Carlos Bianchi

El Virrey: A prolific goalscorer and legendary coach.

Carlos Bianchi (born 26 April 1949), nicknamed El Virrey (The Viceroy), is an Argentine former football player and manager. A prolific goalscorer, although he had a bright career as a forward in Argentina and France, Bianchi is best known as one of the most successful coaches of all time managing Vélez Sarsfield and Boca Juniors to a great number of titles each. Bianchi is the only coach to win four Copa Libertadores. He is also the only coach to secure three Intercontinental Cups, and shares with Josep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti a joint record of three club world championship titles. He most recently served as manager of Boca Juniors. Boca Juniors and Vélez Sársfield made him a statue.

Quick Facts

Born: 26 April 1949
Birthplace: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height: 1.78 m / 5 ft 10 in
Position: Forward
Total caps: 562
Total goals: 393

Lore & Background

Born in Buenos Aires, Bianchi was raised in a middle-class family. In 1972, he married Margaret Mary Pilla, and they had two children: Mauro Carlos and Brenda. Now has four grandchildren: Paul, Carlos and Louis (who are sons of Mauro) and Mateo (son of Brenda and Huracán defender Eduardo Dominguez). His father worked in a sales position in which Carlos regularly helped until he made his debut as a player in first-division football for Vélez Sarsfield, the club which he was a fan of.

During his tenure as coach of Vélez Sarsfield he was known as the 'Virrey' (viceroy, in Spanish), named by sports writer Victor Hugo Morales. The reason is based on footballing and historical grounds, as Bianchi obtained several titles as a player and coach with Vélez Sarsfield. The club is located in the neighbourhood of Liniers alluding to the Virrey Liniers, who was in command of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata by early 1800.

Reader's Guide

Bianchi made his debut as manager in March 1985 with Reims, spending three seasons in the Second Division without achieving promotion to the Ligue 1, despite the team reaching the semi-finals of Coupe de France twice. After his tenure with Reims, Bianchi was hired by Nice in Ligue 1, coaching the club in 24 matches between 1989 and 1990. Nice remained in the top division after beating Strasbourg in a playoff with an aggregate score of 7–3. Bianchi returned to Argentina in December 1992 to coach Vélez Sarsfield.

His first match on the bench was on February 21, 1993, when Vélez beat Deportivo Español 2–0. Vélez won that championship with 27 points in 19 matches played, achieving their 2nd league title. As Argentine champion, Vélez qualified to 1994 Copa Libertadores, where the team placed 1st in the zone. Vélez would then eliminate Defensor, Minervén, and Atlético Junior to face defending champions São Paulo in the finals.

After both teams won one game each by the same score (1–0), a penalty shootout was run to decide a champion. After José Luis Chilavert stopped one shot and Roberto Pompei scored, Vélez Sarsfield won the series, achieving their first Copa Libertadores trophy. The next step was the 1994 Intercontinental Cup, where Bianchi led Vélez Sarsfield to win their second international title after beating Milan 2–0. Vélez would go on to win two more league titles with Bianchi, establishing the most successful period in the club's history.

After a brief passage in the Italian club Roma, Bianchi returned to Argentina to coach Boca Juniors. In two stints in the club, Bianchi won four league titles, three Copa Libertadores titles and two Intercontinental Cup titles, becoming the club's most successful manager.

Did You Know?

Bianchi scored four goals in a 6–1 win over Paris Saint-Germain while playing for Reims, not six.
He earned 14 caps for Argentina, scoring 7 goals, during the period from 1970 to 1972.
Bianchi is the top scorer in the history of Vélez Sarsfield with 206 goals and ninth overall in Argentine football.
He is also the 9th top scorer in the history of the French League with his 179 goals.