Ramón Díaz

From Golden Boot winner in Argentina's youth ranks to the most decorated coach in Argentine history, El Pelado defined success across continents.

Ramón Ángel Díaz is an Argentine football manager and former striker born on 29 August 1959. He is the most successful Argentine coach in history with 17 titles, sharing the record for most Primera División titles with Ángel Labruna and ranking second at River Plate behind Marcelo Gallardo. Known by the nickname 'El Pelado' (Baldy), he played for River Plate and the Argentina national team before coaching the club on three separate occasions to win eight titles.

Quick Facts

Full name: Ramón Ángel Díaz
Born: 29 August 1959
Birthplace: La Rioja, Argentina
Height: 1.73 m / 5 ft 8 in
Position: Striker
Total caps: 499
Total goals: 215

Lore & Background

Díaz began his journey as a youth product of River Plate under manager Norberto Yácono. He made his Primera División debut on 13 August 1978 in a 1–0 win over Colón, scoring his first goal four days later against Quilmes. By the 1980 season, he was a regular starter, netting 22 league goals. His career took him abroad in 1982 to Napoli, where he finished as the top scorer with eight goals despite the team's relegation battle. He later played for Avellino, Fiorentina, and Inter Milan, scoring 15 goals there before moving to Monaco to win the 1990–91 Coupe de France. His playing career concluded in Japan with Yokohama Marinos, where he was the 1993 J.League Top Scorer and the all-time top scorer of the Yokohama derby with eight goals against Flügels.

Reader's Guide

As a manager, Díaz returned to River Plate in 1995, winning the 1996 Libertadores and 1997 Supercopa Libertadores alongside four league titles before resigning in February 2000 after a friendly loss to Boca Juniors. He returned for a second spell in June 2001, winning the 2002 Clausura Tournament. His third stint began on 30 November 2012, culminating in the Torneo Final 2014 and a Superfinal victory over San Lorenzo before his departure in May 2014. Outside Argentina, he managed Oxford United briefly in 2005 without pay, led San Lorenzo to the 2007 Clausura title, and guided Club América until February 2009. He also coached Independiente, the Paraguay national team (reaching fourth at Copa América 2015), and Al-Hilal, where he secured a league title, King's Cup, and Champions League qualification.

Did You Know?

Díaz scored 8 goals at the 1979 World Youth Championship, winning the Golden Boot.
He is the all-time top scorer in the Yokohama derby with 8 goals against Flügels.
At Oxford United in 2005, neither Díaz nor his five staff members received any payment.
Maradona denied rumors of a feud that kept Díaz out of the 1986 and 1990 World Cups.
Díaz won 4–2 against Al-Taawon to secure the Saudi league title with Al-Hilal.