José María Minella

Football player infobox
playername = José María Minella


fullname =
height =
nickname =
dateofbirth = 1909
cityofbirth = Mar del Plata
countryofbirth = Argentina
dateofdeath = August 13 1981 (Aged 72)
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs = Independiente Mar del Plata
years = 1928-1934
1935-1942
1942-1943
1944
clubs = Gimnasia La Plata
River Plate
Peñarol
Green Cross
caps(goals) =
nationalyears = 1933-1941
nationalteam = Argentina
nationalcaps(goals) = 24 (1)
pcupdate = March 2008

José María Minella (born in 1909 in Mar del Plata) is a former Argentine footballer and manager. He played for and managed the Argentina national team.

Club career

Minella started playing at local club "Independiente de Mar del Plata". In 1928 he was signed by Gimnasia La Plata who won the Argentine championship in 1929. In 1933 he played in the team nicknamed "El Expreso" (The express) that nearly won the championship, the first of many such disappointments for Gimnasia.

In 1935 he moved to River Plate where he was part of three championship winning teams in 1936, 1937 and 1941.

Towards the end of his playing career he played in Uruguay with Peñarol and in Chile with Green Cross.

International career

Minella made his international debut in 1933, he played three times in the Copa América, in 1935, 1937 and 1941. Argentina won the 1937 and 1941 editions. He played a total of 24 games for his country netting one goal.

Managerial career

Minella took over as manager of River Plate in 1947, he led the team through the most successful era in their history. Between 1952 and 1957 they won five championships in six years, including a the first hat-trick of championships in the professional era (1955, 1956 & 1957).

Minella has a spell as manager of the Argentina national team between 1964 and 1965, he returned as caretaker manager for one game in 1968.

Legacy

In preparation for the 1978 FIFA World Cup a football stadium was built in Mar del Plata and named Estadio José María Minella in honour of Mar del Plata's most significant footballing talent.

Titles

As a player

Club Titles

External links

*es icon [http://ar.geocities.com/periodistamdq/Personajes/minella.html Sporting Heroes of Mar del Plata]