José Yudica Explained

José Yudica
Fullname:	José Antonio Yudica
Birth Date:	26 February 1936
Birth Place:	Rosario, Argentina
Position:	Forward
Years1:	1954–1958
Years2:	1959–1961
Years3:	1962–1963
Years4:	1964
Years5:	1965–1966
Years6:	1967
Years7:	1968–1969
Years8:	1970
Years9:	1971–1972
Clubs1:	Newell's Old Boys
Clubs2:	Boca Juniors
Clubs3:	Vélez Sarsfield
Clubs4:	Estudiantes
Clubs5:	Platense
Clubs6:	Quilmes
Clubs7:	Deportivo Cali
Clubs8:	Talleres (RE)
Clubs9:	San Telmo
Caps1:	112
Caps2:	65
Caps3:	34
Caps4:	29
Caps5:	57
Caps6:	21
Caps7:	52
Goals1:	25
Goals2:	20
Goals3:	5
Goals4:	1
Goals5:	4
Goals6:	2
Goals7:	5
Nationalteam1:	Argentina
Nationalcaps1:	4
Nationalgoals1:	1
Manageryears1:	1972–76
Manageryears2:	1976
Manageryears3:	1976–77
Manageryears4:	1977–79
Manageryears5:	1979–80
Manageryears6:	1980
Manageryears7:	1981
Manageryears8:	1982
Manageryears9:	1984
Manageryears10:	1985–86
Manageryears11:	1986–87
Manageryears12:	1987–90
Manageryears13:	1991–92
Manageryears14:	1992
Manageryears15:	1993-94
Manageryears16:	1995-96
Manageryears17:	1996-98
Managerclubs1:	Altos Hornos Zapla
Managerclubs2:	Colón
Managerclubs3:	Newell's Old Boys
Managerclubs4:	Quilmes
Managerclubs5:	Newell's Old Boys
Managerclubs6:	Estudiantes LP
Managerclubs7:	Quilmes
Managerclubs8:	San Lorenzo
Managerclubs9:	Unión
Managerclubs10:	Argentinos Juniors
Managerclubs11:	Vélez Sársfield
Managerclubs12:	Newell's Old Boys
Managerclubs13:	Argentinos Juniors
Managerclubs14:	Platense
Managerclubs15:	Deportivo Cali
Managerclubs16:	Newell's Old Boys
Managerclubs17:	Pachuca

José Antonio Yudica (February 26, 1936 – August 23, 2021) was an Argentine football player and manager.^[1]

Yudica had limited success as a player, winning only two titles during his brief spell at Deportivo Cali. After retirement as a player he took up management, this is where he achieved his most notable successes, leading Quilmes to their first championship after 66 years, winning three Argentine league titles with three clubs^[2] (the first manager ever to achieve this), and leading Argentinos Juniors to success in the Copa Libertadores.

Playing career

Yudica had a 16-year career as a player, he started his career at Newell's Old Boys, and went on to play for Argentine giants Boca Juniors, and a number of other teams including Vélez Sársfield, Estudiantes, Platense, Quilmes, Talleres de Remedios de Escalada, San Telmo and Deportivo Cali in Colombia.

Managerial career

After spells with Deportivo Español and Colón Yudica's first major achievement in management was saving struggling Quilmes from relegation in 1977.

He eclipsed this the following season by leading them to their first and only Primera division title; Metropolitano 1978.

After this he won two Second division titles with Quilmes and San Lorenzo.

Yudica made his return to the big time by leading Argentinos Juniors to victory in Nacional. The Copa Libertadores campaign of 1985 was one of the most remarkable in the history of the tournament. Argentinos found themselves in the same 1st round group as fellow Argentinian team Ferro Carril Oeste, at the end of the group the two teams were tied for first place on nine points, this required a playoff, which Argentinos won 3–1.

Argentinos won the 2nd group stage outright, to claim a place in the final against Colombian side América de Cali (fierce rivals of Yudica's former club, Deportivo Cali).

The final was a two legged affair, but both games finished 1–0 to the home team, requiring a cup final playoff but this game ended 1–1, Argentinos Juniors finally triumphed after a 5–4 victory in a penalty shootout.

Yudica led Argentinos to a further international title in 1986 winning the less prestigious Copa Interamericana against Defence Force from Trinidad and Tobago.

After his successes with Argentinos Yudica returned to Newell's Old Boys, the club at which he began his playing career over 30 years before.

He led them to the Primera division title in 1987–88, winning him the unique distinction of becoming the first manager ever to lead three different teams to the Argentine league title.

Later in his career Yudica returned to manage Deportivo Cali, and also had a spell in charge of C.F. Pachuca in Mexico.