Alfredo Graciani Explained

Alfredo Graciani
Fullname:Alfredo Oscar Graciani
Birth Date:6 January 1965
Birth Place:Buenos Aires, Argentina
Death Place:Buenos Aires, Argentina
Position:Striker, right winger
Years1:1981–1984
Clubs1:Atlanta
Years2:1985–1991
Clubs2:Boca Juniors
Caps2:211
Goals2:75
Years3:1992–1993
Clubs3:Racing Club
Caps3:28
Goals3:7
Years4:1993–1994
Clubs4:Boca Juniors
Caps4:7
Goals4:0
Years5:1994
Clubs5:Deportivo Español
Caps5:9
Goals5:4
Years6:1995–1996
Clubs6:Atlético Tucumán
Years7:1996–1997
Clubs7:Argentinos Juniors
Years8:1997
Clubs8:Lugano
Years9:1998
Clubs9:Caracas FC
Nationalyears1:1983
Nationalteam1:Argentina U20
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0

Alfredo Oscar Graciani (6 January 1965 – 21 April 2021) was an Argentine footballer. He played for a number of clubs in Argentina and also played in Switzerland and Venezuela at the end of his playing career. He had a successful career at Boca Juniors, having played 250 matches for the club, and winning two titles.[1] Nicknamed Alfil ("bishop" in chess, due to his diagonal movements on the pitch) and Bat, Graciani is ranked 14th. among the all-time leading scorers for Boca Juniors.[2]

Career

Graciani started his playing career in the youth divisions of Atlanta, where his brother Néstor also played. He made his debut with the senior squad in 1981 v Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata in Primera B, the second division of Argentine football by then. Atlanta coach Luis Artime sent him to the field on 80' substituting Carlos Landaburo. In 1983, Graciani was part of the team that won the Primera B championship promoting to Primera División. During his career at Atlanta, Graciani played a total of 89 matches, scoring 18 goals.[3]

Graciani was also called up for the Argentina u20 team that played in the 1983 South American championship, qualifying for the 1983 World Championship where he was part of the roster.[4]

In 1984 Graciani was signed by Boca Juniors, where he went on to become their leading goalscorer of the 1980s, winning two international titles with the club, the 1989 Supercopa Libertadores and 1990 Recopa Sudamericana. In 1992 Graciani joined Racing Club but returned to Boca Juniors in 1993. By the end of his Boca Juniors career he had played 250 games for the club in all competitions, scoring 83 goals.[1] [5]

In 1994 Graciani played for Deportivo Español before dropping down a division to play for Atlético Tucumán and then Argentinos Juniors in the Primera B Nacional. Three years later, he was signed by Swiss club Lugano, finishing his career playing for Venezuelan club Caracas in 1998.[6]

After retirement as a player, Graciani went on to work as a football coach, being part of the coaching staff at Boca under Jorge José Benítez during the 2004–05 season.

Graciani died from a cardiac arrest in Buenos Aires on 21 April 2021.[7]

Titles

Atlanta
Boca Juniors
Argentinos Juniors

Notes and References

  1. https://www.tycsports.com/boca-juniors/murio-alfredo-graciani-boca-juniors-id336858.html Murió Alfredo Graciani
  2. https://bolavip.com/conmebol/Fallecio-Alfredo-Graciani-goleador-historico-de-Boca-de-un-paro-cardiaco-20210421-0035.html Falleció Alfredo Graciani
  3. https://www.ole.com.ar/informacion-general/murio-alfredo-graciani-paro_0_WfOvGy-0O.html Dolor en Boca: murió Alfredo Graciani
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20201030120935/https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/archive/mexico1983/ Mexico 1983: Brazil live up to top billing
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20080324141627/http://www.bocampeonweb.com.ar/Historia/idolos/graciani.htm Alfredo Graciani statistics
  6. https://ar.radiocut.fm/audiocut/alfredo-graciani-feliz-haber-hecho-trayectoria-hice-en-futbol-argentino/ Alfredo Graciani: "Feliz de haber hecho la trayectoria que hice en el fútbol argentino."
  7. Web site: 21 April 2021. Dolor en Boca: murió Alfredo Graciani a los 56 años. 21 April 2021. infobae. es-ES.