- Edgardo Prátola
Football player infobox
playername = Edgardo Prátola
fullname = Edgardo Fabián Prátola
height =
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date|1969|5|20
cityofbirth =La Plata
countryofbirth =Argentina
dateofdeath =April 28 2002 (Aged 32)
cityofdeath =La Plata
countryofdeath =Argentina
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Centre back
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1988-1996
1996-1999
1999-2000
2000-2002
clubs = Estudiantes
León
Unión de Santa Fe
Estudiantes
caps(goals) = 197 (7)
82 (6)
28 (2)
20 (0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 22 October 2007Edgardo Fabián Prátola (
La Plata ,20 May 1969 -La Plata ,28 April 2002 ) was an Argentinefootball (soccer) player.His career started as a defender with
Estudiantes de La Plata , where his devotion was noted as one of the reasons the club returned from relegation in 1995. Prátola owned the No. 6 jersey and was the captain of the team.Prátola played for Mexican side León between 1996 and 1999, after which he returned to Argentina to play for
Unión de Santa Fe , and then returned to Estudiantes in 2000. Diagnosed with cancer of the colon in 2000, he broke the news himself in an unassuming way, quit the team after unsuccessful surgery, and fought his illness to the end. The day before his death he asked that Estudiantes play their next match (against Independiente) and not ask for a postponement. A touching ceremony was held before the game.He is fondly remembered by Estudiantes fans by his nickname "el ruso" (the
Russia n).After winning the
Apertura 2006 championship in a play-off against Boca Juniors, many Estudiantes players displayed t-shirts in honour of Pratola. Current captainJuan Sebastian Veron mentioned him in an emotional victory speech broadcast around the stadium, leading to chanting of 'Ruso' by Estudiantes fans.External links
*es icon [http://chicos.net.ar/chicosnet/html/corresponsales/deportes24.htm News story about his death]
*es icon [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/Archivo/Nota.asp?nota_id=392267 La Nacion obituary]
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