“Flaco” Menotti was champion with Huracán in ’73, he was world champion in ’78 and he was youth world champion in ’79. But his greatest title is having generated mountains of admiration, affection and recognition among the footballers he coached in his brilliant career as a coach.
“Flaco” Menotti played for Rosario Central, Racing, Boca, The Generals, Santos and finished his career at Juventus de San Pablo, but he never stopped feeling like a player. And that empathy with his team illuminated his career as a coach.
Flaco Menotti marked a before and after in the Argentine National Team. BC (before Caesar) everything was disorganization and confusion. He reigned in the colonized idea that everything good came from outside; that we couldn’t play as equals to anyone; The selected players knew each other on planes or hid to avoid being summoned. AC Argentina in ’74 was humiliated by Holland.
DC (after César), four years later, Argentina won the World Cup final against that Dutch team that had almost the same players. DC the leaders understood the importance of revaluing the footballers who played in the National Team, and the players understood the importance of asserting their unmatched technical quality to which they only had to add good physical preparation.
“Flaco” Menotti knew very well that if Messi exists, it is because before there was a Maradona and before Maradona, a Bochini, an Angel Rojas, an Adolfo Pedernera. What perhaps some still did not understand is that if Bielsas, Gallardos and Scalonis exist today it is because before he opened all the doors.
“Flaco” Menotti was faithful with his friends, implacable with his detractors and enemies, skilled at declaring and arguing, profound at leaving messages in favor of the game as an artistic fact, generous at transmitting everything he knew about football.
His books Football game, sport and profession and Football without cheating (in collaboration with Angel Cappa) are testimony to his wisdom.
“Flaco” Menotti was football and that is why there were many who noticed a very symbolic detail: he died (he died for us) on a Sunday, at football time.