Obdulio Varela

Obdulio Jacinto Muiños Varela (Spanish pronunciation: [oβˈðuljo βaˈɾela]; September 20, 1917 — August 2, 1996) 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. He was nicknamed "El Negro Jefe" (The Black Chief) because of his dark skin and the influence he had on the pitch, especially during the unlikely victory over Brazil. He was of African, Spanish and Greek ancestry. Commonly regarded as one of the greatest classic holding midfielders, Varela was adept in defence and was renowned for his tenacity and leadership.[2] He is regarded as one of the greatest captains in football history.[3]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Muiños and the second or maternal family name is Varela.
Obdulio Varela
Varela with Uruguay
Personal information
Full name Obdulio Jacinto Muiños Varela
Date of birth (1917-09-20)September 20, 1917
Place of birth Montevideo, Uruguay
Date of death August 2, 1996(1996-08-02) (aged 78)
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Holding midfielder, Centre back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1936–1938 Deportivo Juventud 60 (20)
1938–1943 Montevideo Wanderers 105 (42)
1943–1955 Peñarol 302 (72)
Total 467 (134)
National team
1939–1954 Uruguay 45 (9)
Teams managed
1955 Peñarol
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Varela, born in Montevideo,[4] emerged as a centre half and senior player at Deportivo Juventud, club which he joined in 1936. He debuted in first division with Montevideo Wanderers in 1938.[5]

In 1943, he joined C.A. Peñarol, club for which he would play until his professional retirement in 1955.

International career

Varela's international debut came in a 3–2 win against Chile in the 1939 Copa América in Lima, Peru. Varela entered the match as a substitute.

He played 45 international matches for Uruguay from 1939 to 1954, in which he scored nine goals.[6]

He's most remembered as the captain of the Uruguay team that won 1950 FIFA World Cup, in which he played a vital role. The decisive match was against the hosts Brazil. Uruguay needed to win, but Brazil could win the Cup with a draw. Then when the team were on the dressing room, Juan López, the coach of the Uruguayan team told his players that the best way they could get a chance against Brazil was if they adopted a defensive style, then he left the room and Varela told his teammates “Juan is a good man, but if we do defend ourselves then we will suffer the same fate of Sweden and Spain” (Brazil had beaten Sweden 7-1 and Spain 6-1), and then said “the game is played on the pitch, when you come out to the pitch, don't look to the crowd, those on the outside are made of wood”. The speech played a vital role on his teammates, who played without fear getting a 0–0 draw on the halftime. Five minutes in the second half, Brazil scored, and Varela took scene, when he intentionally walked slowly to his goal, picked up the ball and then argued with the English referee George Reader about a nonexistent offside, with the intention of delaying the restart of the game so the crowd cooled off. After that he said to his teammates 'Now it's time to win the game' and the Brazilians in the crowd were in a silent mood.[7] Uruguay scored through Schiaffino and then, 9 minutes before the finish, with a very nervous Brazil team, Alcides Ghiggia scored the 2–1 for Uruguay, winning the World Cup.

He also played on the 1954 FIFA World Cup with Uruguay defending his 1950 title, but this time, Varela got injured before the semifinals against Hungary, Uruguay lost 4–2 after extra time. Uruguay had never lost a World Cup match when Varela was present.

Post-playing career

His last match was on June 19, 1955 with Peñarol against América. Varela, one of the team's coaches along with Roque Maspoli,[8] came off the bench for the second half but when he realized he couldn't continue, he decided to end his career.[5]

Varela died on August 2, 1996. His remains are buried at Cementerio del Cerro, Montevideo.

Honours

With Uruguay:

  • FIFA World Cup winner in 1950
  • Copa América winner in 1942
  • Copa Baron de Rio Branco winner against Brasil in 1940, 1946, 1948
  • Copa Escobar Gerona winner in 1943

With Peñarol:

  • Uruguayan first division league champion in 1944, 1945, 1949, 1951, 1953 and 1954
  • Torneo de Honor winner in 1944, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953
  • Competencia tourney winner in 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1951 1953

Varela was among the 13 best South American players of the 20th century according to the IFFHS' Century Elections.[9]

References and notes
  1. ""World Cup History page"". Archived from the original on 2010-09-16. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
  2. "FIFA Classic Player: Varela, Uruguay's legendary leader". FIFA. 2014-06-10. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  3. Obdulio Varela Planet World Cup
  4. Salón de la fama Nº 08: Obdulio Jacinto Varela
  5. (in Spanish) Obdulio Jacinto Varela 1917-1996
  6. Uruguay - Record International Players Archived January 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine by RSSSF.
  7. "Obdulio Varela; Remembering The Hero Of The Maracanazo". Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  8. "Tecnicos". Girasolweb.tripod.com. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  9. IFFHS' Century Elections Archived December 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine – RSSSF
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