Óscar Ruggeri

Oscar Ruggeri
	Ruggeri with Boca Juniors in 1980
Personal information
Full name	Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri
Date of birth	26 January 1962 (age 62)
Place of birth	Rosario, Argentina
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Youth career
1970–1980	Boca Juniors
Senior career*
Years	Team
1980–1985	Boca Juniors
1985–1988	River Plate
1988–1989	Logroñés
1989–1990	Real Madrid
1990–1992	Vélez Sarsfield
1992	Ancona
1992–1993	América
1993–1997	San Lorenzo
1997	Lanús
Total
International career
1983–1994	Argentina
Managerial career
1998–2001	San Lorenzo
2001–2002	Guadalajara
2003	Tecos UAG
2003	Independiente
2003–2004	Elche
2004	América
2006	San Lorenzo
Medal record
Men's football
Representing Argentina
FIFA World Cup
Copa América
King Fahd Cup
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri (born 26 January 1962) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as centre-back. Nicknamed El Cabezón ("The Big-head One"), Ruggeri achieved success at the international level with the Argentina national team, being part of the teams that won the 1986 FIFA World Cup, two editions of the Copa América and the 1992 King Fahd Cup. At the club level, Ruggeri's most successful stint was with Argentine club River Plate, where he won the 1986 Copa Libertadores (also the club's first win in this tournament) the 1986 Copa Interamericana and the 1986 Intercontinental Cup. Known for his rough style of play when marking opposing players and aerial ability, Ruggeri is considered one of the all-time best defenders to come out of Argentina.^[2] Following his retirement as a player, Ruggeri turned to managing, where he held posts in Argentina, Mexico and Spain. His last job as a manager was in 2006 with Argentine club San Lorenzo. Since then, Ruggeri went on to have a career on Argentine television, as commentator on football shows. He is currently a member of 90 Minutos de Fútbol, which airs on ESPN Argentina Latin America.

Career

Ruggeri started his career at Boca Juniors, playing with Diego Maradona, with whom he won a league title in 1981. In 1985, he moved to rivals River Plate, where he won the Copa Libertadores, the Intercontinental Cup and another league title in 1986. In 1988, he left for Europe where he played for Spanish clubs Logroñes and Real Madrid, where he won yet another league championship. He also played for Vélez Sarsfield, Ancona in Italy, América in Mexico, San Lorenzo and Lanús, where he ended his career.

During his career he represented his country in three World Cups, captaining Argentina in the final two games of the 1994 competition, after Diego Maradona was expelled from the tournament. Ruggeri was also a key piece in the Argentina teams that won the trophy in 1986 and lost the final to West-Germany in 1990. After losing to Romania in the 1994 tournament, Ruggeri retired from international football having played 97 international games, an Argentine record until it was surpassed by Diego Simeone.

Personal life

Ruggeri's son, Stephan, is a professional footballer.^[3] Ruggeri himself appeared on the 2016 edition of Bailando por un Sueño with his daughter, Candela.^[3]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	Apps	Goals
Boca Juniors	1980	21	2
	1981	31	1
	1982	43	3
	1983	19	1
	1984	28	1
	1985	13	1
River Plate	1985–86	35	1
	1986–87	18	1
	1987–88	28	2
Logroñés	1988–89	34	1
Real Madrid	1989–90	31	2
Vélez Sarsfield	1990–91	31	1
Vélez Sarsfield	1991–92	24	4
Ancona	1992	7	1
América	1992–93	27	4
San Lorenzo	1994	22	1
	1995	35	3
	1996	27	5
	1997	17	1
Lanús	1997	13	2