Licha López’s goodbye to Football :: Olé

He didn’t want a pompous farewell. In keeping with his low profile, his humility, he privately told his now former teammates that he will not continue playing Football. To those of Sarmiento. To the last ones he had. The quality of Lisandro López is no longer going to be spread officially. One of the best forwards that Argentine football produced permanently left the fields on a professional level. Licha, a brilliant, fantastic player, retired.

On Friday, December 13, In the 1-1 against Banfied, he entered 15 minutes into the second half for Nicolás Gaitán and in a while, with three interventions, he showed his quality intact. They were his last official flashes, the cartridges of the outcome for a talented man who, over the years, added notable intelligence. Wisdom and experience do not always go hand in hand. In this case, they walked together. Or not, Licha?

On the previous date, in the 1-1 with Defensa y Justicia in Junín, Lisandro also entered the second half. And a singular episode occurred: At the end of the game, he raised his arms and greeted the fans in an unequivocal farewell greeting.. That moment of emotion was enough for him. He didn’t need stridency nor did he want it. He made a lot of noise playing ball as an integral player who combined a lot of effort and pure hierarchy. A union that guarantees success. Lisandro is already a legend.

“Thank you for your football. Thank you for your professionalism. Thank you for being an example. Thank you for defending our shield. Thank you for your Sarmientismo, which you had inside since you were a child. Thank you forever, Lisandro. Sarmiento is and will always be your home”, he dedicated the Green to him on his social networks.

Licha fulfilled his contract and left behind 94 games with Sarmiento, 12 goals and four assists. He had arrived in 2022 after five intense years in Racing, where he became one of his last great idols and had an excellent participation in the 2018-2019 Super League which he won with Eduardo Coudet on the bench. Tired of those pressures, he sought air of more tranquility in Junín and to be close to his mother, who was in fragile health.

Bastard, sensitive, simple, frontal, Licha was always recognized for something that went beyond his category: commitment. He was an example more with actions than with words, forced harangues or grandiloquence. He never skimped on energy despite his enormous football conditions.

From his birth in Rafael Obligado, as a boy he sewed it in Rojas. His talent came to Racing during a difficult time for the club. He was a scorer in 2004 and made the jump to Porto in Portugal (2005-2009), a club where he reached the best moment of his career in the last season. -as he would confess a few years later-, prior to making the jump to Lyon.

In France it was great. Lució scored 82 goals in 168 games between 2009 and 2014, he became an idol. Chelsea in England seriously wanted him, but the French club refused to release him when the figure of a termination clause did not yet exist.

He ended up at Al Garhafa (2014-2015). He played 13 goals in 40 games. In his mind was the desire, before returning to the Academy, to play football in Brazil. And so it was: Inter Porto Alegre had his repertoire in 2015, when he scored 10 goals in 39 matches.

At 32 years old, in 2016, he returned to Racing physically impeccable. deployment, creativity, pause, acceleration. Push, Contagion, Leadership. His contribution in 2018-2019 was outstanding. Key to the title with the 17 scores that made him the top scorer of the championship.

In 2021 he had a brief stint with Gabriel Heinze’s Atlanta United of the MLS. and returned to the Academy for his last era. Sarmiento was waiting for him.

At National Team level, between 2008 and 2010 he played three games, two friendlies with Alfio Basile of DT and one with Diego Maradona on the bench: In August 2009 he made it 3-2 over Russia.

In total, in his career he played 723 games and scored 261 goals. He won 12 titles: seven with Porto, two in Lyon, one in Inter and two in the Academy (including the 2019 Champions Trophy). Football lost a great representative. Licha gave him everything. Heart, dedication and elite class.