Mario Alberto Kempes Chiodi(Spanish pronunciation:[ˈmaɾjoalˈβeɾtoˈkempesˈtʃjoði],Italian:[ˈkjɔːdi];born 15 July 1954) is an Argentine former professionalfootballerwho played as astrikerorattacking midfielder.A prolific goalscorer, he finished asLa Liga'stop goalscorertwice withValenciawhere he amassed 116 goals in 184 league games. He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.[3][4][5]
![]() Kempes with Valencia in 1982 | |||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Mario Alberto Kempes Chiodi | ||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | 15 July 1954 | ||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Bell Ville,Argentina | ||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Striker,attacking midfielder | ||||||||||||||||
Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
1961–1968 | Club Atlético y Biblioteca Bell | ||||||||||||||||
1968–1969 | Talleres | ||||||||||||||||
1969–1970 | Instituto | ||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
1970–1973 | Instituto | 13 | (11) | ||||||||||||||
1973–1976 | Rosario Central | 107 | (85) | ||||||||||||||
1976–1981 | Valencia | 142 | (95) | ||||||||||||||
1981–1982 | River Plate | 29 | (15) | ||||||||||||||
1982–1984 | Valencia | 42 | (21) | ||||||||||||||
1984–1986 | Hércules | 38 | (10) | ||||||||||||||
1986–1987 | First Vienna | 20 | (7) | ||||||||||||||
1987–1990 | St. Pölten | 96 | (34) | ||||||||||||||
1990–1992 | Kremser SC | 39 | (7) | ||||||||||||||
1993–1994 | Pelita Jaya | 18 | (12) | ||||||||||||||
1995 | Fernández Vial | 11 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
1996 | Lushnja[1] | ||||||||||||||||
Total | 555 | (302) | |||||||||||||||
International career | |||||||||||||||||
1973–1982 | Argentina | 43 | (20) | ||||||||||||||
Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||
1995–1996 | Pelita Jaya | ||||||||||||||||
1996 | Lushnja(player-manager)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
1997–1998 | Mineros de Guayana | ||||||||||||||||
1999 | The Strongest | ||||||||||||||||
2000 | Blooming | ||||||||||||||||
2000–2001 | Independiente Petrolero | ||||||||||||||||
2001–2002 | Casarano | ||||||||||||||||
2002 | San Fernando[2] | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
At international level, Kempes was the focal point of Argentina's1978 World Cupwin where he scored twice in thefinaland received theGolden Bootas top goalscorer. He also won theGolden Ballfor the player of the tournament, making him one of only three players to have won all three awards at a single World Cup, along withGarrinchain 1962 andPaolo Rossiin 1982.
Kempes wonSouth American Footballer of the Year,Onze d'Or European footballer of the YearandWorld Cup Golden Ballin 1978. In 2004, he was named as one of theTop 125 greatest living footballersas part ofFIFA's 100th anniversary celebration.[6]Kempes was nicknamedEl ToroandEl Matador.
Club career
editKempes was born inBell Ville,Córdoba.His father, Mario Quemp, was of German heritage. His mother, Teresa Chiodi, was Italian. At the age of seven he began playing with a junior team and at fourteen he joined theTalleresreserves.
Kempes' career started at local clubInstituto,where he played alongsideOsvaldo Ardilesbefore quickly moving on toRosario Central,where he established himself as a remarkable goalscorer, scoring 85 goals in 105 matches, promptingValenciato sign him. AtMestallahe would go on to win theCopa del Rey,theEuropean Cup Winners' Cupand theUEFA Super Cupas well as two consecutivePichichis,scoring 24 and 28 goals in the 1976–77 and 1977–78 seasons. Famous as a hard-working forward, he used to strike from outside thepenalty areawith his surging runs towards goal and was not the traditional center-forward operating solely inside the box. Manydefendersfound difficulty handling his attacking style.
Before the1978 World Cup,Kempes was the only foreign-based player on the list of coachCésar Luis Menotti's Argentina national team. when announcing the squad he had selected for the 1978 tournament, Menotti described him with these words: "He's strong, he's got skill, he creates spaces and he shoots hard. He's a player who can make a difference, and he can play in a centre-forward position."
Kempes had been the top scorer inLa Ligathe previous two seasons and was determined to show on home soil that he could deliver against the best on the sport's greatest stage. However, he had failed to get on the score-sheet inWest Germanyin 1974, at the age of 19, and after the first round group stage in 1978, his name was still missing among goal scorers in thetournament.
After leaving Valencia in 1984, Kempes spent two years atHérculesin nearbyAlicantebefore spending six years at variousAustrianclubs. His play declined in his 30s and he did not compete for top scorer honours in the Austrian top flight. He rounded off his career with stints at more obscure clubs inIndonesia,ChileandAlbaniaduring the 1990s.
International career
editDuring his club career he won 43 caps forArgentinaand scored 20 times. He represented his country in threeWorld Cupsin1974,1978and1982,winning the competition in 1978. He was theleading goalscorerin the 1978 tournament, scoring six goals in three braces: the first two in Argentina's first semi-final group stage match against Poland, another two against Peru, and the last two in the final against the Netherlands, which Argentina won 3–1. His second goal, in the 105th minute, was the game winner in extra time. However, in the same tournament, he notoriously stopped a goal with his hand in a second-round match against Poland.[7]This resulted in a penalty kick that was promptly saved byUbaldo Fillol.[8]His goals in the 1978 World Cup Final were his last for Argentina at the age of just 23.
In 1978, he was namedSouth American Football Player of the Year( "El Mundo," Caracas, Venezuela). He was named byPeléas one of thetop 125 greatest living footballersin March 2004.
Managerial career
editKempes made his full-time managing debut in Albania. His brief spell withLushnjawas groundbreaking, as he became the first foreign manager who signed a foreign player in Albanian football history. His career in Albania came to a quick end in 1997.[1]The following year, he landed a job with Venezuelan sideMineros de Guayana.In 1999, Kempes moved to Bolivia and managedThe Strongest,before taking charge ofBloomingin 2000. Previously, he had worked as assistant coach for Uruguayan managerHéctor NúñezinValenciaand as a player-manager ofIndonesian LeaguechampionsPelita Jaya.
Broadcasting career
editHe currently works as a football analyst and commentator in Spanish forESPN Deportes(ESPN's Spanish-language version). With Fernando Palomo and Ciro Procuna, he provides the commentary in the Latin American version of theFIFAfranchise video games starting fromFIFA 13up untilFIFA 23.He also serves as a commentator on theEA Sports FCseries, beginning withEA Sports FC 24.
Career statistics
editClub
editClub | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Instituto | 1973 | Primera División | 13 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 11 |
Central | 1974 | Primera División | 36 | 30 | — | — | 7 | 3 | — | — | 43 | 33 |
1975 | Primera División | 49 | 38 | — | — | 9 | 5 | — | — | 58 | 43 | |
1976 | Primera División | 22 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 21 | |
Total | 107 | 89 | — | — | 16 | 8 | — | — | 123 | 97 | ||
Valencia | 1976–77 | La Liga | 34 | 24 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 24 |
1977–78 | La Liga | 34 | 28 | 12 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 46 | 39 | |
1978–79 | La Liga | 30 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 3 | — | — | 46 | 21 | |
1979–80 | La Liga | 32 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | — | — | 43 | 33 | |
1980–81 | La Liga | 12 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 18 | 11 | |
Total | 142 | 95 | 25 | 16 | 20 | 14 | — | — | 187 | 125 | ||
River Plate | 1981 | Primera División | 29 | 15 | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | 33 | 16 |
1982 | Primera División | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 29 | 15 | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | 33 | 16 | ||
Valencia | 1982–83 | La Liga | 27 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 13 |
1983–84 | La Liga | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 11 | |
Total | 42 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 59 | 24 | ||
Hércules | 1984–85 | La Liga | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 1 |
1985–86 | La Liga | 21 | 9 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 10 | |
Total | 38 | 10 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 42 | 11 | ||
First Vienna | 1986–87 | Austrian Bundesliga | 20 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | 7 |
Sankt Pölten | 1987–88 | Austrian First League | 32 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | 10 |
1988–89 | Austrian Bundesliga | 29 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | 9 | |
1989–90 | Austrian Bundesliga | 35 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | 15 | |
Total | 96 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 96 | 34 | ||
Kremser SC | 1990–91 | Austrian Bundesliga | 21 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | 5 |
1991–92 | Austrian Bundesliga | 18 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 2 | |
Total | 39 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 39 | 7 | ||
Fernández Vial | 1995 | Primera B | 11 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 5 |
Pelita Jaya | 1996 | Liga Indonesia | 15 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 10 |
Career total | 552 | 304 | 34 | 20 | 48 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 638 | 347 |
International
editNational team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Argentina | 1973 | 1 | 0 |
1974 | 10 | 4 | |
1975 | 4 | 3 | |
1976 | 9 | 7 | |
1977 | 0 | 0 | |
1978 | 7 | 6 | |
1979 | 0 | 0 | |
1980 | 0 | 0 | |
1981 | 3 | 0 | |
1982 | 9 | 0 | |
Total | 43 | 20 |
- Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kempes goal.
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 22 April 1974 | José Amalfitani Stadium,Buenos Aires,Argentina | Romania | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
2 | 18 May 1974 | Parc des Princes,Paris,France | France | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
3 | 22 May 1974 | Wembley Stadium,London,England | England | 1–2 | 2–2 | Friendly |
4 | 2–2 | |||||
5 | 3 August 1975 | Estadio Olímpico,Caracas,Venezuela | Venezuela | 2–1 | 5–1 | 1975 Copa América |
6 | 10 August 1975 | Estadio Gigante de Arroyito,Rosario,Argentina | Venezuela | 5–0 | 11–0 | 1975 Copa América |
7 | 10–0 | |||||
8 | 27 February 1976 | Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti,Buenos Aires, Argentina | Brazil | 2–1 | 2–1 | Roca Cup1976 |
9 | 20 March 1976 | Central Stadium,Kyiv,Ukraine | Soviet Union | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
10 | 14 June 1978 | Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario, Argentina | Poland | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1978 FIFA World Cup |
11 | 2–0 | |||||
12 | 21 June 1978 | Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario, Argentina | Peru | 1–0 | 6–0 | 1978 FIFA World Cup |
13 | 3–0 | |||||
14 | 25 June 1978 | Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Netherlands | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1978 FIFA World Cup |
15 | 2–1 |
Honours
editRosario Central
Valencia
River Plate
Pelita Jaya
Argentina
Individual
- Argentine Primera División top scorers:1974 Nacional,1976 Metropolitan
- Pichichi Trophy:1977, 1978
- FIFA World Cup Golden Boot:1978
- FIFA World Cup Golden Ball:1978[11]
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team:1978
- Ballon d'Or:1978 -Le nouveau palmarès (the new winners)[12]
- Onze d'Or:1978
- Olimpia de Plata:1978
- South American Footballer of the Year:1978
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup top scorers:1979–80
- FIFA 100:2004
- South American Player of the Century: Ranking Nº 23: 2006[13]
- Golden Foot:2007, as football legend[14]
- Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes:2010, The stadium inCórdoba, Argentinawas named after him.
- AFA Team of All Time(published 2015)[15]
- IFFHSArgentina All Times Dream Team (Team B): 2021[16]
References
edit- ^abc"One's Kompany: just where have all the player-managers gone?".FourFourTwo.22 May 2019.Retrieved1 November2023.
Mario Kempes - Pelita Jaya and KS Lushnja (1996) | In his early forties, Kempes chanced his arm as player-manager of Albanian side KS Lushnja. His time in the Balkans was short-lived before he endured a similar fate in Indonesia with Pelita Jaya
- ^"Kempes manager profile".BDFutbol.
- ^"All-time Top 20: No. 12 Mario Kempes".ESPN.30 May 2014.Retrieved18 May2024.
- ^Warrington, Mark WhiteContributions from Declan; Haugstad, Thore; Yokhin, Michael; Stafford-Bloor, Seb; Spurling, Jon; Murray, Andrew; Hess, Alex; Alves, Marcus; published, Alex Reid (5 September 2023)."Ranked! The 100 best football players of all time".fourfourtwo.Retrieved18 May2024.
- ^"#TFHB100 Players of All-Time: 70-61".8 February 2017.Retrieved18 May2024.
- ^"Pele's list of the greatest".BBC Sport. 4 March 2004.Retrieved15 June2013.
- ^Argentina vs Poland – World Cup 1978 – full match – part 4/8 @YouTube
- ^FIFA 1978 World Cup Match Report – Argentina – Poland
- ^Mario Kempesat National-Football-Teams
- ^"Indonesia – List of (Semi-)Professional Champions".Retrieved18 October2014.
- ^"FIFA World Cup Golden Ball Awards".RSSSF.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2016.Retrieved9 February2015.
- ^Crépin, Timothé (2 December 2015). "Pelé devait être le recordman" (in French). France Football.
- ^South American – Player of the CenturyRetrieved on 3 January 2009
- ^"Golden Foot Award".Goldenfoot. Archived fromthe originalon 10 February 2015.Retrieved9 February2015.
- ^"La Selección de Todos los Tiempos"[The Team of All Time] (in Spanish). Argentine Football Association. 4 January 2016. Archived fromthe originalon 14 August 2018.Retrieved29 January2018.
- ^"IFFHS ALL TIME ARGENTINA MEN'S DREAM TEAM".26 August 2021.
"Research: Soccer Net USA".Soccer Net USA.Archived fromthe originalon 16 November 2006.Retrieved25 November2006.
External links
edit- Mario Kempes–FIFAcompetition record (archived)
- Mario Kempesat WorldFootball.net
- Mario Kempesat National-Football-Teams
- Mario KempesatESPN FC
- Mario Kempesat FootballFacts.ru (archive)(in Russian)
- Mario KempesatL'ÉquipeFootball(in French)
- Observer Sport biography
- Futbol Factory profileat theWayback Machine(archived 20 October 2007)(in Spanish)
- Mario Kempesat BDFutbol