Argentine soccer mourns Hugo Gatti. The record player of the first Argentine league died on Easter Sunday at the age of 80.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced on Monday morning (CEST) that the legendary goalkeeper had died on Easter Sunday at the age of 80.
“His unmistakable style spanned generations and made him one of the best goalkeepers in Argentine soccer,” wrote the South American confederation (CONMEBOL) in its tribute.
Gatti still holds the record for the most appearances in the Argentine first division with 765 games. He played the vast majority of his games for Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires, where he played from 1976 to 1988. He only ended his active career at the age of 44.
Gatti, who was nicknamed “El Loco” (the madman), enjoyed great success with Boca: in addition to several national titles, he won the Copa Libertadores with Boca in 1976 and 1977, as well as the Intercontinental Cup in 1977, when Boca beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-0 in the final.
Record also for penalty saves
In the national team, however, he was not so fortunate. He only played 18 international matches for the three-time world champions. He was in the squad for the 1966 World Cup in England but did not play. Four years later in Mexico, the World Cup took place without Argentina, and in 1974 he was not selected. Shortly before the 1978 World Cup on home soil, the then Argentine national coach Cesar Luis Menotti chose Ubaldo Fillol over Gatti. Together with Fillol, Gatti also holds the record for penalty saves in Argentina’s top flight: both players saved 26 penalties.
