Enzo Francescoli
Enzo Francescoli.
Enzo Francescoli Uriarte ( born November 12, 1961 in Montevideo, Uruguay ) is a former Uruguayan football player.
The two-time Player of the Year from South America won with the national team three times in the Copa América. As a club player, he had his greatest successes with River Plate Buenos Aires.
Pelé put him on the 2004 list of the 125 greatest living footballers (FIFA 100).
Today he works for television.
- 5.1 With clubs
- 5.2 With the national
- 5.3 Personal
Youth
The boy with Italian and Spanish ancestors was born in Uruguay's capital, Montevideo, and grew up there as well. With 13 years of enthusiastic footballers joined the small club Cady Juniors. As scouts were aware of the first division club Montevideo Wanderers on the ball facing and skillful talent, he joined the Wanderers, although he was from childhood a follower of the traditional club Peñarol.
Club career
Montevideo Wanderers (1980 to 1983)
With 19 years Francescoli made his debut for the Wanderers in Uruguay's first league. The talent launched by without major start-up problems and was quickly a performer of the team, but the dominance of the top clubs Peñarol and Nacional could not break through. Due to his style of play and the performance shown he received an offer from River Plate Buenos Aires.
CA River Plate ( 1983-1986 )
In early 1983, paid the Argentine top club River Plate approx. $ 350,000 transfer fee and took Francescoli so over the Rio de la Plata to the neighboring country. Against CA Huracán he graduated at April 24, 1983 his first game for River Plate (1:0). But at the beginning he had to deal with adjustment difficulties and had to fight for his place in the team for now. Only after he was summoned from midfield into the attack, its shape curve increased steeply upward. In his second season Francescoli experienced a veritable explosion in performance, shot 24 goals and secured the title as top scorer. The sports newspaper El País chose him to South America's Footballer of the Year. In the season 1985/86 France Coli led the Millionaires with 25 hits to the championship title and was chosen as the first foreigner to Argentine Footballer of the Year. The Uruguayan was the new superstar of the league and was named for its elegant and technically perfect playing style of the fans " El Principe " ( The Prince ). Due to its excellent Torinstinkts and his playing style Francescoli was soon the most sought-after players in the continent.
In France (1986 to 1990)
The exceptional players soon had numerous offers of European clubs, but in the summer of 1986, he announced his move to France, where he joined Racing Club Paris. The climber was supported by the ambitious industrialist Jean -Luc Lagardère, who invested an enormous amount of money in the club. In addition to France coli alternated with Pierre Littbarski, Thierry Tusseau and Luis Fernández other top players to Paris. But the ambitions of its President could never meet the team and disappointed because you landed regularly in the mediocrity of the league. After three years Francescoli saw no progress and forced his transfer to Olympique Marseille.
In 1989, France Coli for series champions Marseille, who could come up with players such as Jean -Pierre Papin, Alain Roche and Manuel Amoros and counted not only in France for the top teams. However, in Marseille, he had not only due to injury problems: president Bernard Tapie and coach Gerard Gili raved about Chris Waddle and Abédi Pele, which should play on the position of the Uruguayan. Although Marseille was at the end of the season champion and a neat performance of France Coli ( with 11 goals OMs second best scorer ) the farewell he was suggested. After only one year on the Côte d' Azur is France Coli had to look for a club.
In Italy (1990 to 1994)
After the year in Marseille France Coli signed a three -year contract with Sardinian club Cagliari Calcio and moved to the series A. The elegant and powerful play Uruguayan was hailed by the tifosi because of his game. But with the team defensively set it shifted from storm back into midfield. Here he played with José Oscar Herrera and Daniel Fonseca together two compatriots. Cagliari was not one of the top teams in Italy and ended up in mediocrity, except in 1992/93 he won with the team to 6th place, the best finish for over twenty years.
In Torino Calcio, a club with a great history, but currently only average, he only stayed one season before he returned to Argentina.
CA River Plate ( 1994-1997 )
After seven years in Europe, France coli returned in 1994 with 33 years to his old love River Plate back. He kept his promise when he said, before his move to Europe. " Someday, for sure, I 'm going to play again for River Plate Monumental" On September 25, 1994, he slipped on in the match against Argentinos Juniors again the white-red jersey on. Back in Argentina experienced Francescoli in the " autumn " of his career again Karrierhöhepunkte and reached his best form. When hanging tip of experienced star players brought the team further crucial. He acted as a liaison between the young team that was set with Ariel Ortega and Marcelo Gallardo talent coach Ramón Díaz. With River Plate he won four championships, even the 1996 Copa Libertadores ( equivalent of the European UEFA Champions League) and one year later, the latest edition of the Supercopa Sudamericana against FC Sao Paulo. He was top scorer even once. His last league game for the " Millionaires ", he completed on December 21, 1997 compared Argentinos Juniors (1:1).
In February 1998, Enzo Francescoli adopted in a testimonial match between River Plate and Peñarol Montevideo from professional football.
Career in the national team
France Coli in 1981 with the Uruguayan U -20 South American champions on the side of players like Adolfo Barán, Santiago Ostolaza, Jorge da Silva and José Batista. In the same year he reached the quarter-finals with Uruguay at the Junior World Cup in 1981.
His first cap for Uruguay graduated Francescoli on February 20, during the 1982 Nehru Cup in the match against South Korea (2-2 ). The following year, he celebrated with the "Celeste" to win the Copa America, as Brazil was defeated in the finals 2-0. Two years later he took part in the Copa Artigas and also played with the national team in 1985 at the Artemio Franchi Cup.
In 1986 he went with Uruguay to the World Cup in Mexico. The first World Cup appearance of the "Celeste" for twelve years. However, the team was able to convince at any time, but still managed third place as the leap into second round ( 1-1 against Germany, 1:6 against Denmark, 0-0 against Scotland). Francescoli had scored his first World Cup goal from the penalty spot against the Danes. But against the Argentine was nothing to get in the 0-2 defeat and Uruguay went without victory.
The following year, the team's star players to France Coli at the Copa América was able to rehabilitate the weak World Cup tournament, since one could defend the title. In the final, Chile was defeated 1-0. Two years later at the Copa América in 1989 came Francescoli used.
After geschafften qualifying for the 1990 World Cup in Italy, France coli led his country as captain for the tournament in Europe where you wanted to present improved. The group stage has been mastered in third place though, but the team knew rarely convincing. As four years before the tournament was ended early in the second round after a 0-2 defeat against hosts Italy.
His last major tournament was the 1995 Copa America in their own country. Francescoli was in excellent shape and as captain he led his team to the finals (two goals). There was defeated Brazil on penalties. As proof of its superior form of 34 -year-old was honored as South America's Footballer of the Year.
In the following years, he played a few matches in the World Cup qualifiers for the tournament in 1998. The last match France Colis for Uruguay was then on 20 August 1997 in Montevideo against Chile (1-0 ).
After the career
In 2003, he called together with Francisco Casal American football channel Gol TV to life and lives with his family in Miami since then.
Achievements
With clubs
- Argentine champion: 1986, Apertura 1994, Clausura 1995, Apertura 1996, Clausura 1997 ( 5 times )
- French Champion: 1990
- Copa Libertadores: 1996
- Super Copa Sudamericana: 1997
With the national
- Copa América: 1983, 1987, 1995
- Nehru Cup: 1982
Personal
- South America's Footballer of the Year: 1984, 1995
- Argentine Footballer of the Year: 1985, 1995
- Best player of the Copa América: 1983, 1995
- FIFA 100
- Argentine top scorer: 1984 ( 24 goals ), 1986 ( 25 goals ), 1994 (12 goals)