César Luis Menotti

César Luis Menotti was born in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. A stylish midfielder for Rosario Central, Racing Club, and Boca Juniors, he also played alongside Pelé at Santos in Brazil. After leading Huracán to their legendary 1973 Torneo Metropolitano title playing poetic attacking football, Menotti was appointed manager of the Argentina national football team in 1974.

Menotti completely professionalized Argentine international football, prioritizing domestic-based players. At the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, playing in an atmosphere of tension under the military junta, Menotti's side—led by tournament top scorer Mario Kempes—defeated the Netherlands 3-1 after extra time at the Estadio Monumental to win Argentina's first World Cup. The following year, Menotti managed Diego Maradona and the Argentina Under-20 team to the 1979 World Youth Championship title in Japan. His philosophical clash with Carlos Bilardo's pragmatic, result-oriented style defined Argentine football culture as "Menottismo versus Bilardismo." In 2019, Menotti was appointed director of national teams, overseeing Lionel Scaloni's triumphs at the 2021 Copa América and 2022 World Cup.