Alberto Tarantini

Alberto César Tarantini (born 3 December 1955) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a defender. He won the 1978 FIFA World Cup with the Argentina national football team. He played as a defensive left back early in his career, and later as a wing back.

Alberto Tarantini
Tarantini with the Argentina national team, 1982
Personal information
Full name Alberto César Tarantini
Date of birth (1955-12-03) 3 December 1955
Place of birth Ezeiza, Argentina
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Left back, Centre back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1973–1977 Boca Juniors 179 (0)
1978–1979 Birmingham City 23 (1)
1979 Talleres de Córdoba 13 (1)
1980–1983 River Plate 107 (4)
1983–1984 Bastia 29 (1)
1984–1988 Toulouse 130 (8)
1988–1989 St. Gallen
National team
1974–1982 Argentina 61 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Born at Ezeiza, Tarantini rose through the Boca Juniors youth divisions in the early 1970s, and was noted for his afro hairdo and his large front teeth, which earned him the nickname conejo ("rabbit").

In 1977 with Boca Juniors he won his first international club football competition and one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world and the most prestigious club competition in Latin American football – Copa Libertadores, when after the goalless draw Boca defeated Cruzeiro 5–4 on penalties. The match was held at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay on 14 September 1977.[1]

Tarantini was part of the Argentina under-23 team that won the 1975 Toulon Tournament, together with Jorge Valdano, Américo Gallego, and others, with César Menotti as coach. He became the left-back of the Argentina national football team after Jorge Carrascosa left the team (the book El DT del Proceso by Gasparini and Ponsico[2] claims that the wolf Carrascosa declined to play for the dictatorship). He was also, at 22, the youngest player of that team.

A few months before the 1978 FIFA World Cup, he had a contractual dispute with Boca that left him clubless, as Boca management pressured all Argentine clubs into denying him a new contract. After his performances during the World Cup (he scored a goal in the 6–0 victory against Peru, and played in the final against The Netherlands) he was signed by Birmingham City for £295,000. His spell in England was overshadowed by poor discipline, with Tarantini flattening Manchester United defender Brian Greenhoff, and ending his 23-game spell in Birmingham by wading into the crowd to punch a heckler.

After his return to Argentina he played for Talleres de Córdoba, River Plate, and European teams SC Bastia, Toulouse and FC St. Gallen.

In 1982 Tarantini was voted into the Top Ten of the South America Player of the Year awards.

Tarantini also played in the 1982 FIFA World Cup for Argentina, retiring from the national team immediately thereafter.

Personal life

Tarantini was married to fashion model Patricia Pata Villanueva. His brother George Tarantini is a former college soccer coach.

Honours

Club

Boca Juniors

River Plate

International

Argentina

Individual

References
  1. "Boca Juniors 0–0 Cruzeiro – aet 5–4 pen". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Prepared and maintained by John Beuker and Pablo Ciullini for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2017. Copa Libertadores de América 1977
  2. (in Spanish) El DT del Proceso
  3. "Boca Juniors 1–0 River Plate". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Prepared and maintained by Pablo Ciullini and Osvaldo José Gorgazzi for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2017. Campeonato Nacional 1976 (National Championship)
  4. "River Plate won the Metropolitano (20th title)". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Prepared and maintained by Osvaldo José Gorgazzi for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 15 February 2017. Campeonato Metropolitano 1980 (1980 Argentine Primera División)
  5. "Ferro Carril Oeste (BA) 0–1 River Plate. Champion: Club Atlético River Plate". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Prepared and maintained by Osvaldo José Gorgazzi for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. 15 October 2005. Retrieved 15 February 2017. Campeonato Nacional 1981 (1981 Argentine Primera División)
  6. "La Selección de Todos los Tiempos" [The Team of All Time] (in Spanish). Argentine Football Association. 4 January 2016. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
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