César Luis Menotti, coach of the 1978 home world champion Argentina team, has died at the age of 85, the National Football Federation (AFA) announced on its X account on Sunday, May 5.
“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.
Born in Rosario, Menotti was a professional player in the 1960s, then embarked on a coaching career, winning an Argentine championship title with Buenos Aires-based club Huracan in 1973.
Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup
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).
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”.
