Alejandro Scopelli

Early Life

Alejandro Scopelli Casanova was born in La Plata, Argentina, in 1908. He began his football career at Estudiantes de La Plata, where he became part of the legendary team known as "Los Profesores." Scopelli showcased his talent as a forward, scoring an impressive 31 goals in 1931, narrowly missing the golden boot to his teammate Alberto Zozaya.

Playing Career

Scopelli's career took a significant turn in 1933 when he moved to Italy to play for AS Roma, where he also acquired Italian citizenship. He represented the Italy national team once before returning to Argentina in 1936 to join Racing Club. His later career saw him play for clubs in France, including Red Star F.C., and then moving to Portugal to play for C.F. Os Belenenses and S.L. Benfica. Scopelli returned to South America in 1942 to finish his playing days at Club Universidad de Chile. Notably, he was part of the Argentina national team that competed in the inaugural 1930 FIFA World Cup and won the Copa América in 1937.

Managerial Career

After retiring as a player, Scopelli transitioned into coaching, managing various clubs across Mexico, Spain, and Portugal, including Club América, Valencia CF, and FC Porto. He made history as the Sporting CP manager during the inaugural European Cup match in 1955. Scopelli also had international coaching stints with the national teams of Chile, Portugal, and Mexico.

Legacy

Scopelli's contributions to football are remembered through his achievements both as a player and a manager. He won the Copa América with Argentina and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup with Valencia. His coaching success continued with titles in Mexico and Chile, solidifying his legacy in the football world until his passing in 1987.