José Manuel Moreno

Moreno was born in the neighbourhood of La Boca, in Buenos Aires, and grew up in the surroundings of the club Boca Juniors' stadium, La Bombonera. At the age of 15, he tried out for the lower divisions of Boca Juniors, but did not make the selection. According to the Argentine Football Association archives, he said, frustrated: "some time you will regret it". Moreno then became part of the lower divisions of River Plate, Boca Junior's arch-rival, in 1933, having been recommended by Bernabé Ferreyra, a notable forward for River Plate.

River Plate (1935–1944)

At the age of 18, Moreno was selected along with other young players from the club by manager Emérico Hirschl to make a tour in Brazil. His first competitive appearance was against Brazilian side Botafogo. He debuted in Primera División on March 17, 1935, in a 2–1 win against C.A. Platense, scoring one goal. Quickly become the greatest figure of Argentine football, he was part of the squad that won league titles in 1936 and 1937, and went on to become a key player among Adolfo Pedernera on the River Plate squad known as La Máquina, famous for his line of attack composed by Moreno, Pedernera, Ángel Labruna, Juan Carlos Muñoz, and Félix Loustau, and which dominated Argentine football during the first half of the 1940s decade, winning with Moreno two national titles (1941, 1942) and many Aldao Cups.

Mexico (1944–1946)

In 1944, Moreno was transferred to México Primera División club España, who had…

Moreno was a member of the Argentina national team from 1936 to 1950, earning 34 caps and scoring 19 goals. Moreno was part of the winning squads at the South American Championships (now Copa América) of 1941, 1942 and 1947. He scored the tournament's milestone goal number 500 in an atypical match against Ecuador: he scored five goals in that match, a Copa América record which he shares with Héctor Scarone (Uruguay), Juan Marvezzi (Argentina) and Evaristo (Brazil). That day, Argentina beat Ecuador 12–0, which is also the largest goal difference in a single Copa América match. Moreno was the top goalscorer of the 1942 South American Championship with seven goals, along with Herminio Masantonio, and was chosen best player of the 1947 edition. He is also tied for third place among the Copa América's all-time top scorers, with 13 overall goals.

His first significant stint in coaching occurred in Colombia with Independiente Medellín. In 1955, acting as a player-manager, he led the club to the Colombian championship. This historic achievement made him the first footballer to win league titles in four different countries (Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and Colombia). He would later return to manage the Colombian outfit again between 1960 and 1961, officially retiring as a player during a friendly match against Boca Juniors where he both played and coached.

In his native Argentina, Moreno's first pure managerial role came in 1958 when he was appointed co-manager of Boca Juniors alongside Bernardo Gandulla. The following year, his stature in the domestic game earned him the prestigious role of managing the Argentina national football team. Although his tenure with the Albiceleste in 1959 was relatively brief, it highlighted the immense respect he commanded within the Argentine Football Association. Continuing his deep ties with South American football, Moreno also crossed the Andes to manage the Chilean powerhouse Colo-Colo, bringing his extensive tactical experience to a country where he was already revered from his playing days with Universidad Católica. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Moreno remained deeply involved in the Argentine domestic circuit, taking the helm at traditional clubs such as Huracán and All Boys. However, his most sentimental and enduring managerial chapter occurred at the end of his life with…

River Plate

Argentine Primera División (6): 1936 Copa Campeonato, 1936 Copa de Oro, 1937, 1941, 1942, 1947 Copa Aldao: 1936, 1937, 1941, 1947 Copa Ibarguren: 1937, 1942, 1952 Copa Adrián C. Escobar: 1941 RC España

Mexican Primera División: 1944–45 Universidad Católica

Campeonato Nacional: 1949 Independiente Medellín

Campeonato Profesional: 1955, 1957 Argentina

South American Championship: 1941, 1947 Individual

South American Championship top scorer: 1942 among Herminio Masantonio South American Championship Best Player: 1947 Best Player of Chile: 1949 "Premio Konex de Platino" 1980 He was selected among the 25 best players in the world in the 20th century by the IFFHS in 1999. He also ranked as the fifth best player in South America, and as the third best in Argentina, behind Diego Maradona and Alfredo Di Stéfano. IFFHS Argentina All Times Dream Team (Team B): 2021