Obdulio Varela
Encyclopedia
Obdulio Jacinto Muiños Varela (September 20, 1917 — August 2, 1996) was a Uruguay
an football player. He was the captain of the Uruguayan national team
that won the 1950 World Cup
after beating Brazil
in the decisive final round match popularly known as the Maracanazo. He was nickname
d "El Negro Jefe" (The Black Chief) because of his dark skin (he was of Afro-Uruguayan
ancestry) and the influence he had on the pitch
, and especially after the unlikely victory over Brazil. People recall Varela as one of the greatest classic holding midfielders
, adept in defence
as well as in creating scoring chances.
, emerged as a centre half and senior player at Deportivo Juventud, club which he joined in 1936. He debuted in first division with Montevideo Wanderers in 1938.
In 1943, he joined C.A. Peñarol
, club for which he would play until his professional retirement in 1955.
in the 1939 Copa America
in Lima, Peru. Varela entered the match as a substitute.
He played 45 international matches for Uruguay from 1939 to 1954, in which he scored nine goals.
He's most remembered as the captain of the Uruguay team that won 1950 FIFA World Cup
, in which he played a vital role. The decisive match was against the big favorite and host Brazil
, who were celebrating in advance, Uruguay needed to win, but Brazil could win the Cup on a draw. That day, in the morning, Varela came out of his hotel room and saw the newspaper that had in the front 'Today Brazil wins the World Cup', then Varela bought the newspaper as many as he could so he and his teammates urinated on them. Then when the team were on the dressing room, Juan López, the coach of the Uruguayan team told his players that the best way they could get a chance against Brazil was if they adopted a defensive style, then he left the room and Varela told his teammates 'Juan is a good man, but if we do defend ourselves then we will suffer the same fate of Sweden and Spain' (they lost by a large margin against Brazil), and then said 'the game is played on the pitch, when you come out to the pitch, don't look to the crowd, those on the outside are of wood'. The speech played a vital role on his teammates, who played without fear getting a 0-0 draw on the halftime. 5 minutes in the second half, Brazil scored, and Varela took scene, when he intentionally walked slowly to his goal, picked up the ball and then argue with the English referee George Reader
about an innexistent offside, with the intention of delaying the restart of the game so the crowd cooled off. After that he said to his teammates 'Now it's time to win' and the brazilians in the crowd were in a silent mood. Uruguay scored with a goal of Schiaffino and then, 9 minutes before the finish, with a very nervous Brazil team, Alcides Ghiggia
scored the 2-1 for Uruguay, winning the world cup.
He also played on the 1954 FIFA World Cup
with Uruguay defending his 1950 title, but this time, Varela got injured before the semifinals against Hungary
, Uruguay lost 4-2 at extra time. When Varela was present, Uruguay never lost a World Cup game.
, came off the bench for the second half but when he realized he couldn't continue, he decided to end his career.
Varela died on August 2, 1996.
:
With Peñarol
:
Varela was among the 13 best South America
n players of the 20th century according to the IFFHS' Century Elections.
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...
an football player. He was the captain of the Uruguayan national team
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
that won the 1950 World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
after beating Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
in the decisive final round match popularly known as the Maracanazo. He was nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d "El Negro Jefe" (The Black Chief) because of his dark skin (he was of Afro-Uruguayan
Afro-Uruguayan
Afro-Uruguayan refers to Uruguayans of Black African ancestry. Almost a third is found in Montevideo.-History:It is often asserted in the academic literature on Uruguay that the presence and role of Africans in the development of this nation are overlooked. However, Afro-Uruguayans greatly...
ancestry) and the influence he had on the pitch
Association football pitch
An association football pitch is the playing surface for the game of association football made of turf. Its dimensions and markings are defined by Law 1 of the Laws of the Game, "The Field of Play".All line markings on the pitch form part of the area which they define...
, and especially after the unlikely victory over Brazil. People recall Varela as one of the greatest classic holding midfielders
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, adept in defence
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
as well as in creating scoring chances.
Club career
Varela, born in PaysandúPaysandú
-Transportation:The city is served by Tydeo Larre Borges International Airport.-Climate:Paysandú has a humid subtropical climate, described by the Köppen climate classification as Cfa. Summers are warm to hot and winters are cool, with the occurrence of frosts and fog...
, emerged as a centre half and senior player at Deportivo Juventud, club which he joined in 1936. He debuted in first division with Montevideo Wanderers in 1938.
In 1943, he joined C.A. Peñarol
C.A. Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
, club for which he would play until his professional retirement in 1955.
International career
Varela's international debut came in a 3-2 win against ChileChile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
in the 1939 Copa America
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...
in Lima, Peru. Varela entered the match as a substitute.
He played 45 international matches for Uruguay from 1939 to 1954, in which he scored nine goals.
He's most remembered as the captain of the Uruguay team that won 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
, in which he played a vital role. The decisive match was against the big favorite and host Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
, who were celebrating in advance, Uruguay needed to win, but Brazil could win the Cup on a draw. That day, in the morning, Varela came out of his hotel room and saw the newspaper that had in the front 'Today Brazil wins the World Cup', then Varela bought the newspaper as many as he could so he and his teammates urinated on them. Then when the team were on the dressing room, Juan López, the coach of the Uruguayan team told his players that the best way they could get a chance against Brazil was if they adopted a defensive style, then he left the room and Varela told his teammates 'Juan is a good man, but if we do defend ourselves then we will suffer the same fate of Sweden and Spain' (they lost by a large margin against Brazil), and then said 'the game is played on the pitch, when you come out to the pitch, don't look to the crowd, those on the outside are of wood'. The speech played a vital role on his teammates, who played without fear getting a 0-0 draw on the halftime. 5 minutes in the second half, Brazil scored, and Varela took scene, when he intentionally walked slowly to his goal, picked up the ball and then argue with the English referee George Reader
George Reader
George Reader was the fourth man to referee a FIFA World Cup Final, the first Englishman to do so, and the oldest match official at any World Cup in history...
about an innexistent offside, with the intention of delaying the restart of the game so the crowd cooled off. After that he said to his teammates 'Now it's time to win' and the brazilians in the crowd were in a silent mood. Uruguay scored with a goal of Schiaffino and then, 9 minutes before the finish, with a very nervous Brazil team, Alcides Ghiggia
Alcides Ghiggia
Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia is a former Italian Uruguayan football player. He achieved lasting fame for his decisive role in the final match of the 1950 World Cup...
scored the 2-1 for Uruguay, winning the world cup.
He also played on the 1954 FIFA World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
with Uruguay defending his 1950 title, but this time, Varela got injured before the semifinals against Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
, Uruguay lost 4-2 at extra time. When Varela was present, Uruguay never lost a World Cup game.
Post-playing career
His last match was on June 19, 1955 with Peñarol against América. Varela, one of the team's coaches along with Roque MaspoliRoque Máspoli
Roque Gastón Máspoli was an Uruguayan football player and coach. He was the goalkeeper for the Uruguay national team that won the 1950 World Cup....
, came off the bench for the second half but when he realized he couldn't continue, he decided to end his career.
Varela died on August 2, 1996.
Honours
With UruguayUruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
:
- FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
winner in 1950 - Copa AméricaCopa AméricaThe 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...
winner en 1942 - Copa Baron de Rio Branco winner against Brasil in 1940, 1946, 1948
- Copa Escobar Gerona winner in 1943
With Peñarol
C.A. Peñarol
Club Atlético Peñarol also known as Carboneros, Aurinegros and familiarly as Manya, is an Uruguayan sports club based in the Peñarol barrio, Montevideo, best known for its professional football team. The team plays their home matches in Estadio Centenario, the largest stadium in the country, but...
:
- Uruguayan first divisionPrimera División UruguayaThe Liga Profesional de Primera División , also known as the Primera División Uruguaya or Primera División de Uruguay , is a professional football league in Uruguay at the top of the country's football league system. It is organized by the Uruguayan Football Association and is contested by 16 teams...
league champion in 1944, 1945, 1949, 1951, 1953 and 1954 - Torneo de Honor winner in 1944, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953
- Competencia tourney winner in 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1951 1953
Varela was among the 13 best South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n players of the 20th century according to the IFFHS' Century Elections.
External links
- Obdulio Jacinto Varela 1917-1996 - career information and an interview with Varela
- Varela at the Brazilian Museo dos Esportes (Museum of Sports)