In a somber declaration on Sunday, the Argentine Football Association announced the passing of César Luis Menotti, the renowned coach whose brilliance orchestrated Argentina’s memorable triumph at the 1978 World Cup. At the age of 85, the beloved ‘Flaco’, as he was endearingly referred to in reference to his slender frame, bid his final goodbye to the world.
A brief commentary on Menotti’s final health battles was absent in the association’s statement. However, local news agencies reported that the esteemed coach had been grappling with severe anemia since March, with his health worsening to a point that necessitated surgery for phlebitis in April, after which he was transferred home.
Menotti’s passion for soccer was vividly displayed in his intricate understanding of the game and his incisive elucidation of its complexities. These undeniable qualities distinguished him as a trainer and elevated him to the coveted status of an emblematic and influential figure within the realm of Argentine soccer.
A man of varied interests and passions, Menotti had an affinity for politics as a member of the Argentine Communist Party. He also liked boxing and was captivated by the literary genius of several Latin American authors, including Mario Benedetti, Gabriel García Márquez, Jorge Luis Borges, Mario Sábato, and Joan Manuel Serrat.
Reminiscing about a memorable encounter with Borges, Menotti said, “Once I was interviewed by Borges, and when I asked him if it bothered him that I smoked, he told me: ‘What intoxicates me is not the cigarette, but the stupid conversations.’” Laughing at that memory, he added, “So, I asked about everything … but not about soccer, because I know about soccer!”
Menotti’s stint as a soccer player saw him grace renowned Argentine clubs, including Rosario Central, Racing Club, and Boca Juniors. His hunger for soccer transcended borders, leading him to the New York Generals in the U.S., Brazil’s Santos, and Italy’s Juventus. At Santos, Menotti was privileged to share the field with the legendary Pelé, whom he always viewed as the best player on the pitch.
As the head of Argentina’s national team from 1974-1983, Menotti was tasked with guiding the squad to numerous victories. He always maintained that their triumphant 1978 World Cup campaign was not as lauded as it should have been, primarily due to the country’s tumultuous governance under a military junta infamous for human rights violations. Critics often reminded him about an image that captured him shaking hands with Junta head Jorge Rafael Videla after winning the World Cup.
Menotti’s coaching career also led him to teams abroad like Mexico’s national team, Barcelona, where he worked with Maradona; Atletico Madrid, Uruguay’s Penarol, Italy’s Sampdoria,and Mexico’s Tecos. Wherever he went, apart from his soccer prowess, one constant was the cigarette that perpetually dangled from his lips until he quit in 2011.
A memorable quirk about Menotti was his self-styled long but neat hair. “I cut my own hair. I take the scissors, I cut the ends,” he would often say. He initiated the tradition in the early 1970s, deciding not to cut his hair until his team lost. Their ten consecutive victories made this a permanent fixture, and so ensued his famous long hair.
In his twilight years, Menotti maintained a surprisingly serene approach to the concept of death. “It’s the only thing I’m sure of. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t died at some point,” he stated in 2014. And now, bidding farewell to an extraordinary career and an unforgettable life, César Luis Menotti has joined the footballing legends who came and left before him.
