With the Torneo Final all wrapped up, we look back on an eventful season which has witnessed Newell’s Old Boys deservedly lift the trophy and still in with a shot of the Copa Libertadores, Independiente descend into the Nacional B for the first time in their history, much to the amusement of everyone else in Argentina, and 2 big clasicos return for next season with the promotion of Rosario Central and Gimnasia. As always we decide on the best manager, the best player and the best goal in this year’s Torneo Final plus all the other talking points from a San Lorenzo season ticket holder in the top job at the Vatican to a transvestite in his/her underwear in the stands. Good, bad and sometimes very ugly Argentinian football never fails to disappoint when it comes to stories! Enjoy!
The big news globally during the Torneo Final was Pope Francis entering the Vatican, the first Latin American Pope and more importantly, a life long San Lorenzo fan. This generated mountains of headlines but all that has mattered on the pitch has been his sides incredible run of form since. 6 wins on the bounce and 11 unbeaten saw San Lorenzo mount a late surge up the table to qualify for the Copa Sudamericana and look well placed for the Torneo Inicial.
Then we had the Pablo Migliore saga. The San Lorenzo keeper was sensationally arrested following a match and jailed for 40 days in connection with a murder. The chief suspect was, La Doce’s (Boca Juniors barra bravas) second in command, and Migliore was suspected of aiding him in his bid to avoid arrest. Eventually a deal was struck and Migliore was released, only to have his contract with San Lorenzo scrapped, and so he decided to make a quick exit from Argentina and promptly signed for Dinamo Zagreb.
Independiente’s relegation was shrouded in mystery for much of the season as conspiracy theories flew around. Their relegation rivals claimed that Julio Grondona and the AFA were in cahoots with El Rojo and would attempt to save them and then Racing lost at home to Quilmes, a result that hindered Independiente’s chances of survival amid suggestions that they threw the game to guarantee the relegation of their closest rivals. Either way one of the biggest teams in South American football will be playing its football outside the top flight next season, like River Plate in 2011.
Replacing Union, Independiente and San Martin will be Rosario Central, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Olimpo. Two huge derbies to look forward to when Central clash with Newell’s Old Boys and Gimnasia meet Estudiantes – something that I’m sure the AFA and the police are not looking forward to quite as much. I will be writing more on these sides later.
MANAGER/TEAM OF THE SEASON
This could only go to one man really and that is the saviour of Newell’s Old Boys, Gerardo Martino. Having taken over the job with Newell’s in relegation trouble their turnaround in fortunes has been meteoric. As a player Martino was in the Newell’s side that last won the championship in 1992, then under the leadership of Marcelo Bielsa, and now Martino has followed in his mentors footsteps and could yet go one better if they were to lift the Copa Libertadores (their semi final first leg against Atletico Miniero is in 1 week) . Newell’s have been a breath of fresh air to watch with their attacking and somewhat carefree approach to defending but with the highest number of goals scored for 18 championships, it has been successful. Martino has recruited astutely and got his side playing well and leaves Newell’s in great shape. He has already announced that he will be departing after this season and I am sure that a top job beckons. Links to several jobs in Spain, even reportedly on Real Madrid’s list albeit below Carlo Ancelotti, suggest that Martino will be eating at Europe’s top table soon enough. (more on Newell’s here)
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
There have perhaps been other contenders but with Newell’s sweeping aside all in front of them in the league and the Copa Libertadores, it is difficult not to look past them and more importantly, Ignacio Scocco. The nippy front man has once again topped the goal scoring charts, as well as scoring 5 in the Copa Libertadores and, like his manager, is destined to move on. Scocco wants to move to Europe to improve his chances of representing Argentina and at 28 is at a prime age to do so and make an immediate impact. After the Libertadores is resolved it will be interesting to see where Scocco ends up.
GOAL OF THE SEASON
There have been some wonderful strikes in this year’s Torneo Final, looking back over the previous monthly awards. February and March gave us virtually identical, spectacular long range volleys, first by Carlos Carbonero of Arsenal, and then, Wilfredo Olivero of Argentinos Juniors, and it is impossible to say which is better. However, I am going to go with Carbonero’s purely on the basis that he smashed in another thunderous drive in the final weekend to prove that it wasn’t a one off! Here are both goals for your enjoyment….
1) Carlos Carbonero Argentinos Juniors Vs ARSENAL
2) Wilfredo Olivero ARGENTINOS JUNIORS Vs Quilmes
Two notable goals from outside the Torneo Final were Sebastian Druissi’s overhead kick for the Argentina Under 17s against Colombia and Ruben Botta’s superb strike against Libertad in the Copa Libertadores. Sadly Botta missed most of this season with a knee injury ahead of his move to Inter Milan.
TEAMS OF THE SEASON
Torneo Final 2013 Young Players
Thanks to DataFutbol Argentina for these teams. Follow DataFutbol on twitter
And now for something a little different….
Sadly, as always, there was also plenty of unsavoury incidents with the crowds which I don’t want to dwell on so instead leave you with two of the most bizarre moments from the season.
Argentinos fans unhappy with toothless performance
Losing 3-1 to Belgrano and getting dragged into the relegation fight one fan decided to protest by throwing a set of false teeth at manager, Caruso Lombardi. Perhaps they had the desired effect as Argentinos avoided the drop and with Caruso still in charge things are never going to be dull.
And finally…
In my local clasico between Nueva Chicago and Almirante Brown we witnessed one of the strangest taunts as Chicago fans brought along a transvestite and dressed him/her up in an Almirante shirt to join in with the songs. Sadly this must have worked as Chicago won the game 1-0 but still finished bottom of the league.
golazo argentino 