Enzo Francescoli : Football (Soccer)
Enzo Francescoli Uriarte (born November 12, 1961 from Montevideo, Uruguay) is a former Uruguayan midfielder set a record with 73 caps for the Uruguayan national team. He was nicknamed “El Principe” or “Le Prince”, meaning “The Prince” for his classic and elegant sty. Francescoli began his professional career with the Montevideo Wanderers Football Club in 1980. Other teams he was part of were River Plate (Argentina), RC Paris (France), Olympique de Marseille (France), Cagliari (Italy) and Torino (Italy). He is considered to be a playmaker in the decadent age of Celeste, the greatest player of Uruguay and one of the greatest to have never played for the two biggest clubs in his country.
Greatest Sporting Achievements
Aside from wearing the Celeste jersey, he is part of the FIFA 100 list, chosen one of the International Federation of History and Statistics Football as the sixth greatest player of Uruguay and the twenty-fourth greatest player of South America of the twentieth century.
Francescoli helped won the 1989 Cup America, playing for four of five games and winning three but reaching the final round and losing to Brazil.
Why Was He So Good?
He was noted for his grace and fluid abilities of dribbling and passing of the ball. He influenced Zinedine Zidane who stated that Francescoli became his favorite player ever since he was younger.
What You May Not Know
- In 2004, Pelé named him one of the top 125 greatest living footballers.
- Enzo Francescoli could score bicycle kicks even in his farewell match. He was 50 during that time.
- Argentinean fans loved him so much - making him one of the few players admired by the football team’s fans.
- He retired because he wanted to be closer to his two sons. Since then, Francescoli only returned to the field for festive games such as celebrating the retirements of great football players he knew.
Was he a legend?
Do you agree with Enzo Francescoli being a legend of football / soccer?
How would you rate their greatness? (from good to 'the best')
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