Victorio Spinetto
Encyclopedia
Victorio Luis Spinetto was an Argentine
footballer and manager
. He played mostly for Vélez Sársfield
in the Argentine Primera División, debuting with the club in 1932 and retiring in 1940. After retiring, Spinetto took managerial duties in the team, and held the position for 14 years.
Apart from his career in Vélez, Spinetto played briefly for Platense
and Independiente
, and managed several other teams, most notably the Argentine national team
(in a three-men staff during 1959, and alone in the period 1960–1961).
, to Juan Bautista Luis Spinetto and Margarita María Batigne. He studied in the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires
.
in 1932. That same year, Vélez Sársfield
's executive José Amalfitani
offered him to join the club for a salary of $30 Argentine pesos per match. The defender accepted, and debuted with the first team after only one game with the reserves. Spinetto's success was so quick that the club raised his salary to $250 monthly, and $30 for every point won by the team.
Despite playing in the defensive position of centre half, Spinetto was a prolific goalscorer. He made a total 44 goals for Vélez, including four in a game against Chacarita Juniors
in 1937, when he helped his team come back from a 0-2 to win 5-2.
During his career, the defender rejected offers from Boca Juniors
and Italian AS Roma, finally joining Independiente
in 1938 for a $12,000 Argentine pesos transfer fee, plus the loan of a player. He played one year in Independiente, being part of the team that played against River Plate
the first game in the Estadio Monumental
's history.
Upon his return to Vélez, in 1940 Spinetto was part of the team that was relegated
from the Argentine first division for the first (and to date only) time in the club's history. Unable to recover from an injury, the defender retired subsequent to the relegation.
between 1934 and 1936.
position in Vélez Sársfield, helping the team return to the first division in 1943. He also coached the team that was runner-up in the 1953 Argentine Primera División season.
In 1959, he coached along José Della Torre
and José Barreiro
the Argentine national team
that won the 1959 South American Championship.
Spinetto also coached Argentinos Juniors
in three periods (1962–1963, 1972–1973 and 1978), totaling 155 games. He then went on to coach in Vélez Sársfield's youth divisions until his death in 1990.
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...
footballer and manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
. He played mostly for Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield is a sports club based in the Liniers neighborhood of western Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vélez is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División, the top level of the Argentine league system...
in the Argentine Primera División, debuting with the club in 1932 and retiring in 1940. After retiring, Spinetto took managerial duties in the team, and held the position for 14 years.
Apart from his career in Vélez, Spinetto played briefly for Platense
Club Atlético Platense
Club Atlético Platense is an Argentine sports club based in Vicente López, in the north side of Greater Buenos Aires. The club nickname is Calamar after the journalist Palacio Zino said that the team moved "like a squid in its ink"....
and 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 managed several other teams, most notably the Argentine national team
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
(in a three-men staff during 1959, and alone in the period 1960–1961).
Early life
Victorio was born on June 3, 1911, in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, to Juan Bautista Luis Spinetto and Margarita María Batigne. He studied in the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires
Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires
Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires is a public high school in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In the tradition of the European gymnasium it provides a free education that includes classical languages such as Latin and Greek. The school is one of the most prestigious in Argentina...
.
Club
Spinetto started his career in PlatenseClub Atlético Platense
Club Atlético Platense is an Argentine sports club based in Vicente López, in the north side of Greater Buenos Aires. The club nickname is Calamar after the journalist Palacio Zino said that the team moved "like a squid in its ink"....
in 1932. That same year, Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield is a sports club based in the Liniers neighborhood of western Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vélez is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División, the top level of the Argentine league system...
's executive José Amalfitani
José Amalfitani
José Amalfitani , nicknamed Don Pepe , was an Argentine construction manager, sports journalist and association football executive who was chairman of the club Vélez Sársfield for 30 years...
offered him to join the club for a salary of $30 Argentine pesos per match. The defender accepted, and debuted with the first team after only one game with the reserves. Spinetto's success was so quick that the club raised his salary to $250 monthly, and $30 for every point won by the team.
Despite playing in the defensive position of centre half, Spinetto was a prolific goalscorer. He made a total 44 goals for Vélez, including four in a game against Chacarita Juniors
Chacarita Juniors
Club Atlético Chacarita Juniors is an Argentine sports club from Villa Maipú, General San Martín Partido in Greater Buenos Aires, which football squad is currently playing in the Primera B Nacional, the second division of the Argentine football league system.The club was founded on May 1, 1906, in...
in 1937, when he helped his team come back from a 0-2 to win 5-2.
During his career, the defender rejected offers from Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
and Italian AS Roma, finally joining 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....
in 1938 for a $12,000 Argentine pesos transfer fee, plus the loan of a player. He played one year in Independiente, being part of the team that played against River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
the first game in the Estadio Monumental
Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti
Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, is a stadium in the Belgrano district of Buenos Aires, Argentina at the intersection of Figueroa Alcorta and Udaondo. It is the home venue of Club Atlético River Plate and is named after former club president Antonio Vespucio Liberti...
's history.
Upon his return to Vélez, in 1940 Spinetto was part of the team that was relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
from the Argentine first division for the first (and to date only) time in the club's history. Unable to recover from an injury, the defender retired subsequent to the relegation.
National team
Spinetto played for the Argentine national teamArgentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
between 1934 and 1936.
Coaching career
After his retirement, Spinetto took up the managerManager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
position in Vélez Sársfield, helping the team return to the first division in 1943. He also coached the team that was runner-up in the 1953 Argentine Primera División season.
In 1959, he coached along José Della Torre
José Della Torre
José della Torre was an Argentine footballer. He played in defence for Argentina in the 1930 FIFA World Cup final on 30 July 1930, which was lost 4–2 to Uruguay....
and José Barreiro
Jose Barreiro
Jose Barreiro is a writer, Cuban native, journalist and former professor of Native American Studies at Cornell University. He is a member of the Taíno Nation of the Antilles....
the Argentine national team
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
that won the 1959 South American Championship.
Spinetto also coached Argentinos Juniors
Argentinos Juniors
Asociación Atlética Argentinos Juniors is an Argentine football club based in La Paternal, Buenos Aires. Founded on August 15, 1904, the club was originally called the “Martyrs of Chicago”, in homage to the eight anarchists imprisoned or hanged after the 1886 Haymarket Riot in Chicago.-Early...
in three periods (1962–1963, 1972–1973 and 1978), totaling 155 games. He then went on to coach in Vélez Sársfield's youth divisions until his death in 1990.
External links
- Statistics at BDFA