Daniel Passarella

The only Argentine to win two World Cups as a player, and the highest-scoring defender until Ronald Koeman broke his record.

Daniel Alberto Passarella is an Argentine former footballer and manager celebrated as one of the greatest defenders in history. Born on May 25, 1953, he captained Argentina to victory at the 1978 World Cup hosted by his nation and was part of the winning squad in 1986, making him the only Argentine player to feature in two World Cup-winning teams. Although primarily a centre-back, Passarella redefined the position with his prolific scoring ability, netting 134 goals in 451 matches—a record that stood until it was broken by Ronald Koeman. His leadership and organizational prowess earned him nicknames like 'El Gran Capitán' and 'El Caudillo', reflecting his commanding presence on the pitch.

Quick Facts

Office: President of River Plate
Took office: 5 December 2009
Left office: 15 December 2013
Predecessor: José María Aguilar
Successor: Rodolfo D'Onofrio
Birth name: Daniel Alberto Passarella
Born: 25 May 1953
Birthplace: Chacabuco, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Lore & Background

Passarella's career began at Sarmiento of Junín in 1971 before he moved to River Plate in 1973. Known for his aggressive style and aerial dominance despite standing only 1.73 m tall, he became a goal threat on indirect set-pieces, frequently scoring decisive headers. His leadership was legendary; during the 1978 World Cup, he was the first Argentine player to lift the trophy after Argentina's final victory. However, his relationship with coach Carlos Bilardo and captain Diego Maradona soured ahead of the 1986 tournament in Mexico. Suffering from enterocolitis, Passarella missed the entire event and never regained his spot, despite being part of the winning squad. His fierce competitiveness was noted by Dutch star Ruud Gullit, who described him as 'so intensely vicious, a real Argentinian killer'.

Reader's Guide

Passarella's impact extended beyond playing into management and administration. As a manager, he guided River Plate to three national championships (1989–90, 1991, 1993) and later coached Argentina during the 1998 World Cup. He also managed Uruguay, becoming its first foreign coach, though he left during the 2002 qualification process. His tenure as president of River Plate (elected December 2009) saw the club relegated for the first time in 110 years in 2011 amid fraud allegations. In recognition of his legacy, Pelé named him one of the 125 greatest living footballers in 2004, and he was ranked 56th on FourFourTwo's list of the 100 all-time greatest players in 2017.

Did You Know?

Passarella is the only Argentine player to be part of two FIFA World Cup-winning squads (1978 and 1986).
As Argentina coach, he famously banned long hair, earrings, and homosexuals from the national team.