so generous that it prevented Bilardo from dedicating himself to medicine”
- “I am very sick of some things, like music. Music can help me, I am a diver of the most difficult places to find great musicians who do not have space today.”
- “Football is played for efficiency. Beauty comes from things well done”.
REACTIONS TO THE DEATH OF CÉSAR LUIS MENOTTI
Below are some of the reactions in the world of football to the death of César Luis Menotti:
- Sergio Aguero: “He was one of my first technicians and the one who marked me the most. Thank you for everything you taught and what you gave to Argentine and world football. Your legacy is immense. Goodbye, Flaco”wrote in X.
- Lionel Messi: “He left us one of the great references of our football. Condolences to his family and loved ones, RIP”he noted on Instagram.
- Lionel Scaloni, technical director of the Argentina National Team: “A football master left us. Thank you for those endearing talks in which you left us traces. See you always, Flaco dear”.
- Javier Milei, president of Argentina: “Deep pain at the departure of a leader of a group that has given one of the greatest joys to the country. Goodbye, Skinnywrote in X.
WHAT WAS THE LAST PUBLIC APPEARANCE OF CÉSAR LUIS MENOTTI?
César Luis Menotti appeared publicly for the last time on March 13, 2024, the date on which he gave an interview to radio Splendid. In that conversation he praised Ángel Di María.
“He is one of the best footballers in the history of Argentine football. And if not, check where he played, how he played. Ask his colleagues. For me, Di María is of such importance in our history that it would hurt me a lot if he did not enjoy recognition for everything he did. He never sold smoke, never, ever. I have great appreciation for him. And I have no relationship with him.”he stated.
THE WELLING OF CÉSAR LUIS MENOTTI
The last farewell to the coach took place on Tuesday, May 7 at the property Lionel Andrés Messi from Ezeiza, specifically in the futsal microstadium, where family, friends and prominent sports personalities attended.
