Oscar Ruggeri
Encyclopedia
Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri is a former footballer. Nicknamed "El Cabezón" ("The Big-Headed One"), Ruggeri is one of the most successful defenders ever to come out of Argentina.
Ruggeri started his career at Boca Juniors
, playing with Diego Maradona
, with whom he won a league title in 1981. In 1985 he moved to rivals River Plate
, where he won the Libertadores Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and another league title in 1986. In 1988 he left for Europe where he played for Spanish clubs Logroñes and Real Madrid
, where he won yet another league championship. He also played for Vélez Sársfield
, Ancona
in Italy, América
in Mexico, San Lorenzo
and Lanús
, where he ended his career.
During his career he represented his country in three World Cups, captaining Argentina in the final two games of the 1994 competition, after Diego Maradona was expelled from the tournament. Ruggeri was also a key piece in the Argentina teams
that won the trophy in 1986 and lost the final to West-Germany
in 1990. After losing to Romania
in the 1994 tournament, Ruggeri retired from international football having played 97 international games, an Argentine record until it was surpassed by Diego Simeone.
Ruggeri played in 21 Copa América
games, a national record he shares with José Salomón
.
Ruggeri started his career at Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
, playing with Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
, with whom he won a league title in 1981. In 1985 he moved to rivals 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 won the Libertadores Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and another league title in 1986. In 1988 he left for Europe where he played for Spanish clubs Logroñes and Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, where he won yet another league championship. He also played for Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield is a sports club based in the Liniers neighborhood of western Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vélez is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División, the top level of the Argentine league system...
, Ancona
A.C. Ancona
Associazione Calcio Ancona was a professional Italian football club, based in Ancona, Marche. It was founded in 1905 as Unione Sportiva Anconitana, changing its name to Ancona Calcio 1905 in 1981 and being refounded in 2004 with its last denomination....
in Italy, América
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
in Mexico, San Lorenzo
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro is an Argentine sports club based in Boedo neighbourhood, Buenos Aires, mostly known because of its football team....
and Lanús
Club Atlético Lanús
Club Atlético Lanús is a sports club from Lanús, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Founded on 3 January 1915, the club's main sports are football and basketball. In both sports, Lanús plays in Argentina's top divisions: Primera División and Liga Nacional de Básquet...
, where he ended his career.
During his career he represented his country in three World Cups, captaining Argentina in the final two games of the 1994 competition, after Diego Maradona was expelled from the tournament. Ruggeri was also a key piece in the Argentina teams
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...
that won the trophy in 1986 and lost the final to West-Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
in 1990. After losing to Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
in the 1994 tournament, Ruggeri retired from international football having played 97 international games, an Argentine record until it was surpassed by Diego Simeone.
Ruggeri played in 21 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...
games, a national record he shares with José Salomón
José Salomón
José Salomón is a retired Argentine football defender who played club football for Talleres de Remedios de Escalada and Racing Club de Avellaneda and captained the Argentina national football team....
.
Club history
| Season | Club | Games | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 |  Boca Juniors |
21 | 2 |
| 1981 | Boca Juniors |
31 | 1 |
| 1982 | Boca Juniors |
43 | 3 |
| 1983 | Boca Juniors |
19 | 1 |
| 1984 | Boca Juniors |
28 | 1 |
| 1985 | Boca Juniors |
13 | 1 |
| 1985~86 | River Plate |
35 | 1 |
| 1986~87 | River Plate |
18 | 1 |
| 1987~88 | River Plate |
28 | 2 |
| 1988~89 |  Logroñes |
34 | 1 |
| 1989~90 | Real Madrid |
31 | 2 |
| 1990~91 | Vélez Sársfield |
31 | 1 |
| 1991~92 | Vélez Sársfield |
24 | 4 |
| 1992 |  Ancona |
7 | 1 |
| 1992~93 |  América |
27 | 4 |
| 1994 | San Lorenzo |
22 | 1 |
| 1995 | San Lorenzo |
35 | 3 |
| 1996 | San Lorenzo |
27 | 5 |
| 1997 | San Lorenzo |
17 | 1 |
| 1997 | Lanús |
13 | 2 |
Honours (player)
- World Cup 1986, Argentina national football teamArgentina national football teamThe 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...
- 2 Copas 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...
1991Copa América 1991The 1991 Copa América football tournament was hosted by Chile, from July 8 to July 21, 1991. It was organized by CONMEBOL and all ten member nations participated.This was the last time that the tournament consisted of only CONMEBOL member nations...
and 1993Copa América 1993The 1993 Copa América was the 36th Copa América, CONMEBOL's football tournament for national teams. It was held in Ecuador between June 15 and July 4. All 10 CONMEBOL members took part, but for the first time two nations from outside CONMEBOL were invited to take part in the tournament. Mexico and...
, with Argentina national football team - Confederations Cup 1992, with Argentina national football team
- Cup Artemio Franchi 1993, with Argentina national football team
- Copa Libertadores de AméricaCopa Libertadores de AméricaThe Copa Santander Libertadores de América , known simply as the Copa Libertadores and originally known as the Copa Campeones de América , is an annual international club football competition organized by CONMEBOL since 1960...
1986, with River Plate - Intercontinental Cup 1986 with River Plate
- La LigaLa LigaThe Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
of 1990, with Real Madrid - 3 Argentine leaguesPrimera División ArgentinaThe 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...
:
1981 MetropolitanoMetropolitano championshipThe Metropolitano championship was an Argentine football tournament that existed between 1967 and 1984. The Metropolitano formed one half of the Argentine 1st division taking place in the first half of the year, the Nacional took place in the 2nd half of the year. This arrangement lasted until 1982...
, with Boca Juniors
1985/86 League, with River Plate
1995 Torneo Clausura, with San Lorenzo