Hugo Villaverde Explained

Hugo Villaverde
Upright:0.8
Full Name:Hugo Eduardo Villaverde
Birth Date:27 January 1954
Birth Place:Santa Fe, Argentina
Height:1.78 m
Position:Central defender
Years1:1973–1975
Clubs1:Colón de Santa Fe
Caps1:57
Goals1:0
Years2:1976–1989
Clubs2:Independiente
Caps2:380
Goals2:0
Totalcaps:437
Totalgoals:0
Nationalyears1:1979
Nationalteam1:Argentina
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:0

Hugo Eduardo Villaverde (27 January 1954 – 17 November 2024) was an Argentine football who played as a central defender, spending most of his career with Independiente. He holds the record in Argentina for most first division matches without scoring a goal, ahead of Jorge Titonell who in the 1930s and 1940s played 405 matches for Talleres (Remedios de Escalada) and Huracán.

Career

Villaverde started his professional playing career in 1973 with home town club Colón de Santa Fe at the age of 19.

In 1975, he joined Independiente where he became a key player throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He won four Argentine Primera titles, the 1984 Copa Libertadores and Copa Intercontinental with the club.

Villaverde played for the Argentina national team in 1979, but never returned to the international scene after suffering an injury in friendly match against Scotland.[1]

Personal life and death

Villaverde's nephew, Alejandro "Papu" Gómez, is also a professional footballer who has played for the Argentina national team.[2]

Villaverde died on 17 November 2024, at the age of 70.[3]

Honours

Independiente

Notes and References

  1. Luc Vandenberghe et al.: Argentina National Team Players 1964-1998, Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation, 22 November 2012.
  2. News: Papu Gómez inédito: de Racing y el Rojo a un restó en Italia. Olé. Paulich. Diego. 22 June 2021. 1 January 2023. es.
  3. Web site: Dolor en el fútbol argentino: murió Hugo Villaverde, leyenda de Independiente . Infobae . 17 November 2024.