Legendary Argentine coach César Luis Menotti passes away leaving lasting legacy

Legendary Argentine football coach César Luis Menotti, 85, passes away, leaving a lasting legacy.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has sadly announced the passing of César Luis Menotti at the age of 85. Menotti was a world champion with the Albiceleste team in 1978 and served as the coach of FC Barcelona from 1983 to 1984. During his time at Barcelona, he worked alongside Maradona and Schuster, leading the team to victory in the Copa del Rey, League Cup, and Spanish Super Cup.

César Luis Menotti, born in Rosario on October 22, 1938, and passing away in Buenos Aires on May 5, 2024, was a key figure in the AFA national teams since February 1, 2019. He was a respected institution in Argentina, although his health had been affected by his smoking habit in recent years.

Cesar Luis Menotti, Football Romantic Who Led Argentina To First World Cup

Cesar Luis Menotti, who led a dashing Argentina team to victory in the 1978 World Cup, has died aged 85, the country's football federation announced on Sunday.

Menotti, who was born in Rosario, Argentina, in 1938, won 11 caps for Argentina in the 1960s and then managed 11 clubs, some more than once, and two national teams in a coaching career that lasted 37 years.

He is best remembered for leading Argentina to the 1978 World Cup and the under-20 title the following year and for his commitment to a romantic ideal of football at a time when Argentina had developed a reputation for a cynical approach straying into violence.

In the 1978 World Cup final hosts Argentina defeated the Netherlands 3-1 after extra-time with flamboyant man of the tournament Mario Kempes scoring twice against a Dutch side shorn of Johan Cruyff, who had refused to play in the tournament.

The triumph was accomplished