“The Argentine Football Federation regrets to announce with deep sadness the death of Luis César Menotti, the director of the national selections and former world champion coach,” writes the AFA on the social network.
César Luis Menotti led Argentina to their first world title in 1978, winning at home against the Netherlands in the final. The Albiceleste then won two more World Cups, in 1986 in Mexico and in 2022 in Qatar.
Born in Rosario, Menotti was a professional player in the 1960s then embarked on a coaching career, winning an Argentine championship title with the Buenos Aires-based club Huracan in 1973.
He then took charge of the national team which he led to the world title in 1978 and which he still led during the 82 World Cup in Spain (elimination in the 2nd round and 1-0 defeat against the Red Devils in the match of ‘opening).
He also won the Spanish King’s Cup, the Spanish Super Cup and the Spanish League Cup, a competition since defunct, with FC Barcelona in 1983.
His former clubs Atlético Madrid and FC Barcelona, as well as the Spanish Federation paid tribute to him on X by leaving the message “rest in peace”.
