José María Minella
Encyclopedia
José María Minella was a former Argentine
footballer
and manager. He played for and managed the Argentina national team
.
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.
, 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.
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.
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.
International titles
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and manager. He played for and managed the Argentina national team
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
.
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 championshipAmateur Era in Argentine football
The amateur era in Argentine football lasted between 1891 and 1931.-History:The first league tournament outside the United Kingdom took place in Argentina in 1891, it was dominated by British expatriate players and teams. The Scottish influence is evident in the names of the league's first winners...
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
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
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
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
with Peñarol and in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
with Green Cross.
International career
Minella made his international debut in 1933, he played three times in the Copa AméricaCopa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
, in 1935
South American Championship 1935
The thirteenth edition of the South American Championship was held in Lima, Peru from January 6 to January 27, 1935.After the 1930 FIFA World Cup, in which Uruguay defeated Argentina by four goals to two in the final match, the Argentine team broke football relations with their Uruguayan...
, 1937
South American Championship 1937
The fourteenth edition of the South American Championship of football was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina from December 27, 1936 to February 1, 1937....
and 1941
South American Championship 1941
The sixteenth edition of the South American Championship was held in Santiago, Chile from February 2, 1941 to March 4, 1941.With the purpose of celebrating the fourth centenary of Santiago's foundation by Pedro de Valdivia, Chile requested to host this tournament's edition...
. 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 PlateClub Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
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 Cup1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
a football stadium was built in Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...
and named Estadio José María Minella
Estadio José Maria Minella
The Estadio José María Minella is a stadium in Mar del Plata, Argentina.The stadium was built for the 1978 World Cup. It has capacity for 35,354 spectators, although some of the capacity is standing only, like many Argentine stadiums....
in honour of Mar del Plata's most significant footballing talent.
As a player
Club Titles| Season | Team | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1929 |  Gimnasia La Plata |
Argentine championship Amateur Era in Argentine football The amateur era in Argentine football lasted between 1891 and 1931.-History:The first league tournament outside the United Kingdom took place in Argentina in 1891, it was dominated by British expatriate players and teams. The Scottish influence is evident in the names of the league's first winners... |
| 1936 | River Plate Club Atlético River Plate Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football.... |
Primera División Argentina Primera División Argentina The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs... |
| 1937 | River Plate Club Atlético River Plate Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football.... |
Primera División Argentina Primera División Argentina The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs... |
| 1941 | River Plate Club Atlético River Plate Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football.... |
Primera División Argentina Primera División Argentina The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs... |
International titles
| Season | Team | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 South American Championship 1937 The fourteenth edition of the South American Championship of football was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina from December 27, 1936 to February 1, 1937.... |
Argentina Argentina national football team The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro... |
Copa América Copa América The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body... |
| 1941 South American Championship 1941 The sixteenth edition of the South American Championship was held in Santiago, Chile from February 2, 1941 to March 4, 1941.With the purpose of celebrating the fourth centenary of Santiago's foundation by Pedro de Valdivia, Chile requested to host this tournament's edition... |
Argentina Argentina national football team The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro... |
Copa América Copa América The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body... |
Club titles
| Season | Team | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | River Plate Club Atlético River Plate Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football.... |
Primera División Argentina Primera División Argentina The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs... |
| 1953 | River Plate Club Atlético River Plate Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football.... |
Primera División Argentina Primera División Argentina The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs... |
| 1955 | River Plate Club Atlético River Plate Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football.... |
Primera División Argentina Primera División Argentina The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs... |
| 1956 | River Plate Club Atlético River Plate Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football.... |
Primera División Argentina Primera División Argentina The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs... |
| 1957 | River Plate Club Atlético River Plate Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football.... |
Primera División Argentina Primera División Argentina The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs... |