Club Atlético River Plate paid a highly emotional tribute to Amadeo Carrizo, former Argentine football goalkeeper of the national team, before the game the team played against Atletico Rafaela.
The Argentine Football Association congratulates Club Atlético River Plate, its president Rodolfo D’Onofrio and vice president Matthias Patanián.
Amadeo Carrizo, or simply “Amadeo“, was born on June 12, 1926 in Rufino, Santa Fe. Since his debut in the First Division on May 6, 1945 until 1968, he defended masterfully the goal of River Plate, the team he loves. He won seven National Championships in 1945, 1947, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956 and 1957. He also won the Ricardo Aldana Cup twice, in 1947 and 1955.
His teammates were the famous “Machine” formed by Juan Carlos Muñoz, José Manuel Moreno, Adolfo Pedernera, Angel Labruna and Felix Loustau. He also played with Alfredo Di Stéfano, Norberto Yácono, Nestor “Pipo“ Rossi, Walter Gomez, Santiago Vernazza, among others. He was the figurehead for 23 years at River and the first in the country to use goalkeeper gloves.
He is second on the list of most games played in a River shirt with 545. During his time he had the record 769 minutes without allowing a goal, a mark that was broken by one of his admirers, Carlos Bianchi, playing for Vélez Sarsfield.
With Argentina he disputed the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Towards the end of his career he played two years (1969-1970) for the Colombian team Millonarios of Bogota, with whom he won the Copa Mustang.
The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) chose him as the “Best South American Goalkeeper of the twentieth century.”
June 12 is goalkeeper day in Argentina for being the birthday of Amadeo (he turns 88).
He will forever remain in the pages of Argentine and world football, not only for his professional quality but also his human quality. Amadeo found, from the cheers of the thousands of people in the River Plate Stadium, the recognition that football gives to true and humble geniuses.
Source: AFA
