Alberto Spencer

Alberto Spencer began his career at age 15 playing for Everest. He jumped to fame when he was scouted while playing on loan for Barcelona SC against Peñarol in July 1959. Peñarol's manager, Hugo Bagnulo, asked his scout 'Pibe' Ortega to attempt to sign him after the game was over. He was soon transferred to Peñarol where he amassed three Libertadores Cups and two Intercontinental Cups, as well as several Uruguayan league titles. After his second Intercontinental Cup, he was twice sought by Inter, but ultimately Peñarol's board would not sell him. On the international front, Spencer holds the unique distinction of being the only goalscorer, capped by two different countries simultaneously: Ecuador, and Uruguay. He 'switched' shirts no less than four times. He played for Uruguay against England (2-1) in a friendly match at the legendary Wembley Stadium and scored, making him the first Ecuadorian-born player to score in that stadium. His name was omitted from FIFA's, and Pelé's list of 100 greatest living players. This caused outrage among many South American journalists who believed greats like Spencer, were being ignored in favour of commercialism. David Mellor of the Evening Standard notably blasted FIFA in his reporting of the incident. Although widely considered one of the best South American players of all time, he still remains largely an unknown figure in Europe. This is presumably because he never participated in a World Cup or played in Europe. Similar fates awaited…

Peñarol

Primera División (8): 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968 Copa Libertadores: 1960, 1961, 1966 Intercontinental Cup: 1961, 1966 Supercopa de Campeones Intercontinentales: 1969 Barcelona SC

Serie A: 1971 Individual

Copa Libertadores top scorer: 1960, 1962 Primera División top scorer: 1961, 1962, 1967, 1968 RSSSF - Ecuador: Player of the century IFFHS: 20th best South American player in the century Copa América Historical Dream Team: 2011