Edgardo Prátola
Encyclopedia
Edgardo Fabián Prátola was an Argentine
football (soccer)
player.
His career started as a defender with Estudiantes de La Plata
, where his devotion was noted as one of the reasons the club returned from relegation in 1995. Prátola owned the No. 6 jersey and was the captain of the team.
Prátola played for Mexican
side León
between 1996 and 1999, after which he returned to Argentina to play for Unión de Santa Fe
, and then returned to Estudiantes in 2000. Diagnosed with cancer of the colon
in 2000, he broke the news himself in an unassuming way, quit the team after unsuccessful surgery, and fought his illness to the end. The day before his death he asked that Estudiantes play their next match (against Independiente
) and not ask for a postponement. A touching ceremony was held before the game.
He is fondly remembered by Estudiantes fans by his nickname el ruso (the Russia
n).
After winning the Apertura 2006 championship in a play-off against Boca Juniors, many Estudiantes players displayed t-shirts in honour of Pratola. Current captain Juan Sebastian Veron
mentioned him in an emotional victory speech broadcast around the stadium, leading to chanting of 'Ruso' by Estudiantes fans.
Prátola was again remembered by Estudiantes following the club's triumph in the 2009 Copa Libertadores finals against Cruzeiro
. In the post-match celebrations, Estudiantes players wore shirts that said, "Ruso, estás con nosotros," or, "Ruso, you are with us."
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player.
His career started as a defender with Estudiantes de La Plata
Estudiantes de La Plata
Club Estudiantes de La Plata , simply referred to as Estudiantes, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Plata. The club's football team currently competes in the Primera División, where it has spent most of its history....
, where his devotion was noted as one of the reasons the club returned from relegation in 1995. Prátola owned the No. 6 jersey and was the captain of the team.
Prátola played for Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
side León
Club León
Club León, is a Mexican professional football club based in the city of León, in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. They currently play in the Liga De Ascenso formerly known as "Primera A", the second tier of football in Mexico since their relegation from the Primera Division in 2002.León has won...
between 1996 and 1999, after which he returned to Argentina to play for Unión de Santa Fe
Unión de Santa Fe
Club Atlético Unión is a sports club from Santa Fe, the capital city of the province with the same name in Argentina. The club, founded in 1907, has a strong rivalry with Colón de Santa Fe....
, and then returned to Estudiantes in 2000. Diagnosed with cancer of the colon
Colon (anatomy)
The colon is the last part of the digestive system in most vertebrates; it extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body, and is the site in which flora-aided fermentation of unabsorbed material occurs. Unlike the small intestine, the colon does not play a...
in 2000, he broke the news himself in an unassuming way, quit the team after unsuccessful surgery, and fought his illness to the end. The day before his death he asked that Estudiantes play their next match (against Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....
) and not ask for a postponement. A touching ceremony was held before the game.
He is fondly remembered by Estudiantes fans by his nickname el ruso (the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n).
After winning the Apertura 2006 championship in a play-off against Boca Juniors, many Estudiantes players displayed t-shirts in honour of Pratola. Current captain Juan Sebastian Veron
Juan Sebastián Verón
Juan Sebastián Verón is an Argentinian professional football player who is the current captain and midfielder for Estudiantes de La Plata in the Argentine Primera División....
mentioned him in an emotional victory speech broadcast around the stadium, leading to chanting of 'Ruso' by Estudiantes fans.
Prátola was again remembered by Estudiantes following the club's triumph in the 2009 Copa Libertadores finals against Cruzeiro
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is a Brazilian football team, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Internacional. Founded on January 2, 1921, they are only one of three clubs to have participated in...
. In the post-match celebrations, Estudiantes players wore shirts that said, "Ruso, estás con nosotros," or, "Ruso, you are with us."