Víctor Rodríguez Andrade
Encyclopedia
Víctor Pablo Rodríguez Andrade (May 2, 1927 – May 19, 1985) was an Uruguay
an footballer
. He was the left halfback of the Uruguayan national team
that won the 1950 World Cup
tournament, after defeating Brazil
in the decisive match
.
He was the nephew of another Uruguayan international player, José Leandro Andrade, who was also a World Cup winner, having played for the Uruguay squad that won of the first ever edition in 1930.
Rodríguez Andrade also played at the 1954 World Cup
and won the 1956 South American Championship
with Uruguay, and at the club level, he won two Uruguayan First Division
titles with C.A. Peñarol
.
of Montevideo
, Víctor Rodríguez came to the world into a family that proudly revered the name of his uncle, José Leandro Andrade. His admiration for his uncle and the naming customs made him use both last names; he drew comparisons with "The Black Marvel", not only because he was his relative, but also because they both played on the wing (although Andrade played in the right flank). Thus, the name Rodríguez Andrade would universally remain used when referring to the left midfielder, and sometimes he is even referred to simply as Andrade.
Growing up, Rodríguez played on the streets of Barrio Sur and Barrio Palermo. He began his footballing career at Central Fútbol Club
, from the latter neighbourhood, and during his time at that club, he earned his first call up to the national team, in 1947. Remembered as one of the emblematic figures of the club in its first 100 years, he remained at Central until 1952, the year he joined Peñarol
, with whom he won the Uruguayan Championship
in 1953 and 1954.
finals of 1950
and 1954
, as well as the South American Championship
s of 1947
(his first official international tournament), 1953
, and 1956
. He earned a total of 42 caps
for La Celeste.
against the hosts, which would decide the winner of the tournament, his defensive duties included the marking of Zizinho
, a task he was successful at until the beginning of the second half, when the Brazilian assisted Friaça
, who scored the 1-0. However, as he later narrated himself, Rodríguez Andrade saw the lineman lift his flag during the play, indicating offside against Brazil. In the second the Uruguayan lost when he looked at the judge, Friaça left him behind, to face the goalkeeper one-on-one. When he was confronted by Obdulio Varela
, Rodríguez told him: "Fue offside, Jacinto", and then, in a key moment of the game, the captain, with the ball under his arm, protested to the referee for several moments; the goal stood, but Varela had cooled down the situation for Uruguay, and silenced the crowd. Uruguay regrouped, and then Juan Schiaffino scored the equalizer and Alcides Ghiggia
the winner, to complete the famous upset known as the Maracanazo.
, the focal point of the spectacular World Cup finals was the Hungarian team
. The "Golden Team" scored 17 goals in its two first round victories. Meanwhile, Uruguay played against Czechoslovakia
and Scotland
and won 2-0 and 7-0 respectively, to top their group. In the second round, they defeated England
4-2, and Hungary beat Brazil by the same score. The defending world champions and the favourites would clash in semi-finals, and in a match that is remembered as one of the most magnificent demonstrations of football by both teams, it took the Magyars 120 minutes to give Uruguay its first ever World Cup defeat. Rodríguez Andrade, who just as he did in 1950, played in every match of the tournament, had a strong performance in his final World Cup appearance, even though he had to play the extra time with a pulled muscle.
's Argentina
. But in early 1956, Montevideo hosted the event, and veteran Andrade, who was the only remaining member of the 1950 World Cup final squad, led the Charrúas
to win the title; they defeated Labruna and Omar Sivori
's Argentina in the last match, which was, like six years earlier in Brazil, not a final, but just happened to be de deciding match. Rodríguez Andrade thus became the only Uruguayan player of his generation to win the World Cup and the South American Championship.
team 25 de Agosto of the Uruguayan Basketball Federation
. Rodríguez Andrade died in May 1985, and a month after his death, Senator Luis Hierro Gambardella dedicated a speech to him during a session of the Congress.
In December 2005, the Uruguayan Postal Administration issued a stamp
commemorating the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Rodríguez' first team, Central F.C.
(since 1971 Central Español). The stamp featured the images of three of the most emblematic figures of the history of the club: in the center, Víctor Rodríguez Andrade, accompanied by his teammate Luis Rijo
, and his coach Juan López.
In March 2007, after a 2002 resolution, the Junta Departamental de Montevideo and the city's Comisión de Nomenclatura designated a street of the Barrio Sur "Pasaje Víctor Rodríguez Andrade", to honor the footballer.
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an footballer
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...
. He was the left halfback of the Uruguayan national team
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
that won the 1950 World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
tournament, after defeating Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
in the decisive match
Uruguay V Brazil (World Cup 1950)
-Summary:The game began as form predicted: Brazilian attacks against the Uruguayan defensive line, for the majority of the first half. Unlike Spain and Sweden, however, the Uruguayans managed to maintain their defence and the first half ended scoreless....
.
He was the nephew of another Uruguayan international player, José Leandro Andrade, who was also a World Cup winner, having played for the Uruguay squad that won of the first ever edition in 1930.
Rodríguez Andrade also played at the 1954 World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
and won the 1956 South American Championship
South American Championship 1956
South American Championship 1956 was a football tournament held in Uruguay and won by Uruguay with Chile as a second.Enrique Hormazábal from Chile became top scorer of the tournament with 4 goals.-Final round:----------------------------...
with Uruguay, and at the club level, he won two Uruguayan First Division
Primera División Uruguaya
The Liga Profesional de Primera División , also known as the Primera División Uruguaya or Primera División de Uruguay , is a professional football league in Uruguay at the top of the country's football league system. It is organized by the Uruguayan Football Association and is contested by 16 teams...
titles with C.A. Peñarol
C.A. Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
.
Early life and career
Born in the Barrio SurBarrio Sur
Barrio Sur is a barrio of Montevideo, Uruguay. It is directly South of the Centro and is delimited by Canelones Str. on the North, Andes Str. on the West, the coastal avenue on the South and Dr. Barrios Amorin Str. on the East...
of Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Víctor Rodríguez came to the world into a family that proudly revered the name of his uncle, José Leandro Andrade. His admiration for his uncle and the naming customs made him use both last names; he drew comparisons with "The Black Marvel", not only because he was his relative, but also because they both played on the wing (although Andrade played in the right flank). Thus, the name Rodríguez Andrade would universally remain used when referring to the left midfielder, and sometimes he is even referred to simply as Andrade.
Growing up, Rodríguez played on the streets of Barrio Sur and Barrio Palermo. He began his footballing career at Central Fútbol Club
Central Español
Central Español Fútbol Club, usually known simply as Central Español is a Uruguayan football club based in Montevideo.- The F.U.F era :Together with Peñarol, Central founded F.U.F in 1923 after being expelled from A.U.F...
, from the latter neighbourhood, and during his time at that club, he earned his first call up to the national team, in 1947. Remembered as one of the emblematic figures of the club in its first 100 years, he remained at Central until 1952, the year he joined Peñarol
C.A. Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
, with whom he won the Uruguayan Championship
Primera División Uruguaya
The Liga Profesional de Primera División , also known as the Primera División Uruguaya or Primera División de Uruguay , is a professional football league in Uruguay at the top of the country's football league system. It is organized by the Uruguayan Football Association and is contested by 16 teams...
in 1953 and 1954.
Uruguay national team
Rodríguez Andrade wore the Uruguayan jersey from December 1947 to May 1957. He participated at the World CupFIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
finals of 1950
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
and 1954
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
, as well as the South American Championship
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
s of 1947
South American Championship 1947
The 1947 South American Championship was the 20th South American Championship for national teams, and was organized by CONMEBOL. It marked the first time Ecuador hosted the tournament, which hosted all the matches in Estadio George Capwell in Guayaquil. Argentina won the tournament to obtain their...
(his first official international tournament), 1953
South American Championship 1953
-Goal scorers:7 Goals Molina5 Goals Julinho4 Goals Berni Fernández Balseiro3 Goals Baltazar López C. Romero Peláez2 Goals Alcón Santos Ugarte Pinga Rodrigues Gómez Sánchez Morel Puente1 Goal Ademir Cláudio Ipojucan Nilton Santos Zizinho...
, and 1956
South American Championship 1956
South American Championship 1956 was a football tournament held in Uruguay and won by Uruguay with Chile as a second.Enrique Hormazábal from Chile became top scorer of the tournament with 4 goals.-Final round:----------------------------...
. He earned a total of 42 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for La Celeste.
1950 World Cup and the Maracanazo
At the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, Rodríguez Andrade, who at 23 years old was one of the younger members of the Uruguayan squad, played in all four of his team's matches. In the final round matchUruguay V Brazil (World Cup 1950)
-Summary:The game began as form predicted: Brazilian attacks against the Uruguayan defensive line, for the majority of the first half. Unlike Spain and Sweden, however, the Uruguayans managed to maintain their defence and the first half ended scoreless....
against the hosts, which would decide the winner of the tournament, his defensive duties included the marking of Zizinho
Zizinho
Thomaz Soares da Silva, also known as Zizinho , was a Brazilian football player, who played as an attacking midfielder or winger for Brazil's national team. He came to international prominence at the 1950 World Cup, where scored two goals...
, a task he was successful at until the beginning of the second half, when the Brazilian assisted Friaça
Friaça
Albino Friaça Cardoso , best known as Friaça , was a Brazilian football striker.He was born in Porciúncula. In his career he played for Vasco da Gama, São Paulo and Ponte Preta...
, who scored the 1-0. However, as he later narrated himself, Rodríguez Andrade saw the lineman lift his flag during the play, indicating offside against Brazil. In the second the Uruguayan lost when he looked at the judge, Friaça left him behind, to face the goalkeeper one-on-one. When he was confronted by Obdulio Varela
Obdulio Varela
Obdulio Jacinto Muiños Varela was a Uruguayan football player. He was the captain of the Uruguayan national team that won the 1950 World Cup after beating Brazil in the decisive final round match popularly known as the Maracanazo...
, Rodríguez told him: "Fue offside, Jacinto", and then, in a key moment of the game, the captain, with the ball under his arm, protested to the referee for several moments; the goal stood, but Varela had cooled down the situation for Uruguay, and silenced the crowd. Uruguay regrouped, and then Juan Schiaffino scored the equalizer and Alcides Ghiggia
Alcides Ghiggia
Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia is a former Italian Uruguayan football player. He achieved lasting fame for his decisive role in the final match of the 1950 World Cup...
the winner, to complete the famous upset known as the Maracanazo.
1954: End of World Cup glory
Four years later in SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, the focal point of the spectacular World Cup finals was the Hungarian team
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
. The "Golden Team" scored 17 goals in its two first round victories. Meanwhile, Uruguay played against Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
and Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
and won 2-0 and 7-0 respectively, to top their group. In the second round, they defeated England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
4-2, and Hungary beat Brazil by the same score. The defending world champions and the favourites would clash in semi-finals, and in a match that is remembered as one of the most magnificent demonstrations of football by both teams, it took the Magyars 120 minutes to give Uruguay its first ever World Cup defeat. Rodríguez Andrade, who just as he did in 1950, played in every match of the tournament, had a strong performance in his final World Cup appearance, even though he had to play the extra time with a pulled muscle.
South American Championship
Uruguay, which had won its last South American title in 1942 when Rodríguez Andrade was in his teens, was unable to win it six straight times from 1945 to 1955, including the first two in which he appeared, 1953 and 1955. In the 1955 edition, they were humiliated in a 1-6 loss to Angel LabrunaÁngel Labruna
Angel Amadeo Labruna, , was a football player and coach in Argentina. He is tied with Arsenio Erico as the all-time highest goalscorers in the Argentine first division...
's Argentina
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...
. But in early 1956, Montevideo hosted the event, and veteran Andrade, who was the only remaining member of the 1950 World Cup final squad, led the Charrúas
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
to win the title; they defeated Labruna and Omar Sivori
Omar Sivori
Enrique Omar Sívori was an Italian Argentine football striker and manager. He is known for his time with the successful Juventus side during the late 1950s and early 1960s. At club level he also played for River Plate and Napoli.On the international level, he first appeared for the Argentine...
's Argentina in the last match, which was, like six years earlier in Brazil, not a final, but just happened to be de deciding match. Rodríguez Andrade thus became the only Uruguayan player of his generation to win the World Cup and the South American Championship.
After football
His last international match was on June 5, 1957, a 1-1 draw against Argentina. After ending his football career, he resided in Montevideo for the rest of his life. He worked as an usher at Montevideo's Palace of Congress for about 20 years, and during that time he was involved in the founding of basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team 25 de Agosto of the Uruguayan Basketball Federation
Uruguayan Basketball Federation
The Federacion Uruguaya de Basketball also known by the acronymun FUBB, is Uruguay's professional basketball league's federation.-History: under the presidency of Federico Crocker...
. Rodríguez Andrade died in May 1985, and a month after his death, Senator Luis Hierro Gambardella dedicated a speech to him during a session of the Congress.
In December 2005, the Uruguayan Postal Administration issued a stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
commemorating the 100th anniversary of the foundation of Rodríguez' first team, Central F.C.
Central Español
Central Español Fútbol Club, usually known simply as Central Español is a Uruguayan football club based in Montevideo.- The F.U.F era :Together with Peñarol, Central founded F.U.F in 1923 after being expelled from A.U.F...
(since 1971 Central Español). The stamp featured the images of three of the most emblematic figures of the history of the club: in the center, Víctor Rodríguez Andrade, accompanied by his teammate Luis Rijo
Luis Rijo
Luis Alberto Rijo is a former Uruguayan footballer, who played for Central Español.For the Uruguay national football team, he was part of the 1950 FIFA World Cup winning team, but did not play in any matches in the tournament.-References:**...
, and his coach Juan López.
In March 2007, after a 2002 resolution, the Junta Departamental de Montevideo and the city's Comisión de Nomenclatura designated a street of the Barrio Sur "Pasaje Víctor Rodríguez Andrade", to honor the footballer.
Honours
- FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
winner: 19501950 FIFA World CupThe 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II... - FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
semi-finalist: 19541954 FIFA World CupThe 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game... - South American ChampionshipCopa AméricaThe Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
winner: 1956South American Championship 1956South American Championship 1956 was a football tournament held in Uruguay and won by Uruguay with Chile as a second.Enrique Hormazábal from Chile became top scorer of the tournament with 4 goals.-Final round:----------------------------... - Uruguayan first divisionPrimera División UruguayaThe Liga Profesional de Primera División , also known as the Primera División Uruguaya or Primera División de Uruguay , is a professional football league in Uruguay at the top of the country's football league system. It is organized by the Uruguayan Football Association and is contested by 16 teams...
champion (with PeñarolC.A. PeñarolClub Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
): 1953, 1954