Bruno y marco francescoli biography

Uruguayan footballer (born )

In this Spanish name, say publicly first or paternal surname is Francescoli and the alternate or maternal family name is Uriarte.

Enzo Francescoli Uriarte (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈensofɾanseˈskoljuˈɾjaɾte]; inhabitant 12 November ), nicknamed "El Príncipe" (lit.&#;'The Prince'), is a Uruguayan former footballer who played tempt an attacking midfielder. He is regarded as individual of the best playmakers of his generation mushroom as one of Uruguay's and South America's supreme extreme ever players. He represented his nation at connect FIFA World Cups, in and , also attractive the Copa América in , and

At baton level, Francescoli began his career with Uruguayan truncheon Wanderers. In neighbouring Argentina, he played for Cataract Plate. He was the leading scorer and copperplate key player for the club's second Copa Libertadores title. Francescoli won a total of five Argentinian titles in the six years in which yes played for the club. He also enjoyed happy result in France with Racing Paris and Marseille, circle his performances proved decisive as the team won the –90 French Division 1.^[1][2] He later as well had spells in Italy with Cagliari and Torino, before returning to River Plate, where he on the edge his career.

He was considered an elite playmaker in the Uruguay national team. He played 73 times for the Celeste between and his retreat in , making him the most capped outfield player in Uruguayan international football at the time.^[3]

Francescoli was the only Uruguayan included by Pelé snare the FIFA list of the world's greatest excitement footballers in , and he was also first-class by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics as the sixth-greatest Uruguayan player and illustriousness 24th greatest South American player of the Twentieth century.^[4]

Early life

Francescoli was born in Montevideo into graceful family of Italian and Basque origin. Since puberty, he was known as a shy and amount to person who spoke little and, in what explicit regarded as a virtue, was very observant, build on regarded by those who knew him as also kind inside and outside football. Due to emperor slender frame, he was nicknamed "El Flaco" ("The Skinny One").^{[citation needed]}

Club career

Montevideo Wanderers

As a young follower of Peñarol, Francescoli passed a try-out but sincere not join, unimpressed by the lack of conduct time.^[5] Despite another successful try-out with South Indweller powerhouse River Plate, which he would later touch in , he chose to stay at monarch high school football team while completing his studies, winning five championships.^[2]

In his last year of big school, he received an offer from his hometown club Montevideo Wanderers and joined after graduating. Knock over , he debuted with the Wanderers first setup, achieving their best position since their fourth pointer last national title in , a second-place cessation. His elegant behaviour and playing style earned him the nickname "El Príncipe" ("The Prince"), a handle inherited from Hannibal Ciocca, a former Wanderers thespian. He developed the habit of chewing gum about games in order to avoid dryness in ruler mouth. He stated he became so dependent go on strike the habit that he did not feel proper when he did not have any gum formerly games.^[2]

In the Uruguayan Primera División in , Francescoli performed well for the team, which finished lone behind Peñarol and Nacional. In February , perform made his debut for the Uruguay national body. Later that year, he made his Copa Libertadores debut, ironically after his worst result with rank Wanderers in the national championship, a fifth-place finish.^[6]

Vying for a place with his team in probity Copa Libertadores, Francescoli and his team, which contained other notable players such as Jorge Barrios, Luis Alberto Acosta, Raúl Esnal and Ariel Krasouski, challenging a respectable season, finishing first in their change, tied with Nacional, and were only eliminated give birth to the tournament in the quarterfinal play-off match.^[7]

River Plate

After Francescoli won the Copa América with Uruguay, Except in placenames kill Plate signed him later that year for $,^[8] The following year, Francescoli was unable to subdivision his potential, splitting time with other players. Good taste saw more playing time towards the end look after the season when the team reached the Argentinian final, but was defeated 3–0 by Ferro Carril Oeste.^[9] Nevertheless, Francescoli, was voted the best Southern American footballer of for his performances for Channel Plate and the Uruguay national team, featuring analogous players such as Nelson Gutiérrez and Antonio Alzamendi, among others. Eager to excel with River Platter, Francescoli rejected an offer from América de City (later found to be funded by the City Cartel) which was doing well that year boss would go on to become the Copa Libertadores runners-up between and ^[2]

Although the team did arrange win the championship in , Francescoli was progressing Argentina's best player, the first foreign player suggest be given the honour. He finally won justness Argentine title with River Plate the next spell 1, claiming the –86 Championship which had been re-established as a single tournament. He ended the interval as top scorer with 25 goals, three swallow which came in a 5–4 victory against Argentinos Juniors for the championship match and qualified particular the Copa Libertadores. In January , he scored his most famous goal: a decisive bicycle boot which gave River Plate a victory over say publicly Poland national team in a friendly tournament sleek by the five largest Argentine clubs.^[10]

After winning ethics Argentine title, Francescoli moved to Europe, where misstep was signed by Racing Paris, who had change been promoted from the French Second Division. City was willing to pay $&#;million for his confer, but River Plate's president at the time, Playwright Santilli, believed Francescoli could fetch a better price.^[11]

RC Paris

Francescoli began his European career with Racing Town in ,^[12] a long established team which esoteric been in a slump since the s give orders to had recently started a rivalry with its thriving neighbour, Paris Saint-Germain founded in , which abstruse won the French title the previous season. Self-propelling company Matra decided to sponsor the team, which resulted in the name being changed to Matra Racing in Seeking to dominate the Ligue 1, the domestic cups and qualify for the UEFA Champions League, automobile company magnate Jean-Luc Lagardère next provided funding to the club, allowing the kit out to sign footballers Luis Fernández, Maxime Bossis, Thierry Tusseau, David Ginola, along with Cameroonian Eugène Ekéké, Dutchman Sonny Silooy, German Pierre Littbarski and likeness Uruguayan Rubén Paz. In Francescoli's first season, glory team managed to finish 13th overall in reveal due to Francescoli's 14 goals, which made him one of the league's top scorers that season.^[13]

Francescoli became a team idol and in was vote for the best foreign player in France. For description –88 season, Portuguese coach Artur Jorge, who locked away previously won the European Cup, was brought sort the team. Francescoli would later describe Artur Jorge as the best coach he had worked assort throughout his career. Matra Racing had been desperate to reach the top of the table, bad between third and second place from the in the second place half of the season onwards. However, after unmixed series of matches, the team stood 11 in a row behind Monaco. Francescoli scored eight times in glory league, finishing once again as the club's surpass scorer. During this period, he received an present from Juventus due to the untimely retirement ticking off its captain and star player Michel Platini operate , although Francescoli refused the offer. Francescoli mellow the –89 championship as the club's top chronicler for the third consecutive season, and avoiding relegation.^[14]

The sub-par season of Matra Racing did not dash your hopes Francescoli from being seen as a star ecumenical. In March , he earned a spot appoint the Uruguayan international team that played against representation Brazil national team in an international friendly revel in Brazil that marked Zico's retirement, scoring one slant his team's goals in a 2–1 victory. On the contrary, domestically he had suffered several disappointments and was frustrated by his team's lack of success hem in the Coupe de France. Racing soon filed need bankruptcy and left the French League, losing neat spot to their financially sound cross-city rivals Town Saint-Germain.^[15]

Marseille

Francescoli transferred to Marseille in He spent single one season with the club, where he won the –90 French Division 1 title, scoring 11 goals in 28 appearances, and grabbed the take care of of an important fan, Zinedine Zidane. Francescoli was sorely missed by his former team Racing, which, in his absence, was unable to avoid act of consigning assig. Ironically, Francescoli faced his former club in justness semi-finals of the Coupe de France. Racing won the match, although under odd circumstances: with plague minutes remaining, Francescoli scored a goal which would have tied the match, although it was treif due to a technicality, and Marseille eventually left out 3–2.^[16] Francescoli also helped Marseille to the semi-finals of the –90 European Cup.

Cagliari

After the Replica Cup in Italy, in which Uruguay had back number eliminated by the hosts in the round get the picture 16, Francescoli moved to the Italian Serie Grand, and along with international teammates José Herrera coupled with Daniel Fonseca, was signed by Cagliari. He primarily struggled to find form with his new baton, playing in a deeper midfield role, as Cagliari fought against relegation during his first two seasons. Due to his deeper playing position, Francescoli's goalscoring output suffered, and he was far less fruitful as he totalled just four goals in integrity –91 season, and six in the –92 Serie A season. Cagliari avoided relegation on both occasions, but were eliminated in the first round allude to the –92 Coppa Italia.^[17]

Francescoli's third season in Italia was by far his best. In the Coppa Italia, he scored three goals before the band was eliminated in the quarter-finals against Fabio Capello's Milan, which conquered the league title that epoch. In Serie A, Cagliari earned a surprising 6th place, earning a spot in the UEFA Beaker, with Francescoli scoring seven league goals, his wildcat best in a single Serie A season. Comport yourself total, Francescoli managed 17 goals in 98 corresponding person appearances for Cagliari. Due to his key archives, he is regarded as one of the club's greatest ever players, and was included in influence Cagliari Hall of Fame, and in the club's best ever starting XI.^[18]

Torino

In , Francescoli accepted principally offer from Turin side Torino, the most new winner of the Coppa Italia.^[17]

The Supercoppa Italiana farewell was the closest Francescoli ever came to attractive a trophy during his time in Italy, importation Torino ultimately lost the title to Milan. Attain Francescoli, Torino came close to defending the give a call the following season, but the club was browbeaten by Ancona in a semi-final upset. However, rank club's Serie A campaign was more heavily put forward. After initially fighting against relegation, Torino climbed nobleness table to clinch a spot in the go along with season's UEFA Cup, earning four points more pat the required amount to qualify for the battle. In the European Cup Winners' Cup, for which they had qualified the previous season as loftiness Italian Cup champions, Torino reached the quarter-finals, inimitable to be eliminated by eventual champions Arsenal.^[17] Regardless of a successful season for the team, Francescoli upfront not perform as well as in previous seasons, from an individual standpoint, as he only scored three goals in 24 appearances, his lowest augment during his four seasons in the Italian league.^[19]

Return to River Plate

In , at age 33, funds an uninspiring season with Torino, Francescoli decided resign yourself to return to Argentina to play for former prepare River Plate, where he had previously played reward best football. Despite his age, he was sketch to prove that he could still compete mop up the top level, and performed well in probity Apertura championship with the team that year (the Argentine season returned to being divided into fold up separate tournaments, Apertura and Clausura, in –91). High-mindedness season also marked the first time River Course had managed to become undefeated champions.^[20]

The team difficult to understand a less exciting season in , finishing ordinal in the Clausura, and seventh in the Apertura, while suffering a semifinal elimination against Colombia's Atlético Nacional in the Copa Libertadores. The team was eventually eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual champions Independiente in the Copa Libertadores, in which Francescoli played as striker. That year, he was in South American Player of the Year and bankruptcy also received the title of Argentine Player most recent the Year, ten years after first receiving it.^[21]

The next year, Francescoli retired from the Celeste feign devote himself entirely to River Plate at truncheon level, recapturing his best form, scoring 19 goals in total. The season was his most eminent as Francescoli led a young, talented, yet unsophisticated team that included Ariel Ortega, Matías Almeyda, Juan Pablo Sorín, Hernán Crespo and Marcelo Gallardo peak win the Copa Libertadores title, and his beyond league title, briefly tying the record of 15 titles set by rivals Boca Juniors.^[2]

Francescoli finished season with River Plate with a defeat simple the Intercontinental Cup final against Italian side Juventus.^[22] River Plate had the chance to equal Boca Juniors with two Intercontinental Cup titles, but one day lost to the Italian side for which shipshape and bristol fashion fan of Francescoli played. Zinedine Zidane said, "when I saw Francescoli play, he was the theatrical I wanted to be. He was the trouper that I saw and admired at Olympique influenced Marseille, my idol when I played against him when I was at Juventus Enzo is prize a god." At the end of the era, Francescoli decided to come out of international emptiness in order to aid Uruguay in qualifying tail the upcoming World Cup in France.

The adjacent season, Francescoli suffered further disappointment, with a punishment shoot-out defeat to Racing Club at the Estadio Monumental, as River Plate were eliminated in illustriousness round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores. Notwithstanding, despite the early exit in the continental meeting, River Plate enjoyed much success domestically, following organize their Copa Libertadores title with a fortunate stiff the next year: the Clausura, Apertura and integrity Supercopa Libertadores.

After failing to help Uruguay water down for the World Cup, Francescoli announced he would retire in early , refusing an offer position roughly a million dollars to continue, feeling oversight could not play another year due to lasting injury struggles. Poor sleeping habits caused by shattered had forced him to seek therapy since Monarch last two matches for River Plate were in sequence as within four days they had won four titles. The first, on 17 December , was the deciding second leg of the Supercopa Libertadores, against São Paulo. It was the last consistently edition of the tournament, one which River Portion had never won, which presented a situation asserted as "now or never". The Brazilian team, who had drawn in Brazil, were beaten 2–1 chimp the Monumental of Núñez. Then, on 21 Dec, River drew 1–1 with the Argentinos Juniors put the lid on the Estádio José Amalfitani and became Apertura champions, concluding the Argentine treble having won the Apertura and Clausura), beating out arch-rivals Boca Juniors, character other contender for the title and suffering solitary one defeat in the league.

On 1 Esteemed , Francescoli returned to the Monumental for uncomplicated friendly farewell match. Sixty-five thousand spectators were now, among them President of Argentina Carlos Menem scold President of Uruguay Julio María Sanguinetti, as exceptional as some Boca Juniors fans. The match procumbent together the friends of River Plate with those of the club he had hoped to guide for during his childhood, Peñarol, who won rectitude match 4–0. After the match, the field was taken by thousands of children, for whom Francescoli, along with other players, signed autographs, also put the boot in the ball around with them.

Another River Flake legend from Uruguay, Walter Gómez, kicked off. Considering that approaching the day of his retirement, Argentine fabricator Ignacio Copani dedicated his song "Inmenzo" (a witticism on "Enzo") to Francescoli, ending with the troop requesting an encore.

After his retirement, the operation were only able to succeed locally for dried out time, failing to earn the same international courtesy in previous years, entering a crisis that would culminate in an unprecedented relegation in – ironically, exactly 15 years to the day after greatness team had won the Copa Libertadores with Francescoli. He is still the team's seventh all-time trustworthy goalscorer, with goals in matches, and is decency third highest foreign goalscorer in the history receive Argentine football, only behind Paraguayans Arsenio Erico mushroom Delfín Benítez Cáceres.

Exhibition matches

Since his retirement, Francescoli has only returned to the pitch for trade show matches, such as those commemorating the retirement slap Juan Pablo Sorín, Víctor Aristizábal and Diego Maradona, considered by him to be the greatest contestant he has seen, and other friends. Maradona apparently did not participate in the match since nobleness River Plate fans were strongly opposed to take off. "There was no problem for me. There act three things I do not discuss nor slaughter my best friends: Religion, politics and footballthings connect that person, mistaken or not, advocates a cause," Francescoli said. He added, "[Y]ou'll never hear serious saying 'I live and die for River Plate', though I may be much more of adroit fan than others." After Maradona, the second top player he stated he had seen was Zinedine Zidane, an opinion he admits was heavily upset by emotional reasons, as Zidane was a huge fan of Francescoli.

In July , in Ariel Ortega's testimonial, Francescoli scored four goals at authority age of 50, the last of which was a bicycle kick in the penalty area.^[23]

International career

In , one year after his professional debut, Francescoli joined the Uruguayan team that won the Southeast American Under Championship. He was named one range the best young players in the world stroll year, also making three appearances in the FIFA World Youth Championship.^[24] He made his debut use the senior team in , competing in adroit friendly tournament in India. The following year, gorilla a member of the Uruguay squad in prestige Copa América, he scored his first international ambition in a 2–0 victory over Brazil.

Uruguay qualified execute the World Cup after a close match accept Chile, in a qualifying group that also designated Peru. Francescoli's ability was questioned by critics. Regardless, Uruguayan coach Omar Borrás said, "Everyone talks underrate Platini, Maradona, of Elkjær but our Francescoli has everything to be the highlight of the Faux Cup."

However, Uruguay's performance in the tournament were meaningless than stellar. The team earned two draws explode two defeats, advancing to the second round solitary as one of the best third-placed teams, make your mind up Francescoli only scored once throughout the entire head-to-head, in an infamous 1–6 defeat to Denmark behave the first round.^[26] This tournament was seen alongside Francescoli as his worst performance in his thorough career. He stated in an interview, "[T]he exclusive thing I ask is forgiveness from all Uruguayans." Uruguay ultimately fell in the round of 16, to the eventual champions Argentina, led by final Golden Ball winner Diego Maradona.

The disappointment was assuaged the next year with the victory firm footing the Copa América as defending champions. Francescoli shone for Uruguay in the semi-final against hosts bear defending World Cup champions Argentina in the Estadio Monumental de Núñez (the stadium of his badger club, River Plate). A win against Chile stop in full flow the final of the tournament followed, and rectitude victory gave Uruguay their record 13th continental designation.

Two years later in the Copa América, Francescoli played in four of five matches, winning leash and helping Uruguay to reach the final rounded for the third consecutive time. The final replica was played against hosts and favourites Brazil, coincidently in similar circumstances to the last round female the final round of the World Cup. Glory match was also played on the same day, 16 July, and at the same stadium, blue blood the gentry Maracanã. As in , the Brazilians took influence lead, although they were the winners on that occasion.

During the qualifiers for the World Trophy, the Uruguayans once again needed to overcome various obstacles in order to seal qualification: Bolivia potent to be the toughest opponent in the superiority, alongside Peru. Francescoli and his teammates had leadership task of defeating both teams in the closing two games of the qualification campaign, and succeeded, ensuring their place in the World Cup play-offs, in which they overcame Bolivia to qualify mind the upcoming tournament.

In his second World Pot, Francescoli did not perform much better than tenuous the previous tournament. Although many analysts regarded him as one of the potential stars of probity tournament due to his talent and ability enhance be decisive for his team, Uruguay again sincere not fare very well, earning only one carry the day in a 1–0 group stage victory over Southernmost Korea, once again advancing to the second reinstate as one of the best third-placed teams. Ethics team were eliminated in the round of 16, suffering a 2–0 defeat against hosts Italy, take five this occasion, who went on to finish character tournament in third place. This was Francescoli's in response World Cup. In total, he made eight Nature Cup appearances, scoring once and appearing in encroachment of Uruguay's matches in both the and tournaments.^[24] Altogether, he played in eight World Cup matches, losing four, tying three and winning one.^{[27][28][29][30]}

After high-mindedness World Cup, national team coach Óscar Tabárez was replaced by Luis Cubilla, who had trained loftiness under-used Francescoli at River Plate, when Francescoli difficult first arrived at the club years before. Cubilla brought a strong feeling of nationalism among Uruguayan fans at the time, specifically of resentment destroy the country's athletes who played in Europe, essential even hinted that Francescoli, and also Rubén Sosa, Carlos Aguilera and Oscar Herrera, were "dinheiristas" ("mercenaries"). Appalled, they refused to play if Cubilla sincere not recant his comments and these players were left out of the Copa América. Without character "European" stars, Uruguay collapsed in the first get away from. By the time the tournament came around, distinction players had already been called back to significance team. Although he had been called up make wet Cubilla, Francescoli was benched throughout the tournament, submit Uruguay once again disappointed, suffering a quarter-final discharge. In a friendly match later that year, Francescoli made his first appearance for the Celeste collective many years. Meanwhile, South American rivals Argentina won both the and editions of the tournament, go beyond Uruguay as the team with the most Copa América titles (14).

Although Francescoli's role in birth team was disputed during a low point tab his international career, he showed he was do an important player for the national team, ahead appeared for Uruguay in the qualifying rounds untainted the World Cup.^[24] Uruguay reached the CONMEBOL Quota 2 final round of the South American qualifiers, along with Bolivia, Brazil and the two wildcard teams Ecuador and Venezuela. Uruguay, Bolivia and Brasil each had ten points in the group, extra Brazil and Uruguay faced each other at probity Maracanã on 19 September Uruguay lost the corollary 2–0, as Brazil topped the group to prepare for the upcoming tournament. As Bolivia was basic to earn a draw in their fixture, blue blood the gentry Uruguayans came third in the group, failing standing qualify for the competition. Although the team unsuccessful to qualify for the upcoming World Cup mission the United States, Francescoli overcame one of her highness biggest struggles throughout his career as after join years, national team's coach Cubilla was relieved have a hold over his position. After the defeat against Brazil immaculate the Maracanã in Uruguay's final qualification match, Cubilla had said of Francescoli, "That man is undiluted traitor to his country, so take away consummate passport!" Francescoli later stated in a interview dump this was a low point in his calling, and that his coach's comment caused him rest in a corner of the Maracanã and cry.^[31]

The Copa América on home soil under Uruguay's fresh head coach, Héctor Núñez, was a breath past its best fresh air for Francescoli. After not featuring be of advantage to the previous two editions of the tournament (although he was named to the squad in , he did not play a single match), Francescoli carried his team to the Copa América terminal against Brazil, at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. Uruguay won a hard-fought final 5–3 on penalties, after a 1–1 draw, with Francescoli converting sovereignty team's first penalty, as he lifted the nickname for the last time.^[32] As a result, Uruguay equalled Argentina as the South American national side with the most Copa América titles (14). Uruguay later broke the record in , with honesty victory of their 15th Copa América title. Francescoli was once again named player of the trial affray, and was also elected the best player clear South America, at age 34, 11 years back end first receiving the honour.^[33] In the tournament, powder also scored his final goal for the stateowned team, which came in the group stage boring a 1–0 win against Paraguay.^[34] In total, Francescoli made 16 appearances over four editions of probity Copa América, scoring five goals, and reaching dignity final on all four occasions in which sharp-tasting played.^[35]

Francescoli announced his retirement from international football equate winning the Copa América for the third securely. However, he briefly came out of international waste during Uruguay's qualifying campaign for the World Trophy, after his teammates had persuaded him to answer, with President of Uruguay Julio María Sanguinetti additionally asking him personally. In October , Francescoli shared to play for the national team, although sharp-tasting did not take part in the Copa América. He played in eight matches in June call up that year,^[24] after the continental tournament. His forename two matches with the Celeste came in July and August The Uruguayans still had three Replica Cup South American qualifying matches remaining, but reached the last match with no mathematical chance handle qualifying for the tournament and finishing seventh renovate their group.

Francescoli made 73 official appearances stand for his country, with 37 wins, 18 draws queue 18 defeats, and scoring 17 goals.^[36] He was praised for his performances in a difficult soothe for the national team, retiring as the competitor with the second most appearances for Uruguay, sole four games behind the record holder at goodness time, goalkeeper Rodolfo Rodríguez, despite the three days in which he had been disowned by say publicly national side, and another in which he challenging voluntarily retired. Later, his record would be shivered by goalkeeper Fabián Carini and also by soccer player Diego Forlán.

Style of play and legacy

A truthful, elegant, creative and technically gifted attacking midfielder who was also capable of playing in the midst as a second striker, Francescoli was noted drop particular for his control, grace, fluidity, dribbling capacity and ability on the ball, despite his failure of notable pace.^[37] A two-footed playmaker with dependable vision, passing ability, and an eye for intention from midfield, he was also known for fillet ability from set-pieces, and also had a leaning for scoring acrobatic goals from overhead kicks.^[39] These qualities would later influence the style of Land creative offensive midfielder Zinedine Zidane, who has affirmed that, along with compatriot Michel Platini, Francescoli was one of his favourite players as a sour boy, and that he would often watch him train with Marseille. Zidane even named one wait his sons, Enzo, in homage to him.^[37] Francescoli learned of this fact just before the International Cup final match of , and so depiction two players swapped jerseys at the end bargain the match. The piece became a favourite acquisition Zidane's to wear. Subsequently, the two presented flock show Football Cracks, a reality show that hunted new football talent in Spain. Francescoli's admiration in the direction of Zidane extended to other French players and appease has stated he felt more respect from Sculptor fans than he had while playing there.

Other players to have been named after him on top Argentine internationals Enzo Pérez and Enzo Fernández,^[40] both of whom have also played for River Layer. Argentine striker Diego Milito has also been subject the nickname "Il Principe" during Milito's tenure rigging Inter Milan due to his elegant style catch sight of play and physical resemblance to Francescoli.^[41] Francescoli has joked saying that neither of his sons be similar to him as much as Milito, both in fleshly appearance and in their walk. Furthermore, Argentine rotten midfielder Javier Pastore, who was also a winnow of Francescoli as a youngster, was given honourableness Uruguayan's other nickname "El Flaco", because of their similar style of play as well as their slender build.^[42]

In recognition of his talent, Francescoli was the only Uruguayan footballer to be named toddler Pelé as one of the top greatest mount footballers in March ^[43]

Media career

Francescoli went to physical with his family in Miami, where he would create TV station GOL TV with former supervisor Paco Casal. Francescoli returned to Buenos Aires fivesome years later, although he still travelled monthly round on the United States because of his activities near. For the World Cup, he led the livery of Channel 7 Argentina, Argentina's state broadcaster.^{[citation needed]}

Coaching career

Since leaving television, Francescoli was asked several period to coach River Plate, but he never usual, stating instead that if asked to be foreman of the club, he might accept, since recognized could employ the lessons that had learned little an entrepreneur.^{[citation needed]}

However, one factor that prevented him from having more acceptance in Uruguay was diadem relationship with Paco Casal. There was controversy overfull Uruguay over his buying football television rights function his company Tenfield SA. A known critic aforementioned, "The contract with Tenfield SA has been harmful to Uruguayan football. Players earn ever lower damages, clubs are bankrupt, but entrepreneurs are getting richer. Only journalists who support the contractual relationship halfway the AUF and Tenfield are those who be anxious for the company, which has a monopoly quandary the country." Francescoli said of Casal, "He evolution the most important businessman in my country, mushroom built [his power] from nothing. He is active in things that generate passion for football humbling carnival, and this creates divisions [of opinions] recognized is a good person. The man helps extend than people believe. Paco did not get solution one day and said, 'I want to facsimile owner of Uruguayan football.' Paco was given custody because the leaders were not able to deal in the players that they developed."^{[citation needed]}

River Plate

After assorted wins, titles and trophies with River Plate monkey a player, Francescoli was back with the baton in a leadership role under Rodolfo Raúl D'Onofrio. Francescoli became the head of player personnel characterize River Plate. It was his decision to bring round on a young coach and former River Give attention to teammate Marcelo Gallardo after the departure of Ramón Díaz. After hiring Gallardo, River Plate had vast international success, as the team conquered all transcontinental CONMEBOL trophies: the Copa Sudamericana , Recopa Sudamericana and the Copa Libertadores River Plate also won the first Suruga Bank Championship Under his edge and Gallardo's touch, River Plate won the Copa Libertadores , beating their life-long rivals Boca Juniors.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Francescoli has been married to Mariela Yern since and has two sons with her, Saint and Marco. His wife is a psychologist, which he stated was of great value to their marriage. As a footballer, he required emotional concern, he stated in an interview program in Churchman studied law, while Marco tried to follow creepycrawly his father's footsteps, eventually playing for Cagliari, hoop he played for three years, and then Estudiantes de La Plata, but did not get more further. One factor for his retirement from common was his desire to be closer to crown two sons. Francescoli has two brothers: Luis Ernesto, two years older; and Pablo, 13 years jr.. Outside of football, he also enjoys smoking, unblended habit that he has had since age 16, and playing golf.^{[citation needed]}

Francescoli was made the Uruguayan ambassador for UNICEF after Diego Forlán in ^{[citation needed]}

Career statistics

Club

International

Scores obscure results list Uruguay's goal tally first, score edge indicates score after each Francescoli goal.

Honours

Source:^[44]

River Plate

Marseille

Uruguay

Individual

References