Amadeo Carrizo

The Argentine pioneer who invented the modern goalkeeper role.

Amadeo Raúl Carrizo Larretape, known simply as Amadeo, was an Argentine football goalkeeper and manager born on June 12, 1926. He is widely regarded as a pioneer who revolutionized the position by innovating techniques and strategies that changed how goalkeepers played. In 1999, the IFFHS ranked him as the best South American keeper of the 20th century. Carrizo was the first Argentine goalkeeper to wear gloves, following Italy's Giovanni Viola, and he became the first to regularly leave his penalty area to defend or use goal kicks to start counterattacks. His unique style inspired future legends like Hugo Gatti, René Higuita, José Luis Chilavert, and more recently, Manuel Neuer.

Quick Facts

Full name: Amadeo Raúl Carrizo Larretape
Born: 12 June 1926
Birthplace: Rufino, Argentina
Died: 20 March 2020
Place of death: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Position: Goalkeeper
Total caps: 576

Lore & Background

Carrizo's international journey was marked by both triumphs and harsh realities. He played for Argentina with significant success, particularly against Brazil, but also suffered a crushing 6–1 defeat against Czechoslovakia during the 1958 FIFA World Cup. A major high point came in 1964 when he won the Taça das Nações tournament held in Brazil to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Brazilian Football Confederation, featuring teams like England and Portugal. Domestically, his career at River Plate was defined by longevity and record-breaking performances. On July 14, 1968, the 42-year-old Carrizo set two records in a match against Atlético Vélez: most official matches for the club (521) and the longest run without conceding a goal at 769 minutes. This streak ended in that same match via a header from an 18-year-old Carlos Bianchi.

Reader's Guide

Carrizo's influence extended beyond his playing days into management. In 1973, he managed Deportivo Armenio from the Province of Buenos Aires, leading them to promotion to the Primera C league. That same year, he returned to Colombia to manage the first division team Once Caldas (then known as Cristal Caldas) in Manizales. His playing career concluded at age 42 years and 7 months, making him one of the oldest players in Argentine top-flight history at the time, ranking fourth behind Pedro Catalano, Edgardo Andrada, and Hugo Gatti. The IFFHS later honored his legacy by including him in the South America Men's Team of All Time and the Argentina All Times Dream Team in 2021.

Did You Know?

Carrizo was the first Argentine goalkeeper to wear gloves, adopting the practice from Italian keeper Giovanni Viola.
In 1969, he played one single match each for two different Peruvian teams: Alianza Lima and Club Universitario de Deportes.
He earned the nickname 'Tarzan' in Colombia due to his acrobatic saves while playing for Millonarios.