José Soriano
Encyclopedia
José Eusebio Soriano Barco (17 April 1917 - 22 March 2011) was a Peru
vian football goalkeeper who played for the Peru national team
and spent most of his career in the Argentine league. He was the last surviving member of the legendary River Plate
team known as "la máquina" (the machine).
, Perú
. He began his playing career in 1940 with Alfonso Ugarte de Chiclín
of Trujillo
nicknamed "los diablos rojos" (the red devils). His good displays attracted the attention of several of the biggest teams in Peru such as Universitario
and Alianza Lima
and he played five games for the Peru national team
without ever having played in the Peruvian top flight.
of Argentina
. He played 46 games for "el taladro" (the drill) between 1942 and his leaving the club in 1944 to join Argentine giants River Plate
.
He was signed by River Plate alongside three other players (Vaschetto, Fachetti and another goalkeeper Besuzzo). he played 71 league games for River Plate in the legendary team nicknamed "la Máquina" (the machine). His team mates included Adolfo Pedernera
, José Manuel Moreno
, Ángel Labruna
, Félix Loustau
and "Pipo" Rossi
. The Peruvian goalkeeper was well liked and was considered one of the true gentlemen of the game. He was made the captain of River Plate and in 1945 he led them to the Primera División championship. During his time as a River Plate player the directors of the Argentina national team offered him the chance to play for the Argentina national team
but he declined the offer.
In 1947 he joined Atlanta
who were abmitiously trying to build a dream team. The team included other star players from the Primera División including Adolfo Pedernera
, León Strembel
and Higinio García but the did not perform well suffering relegation at the end of the 1947 season prompting Soriano's early retirement from the game.
during the era of "dorado colombiano" (Colombian gold). Soriano rejected offers to come out of retirement from several Colombian clubs such as Millonarios
, América de Cali
and Cúcuta Deportivo
deciding instead to set himself up as a businessman.
Despite having never played in the Peruvian top flight Soriano is considered one of the greatest Peruvian goalkeepers of all time and is also fondly remembered as one of the great River Plate goalkeepers. He died in a Buenos Aires clinic on 22 March 2011 at the age of 93 after several days of treatment after breaking his hip in a fall.
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian football goalkeeper who played for the Peru national team
Peru national football team
The Peru national football team, known as 'el equipo inca', represents Peru in international football competition and is managed by the Peruvian Football Federation . The team competes against the other nine members of FIFA's CONMEBOL conference, which encompasses the countries of South America...
and spent most of his career in the Argentine league. He was the last surviving member of the legendary 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....
team known as "la máquina" (the machine).
Early life
José Soriano was born on 17 April 1917 in ChiclayoChiclayo
Chiclayo is the capital city of the Lambayeque region in northern Peru. It is located 13 kilometers inland from the Pacific coast and 770 kilometers from the nation's capital, Lima...
, Perú
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. He began his playing career in 1940 with Alfonso Ugarte de Chiclín
Alfonso Ugarte de Chiclín
Alfonso Ugarte de Chiclín is a Peruvian football club, playing in the city of Trujillo, Peru.The club is the biggest of Trujillo city, and one of the biggest in La Libertad Province....
of Trujillo
Trujillo, Peru
Trujillo, in northwestern Peru, is the capital of the La Libertad Region, and the third largest city in Peru. The urban area has 811,979 inhabitants and is an economic hub in northern Peru...
nicknamed "los diablos rojos" (the red devils). His good displays attracted the attention of several of the biggest teams in Peru such as Universitario
Universitario de Deportes
Club Universitario de Deportes, also known as Universitario, or more popularly as [La] "U", is a Peruvian football club located in Lima. It is the most successful football club in Peru. The club was founded in 1924 under the name Federación Universitaria by students of the National University of...
and Alianza Lima
Alianza Lima
Club Alianza Lima is a Peruvian First Division football club who plays at the Estadio Alejandro Villanueva in the La Victoria District of Lima, Peru. They are one of the most famous and well supported clubs in the country and the oldest team in the Peruvian First Division.Alianza enjoyed success...
and he played five games for the Peru national team
Peru national football team
The Peru national football team, known as 'el equipo inca', represents Peru in international football competition and is managed by the Peruvian Football Federation . The team competes against the other nine members of FIFA's CONMEBOL conference, which encompasses the countries of South America...
without ever having played in the Peruvian top flight.
Playing in Argentina
After a number of strong performances at the 1942 South American Championship he attracted international attention and was signed up by BanfieldClub Atlético Banfield
Club Atlético Banfield is an Argentine sports club located in the city of Banfield, part of Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires province. Founded on 21 January 1896 by residents of the town of British origin , its main activity is football...
of Argentina
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...
. He played 46 games for "el taladro" (the drill) between 1942 and his leaving the club in 1944 to join Argentine giants 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....
.
He was signed by River Plate alongside three other players (Vaschetto, Fachetti and another goalkeeper Besuzzo). he played 71 league games for River Plate in the legendary team nicknamed "la Máquina" (the machine). His team mates included Adolfo Pedernera
Adolfo Pedernera
Adolfo Alfredo Pedernera , born in Avellaneda, Argentina, was a football player and coach. Nicknamed "El Maestro" , He is still considered by many to be one of the greatest Argentine players of all-time. He was elected the 12th best South american footballer of the 20th century in a poll by the...
, José Manuel Moreno
José Manuel Moreno
José Manuel Moreno Fernández , nicknamed "El Charro", was an Argentine football inside forward who played for several clubs in Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia, and was the first footballer ever to have won top division league titles in four different countries .Moreno...
, Ángel Labruna
Ángel Labruna
Angel Amadeo Labruna, , was a football player and coach in Argentina. He is tied with Arsenio Erico as the all-time highest goalscorers in the Argentine first division...
, Félix Loustau
Félix Loustau
Félix Loustau is a former Argentine footballer who was a key player on the River Plate squad known as La Máquina. La Maquina is considered to be one of the greatest team ever assembled in the history of South American football...
and "Pipo" Rossi
Néstor Rossi
Néstor Raúl "Pipo" Rossi was an Argentine football midfielder.-Playing career:Nicknamed "Pipo", he started his career at River Plate, playing from 1945 to 1949, and then again from 1955 to 1958, winning a total of 5 Argentine leagues. In total, Rossi played 155 matches for River Plate scoring 7...
. The Peruvian goalkeeper was well liked and was considered one of the true gentlemen of the game. He was made the captain of River Plate and in 1945 he led them to the Primera División championship. During his time as a River Plate player the directors of the Argentina national team offered him the chance to play for 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...
but he declined the offer.
In 1947 he joined Atlanta
Club Atlético Atlanta
Club Atlético Atlanta is an Argentine sports club from Buenos Aires. Nicknamed Los Bohemios , its football team won the 2010/11 Primera B Metropolitana championship and promoted to the Primera B Nacional for the 2011/12 season.-History:The club was founded on October the 12th, 1904 in Buenos...
who were abmitiously trying to build a dream team. The team included other star players from the Primera División including Adolfo Pedernera
Adolfo Pedernera
Adolfo Alfredo Pedernera , born in Avellaneda, Argentina, was a football player and coach. Nicknamed "El Maestro" , He is still considered by many to be one of the greatest Argentine players of all-time. He was elected the 12th best South american footballer of the 20th century in a poll by the...
, León Strembel
León Strembel
León Strembel is a retired Argentine football midfielder.Strembel began his career with Club Atlético Lanús in 1939. He played for the club through 1944, then he joined Racing Club de Avellaneda from 1945 to 1946...
and Higinio García but the did not perform well suffering relegation at the end of the 1947 season prompting Soriano's early retirement from the game.
Later life
After his retirement as a player he continued his involvement with football, he was an important early figure in the Futbolistas Argentinos Agremiados (Argentine players union) and had a role in the organisation of the 1948 strike which resulted in the departure of a number of players to play in ColombiaColombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
during the era of "dorado colombiano" (Colombian gold). Soriano rejected offers to come out of retirement from several Colombian clubs such as Millonarios
Millonarios
Millonarios Fútbol Club is a Colombian football club based in Bogotá. As of 2011, Millonarios shares with rivals América de Cali the most Fútbol Profesional Colombiano championships, 13 in total, although Millonarios haven't won this tournament since 1988. They are also the third Colombian team to...
, América de Cali
América de Cali
Corporación Deportiva América, commonly known as América de Cali or simply América is a Colombian football club based in Cali. They currently play in the Categoría Primera A, the top-flight professional league in the country....
and Cúcuta Deportivo
Cúcuta Deportivo
Corporación Nuevo Cúcuta Deportivo is a football club based in the city of Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, Colombia. The club was officially founded on September 10, 1924 and plays its home games at the General Santander Stadium, which has a capacity of 45,000....
deciding instead to set himself up as a businessman.
Despite having never played in the Peruvian top flight Soriano is considered one of the greatest Peruvian goalkeepers of all time and is also fondly remembered as one of the great River Plate goalkeepers. He died in a Buenos Aires clinic on 22 March 2011 at the age of 93 after several days of treatment after breaking his hip in a fall.
Titles
River Plate- Primera División (1): 1945