Omar Sívori

Argentine-Italian forward, Ballon d'Or winner, and key figure in Juventus' late-1950s success.

Enrique Omar Sívori (2 October 1935 – 17 February 2005) was an Argentine-Italian football player and manager who played as a forward. At club level, he is known for his successful time with Italian side Juventus during the late 1950s and early 1960s, where he won three Serie A titles among other trophies; he also played for River Plate in Argentina and Napoli in Italy.

Quick Facts

Full name: Enrique Omar Sívori
Born: 2 October 1935
Birthplace: San Nicolás, Argentina
Died: 17 February 2005
Height: 1.63 m / 5 ft 4 in
Position: Forward
Total caps: 341
Total goals: 176

Lore & Background

Sívori was born in San Nicolás de los Arroyos, Buenos Aires Province, into a family of Italian descent. He began his career with River Plate, earning the nickname El Cabezón. He won the Argentine Primera División with River in 1955 and 1956. In 1957, he was transferred to Juventus for a world-record fee. With Juventus, he won three Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia titles, and the Coppa delle Alpi. He won the Ballon d'Or in 1961. He later played for Napoli, helping them to a third-place finish and a Coppa delle Alpi. He represented Argentina, winning the 1957 South American Championship, and later played for Italy at the 1962 World Cup.

Reader's Guide

Sívori was a quick, diminutive, highly creative, and technically gifted forward, known for his pace, dribbling, and prolific goalscoring. He was primarily left-footed but could score with both feet and his head. He is considered one of the best players of his generation.

Did You Know?

Sívori scored six goals in a single Serie A match for Juventus against Inter Milan on 10 June 1961, a record jointly held with Silvio Piola.
He was nicknamed 'El Cabezón' (bighead) by River Plate fans due to his hair, outspokenness, and playing style.