César Luis Menotti

Lore & Background

Menotti played as a striker for Rosario Central, Racing, Boca Juniors, New York Generals, Santos, and Clube Atlético Juventus. He won the 1965 Primera División with Boca Juniors and the 1968 Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa with Santos. As a manager, he won the 1973 Torneo Metropolitano with Huracán, led Argentina to the 1978 World Cup title, and later managed Barcelona (winning Copa del Rey, Copa de la Liga, and Supercopa de España), Atlético Madrid, River Plate, Boca Juniors, Peñarol, Mexico, Sampdoria, Independiente, Rosario Central, Puebla (as advisor), and Tecos. He also directed Argentina's national teams from January 2019.

In Their Own Story

The dressing room at the Estadio Monumental, minutes before the 1978 final, smelled of deep heat and nervous sweat. Menotti stood at the centre of the room, his long hair falling over his eyes, and did not shout. He simply asked, 'Do you remember what we are? Not a team that defends. A team that plays.' Daniel Passarella nodded. Mario Kempes, still quiet, tucked his boots under the bench. Outside, sixty thousand voices roared like a tide against the stadium walls. Menotti buttoned his jacket, looked at each man in turn, and said, 'Go and be beautiful.' Then he walked out into the noise, and the game began.

Reader's Guide

Menotti was Argentina's head coach from 1974 to 1982. He excluded 17-year-old Diego Maradona from the 1978 World Cup squad, believing him too young. After winning the 1978 World Cup, he demanded a large raise from the Argentine Football Association. He led Argentina U20 to the 1979 World Youth Championship with Maradona as star. At the 1982 World Cup, he included Maradona but did not advance past the second round. He managed Barcelona in March 1983, reuniting with Maradona, and later managed Atlético Madrid from July 1987 until dismissal in March 1988.

Did You Know?

• Menotti was registered as born on 5 November but always celebrated his birthday on 22 October.
• He was nicknamed Cito as a child and later known as El Flaco.
• Menotti played as a teammate of Pelé at Santos and won the 1968 Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa.
• He managed both Boca Juniors and River Plate, the Superclásico rivals.
• Menotti was briefly manager of Mexico in 1991, resigning in 1992 in solidarity with two associates.