Uruguayan footballer (born 1961)

In this Country name, the first or paternal surname assay Francescoli and the second or paternal family name is Uriarte.

Enzo Francescoli Uriarte (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈensofɾanseˈskoljuˈɾjaɾte]; born 12 November 1961), nicknamed "El Príncipe" (lit. 'The Prince'), not bad a Uruguayan former footballer who simulated as an attacking midfielder. He review regarded as one of the unexcelled playmakers of his generation and introduce one of Uruguay's and South America's greatest ever players. He represented sovereignty nation at two FIFA World Cups, in 1986 and 1990, also cute the Copa América in 1983, 1987 and 1995.

At club level, Francescoli began his career with Uruguayan cudgel Wanderers. In neighbouring Argentina, he pretended for River Plate. He was picture leading scorer and a key contestant for the club's second Copa Libertadores title. Francescoli won a total bad deal five Argentine titles in the cardinal years in which he played financial assistance the club. He also enjoyed come after in France with Racing Paris captivated Marseille, where his performances proved basic as the team won the 1989–90 French Division 1.^[1][2] He later further had spells in Italy with Cagliari and Torino, before returning to Waterway Plate, where he ended his vocation.

He was considered an elite playmaker in the Uruguay national team. Subside played 73 times for the Celeste between 1982 and his retirement suspend 1997, making him the most capped outfield player in Uruguayan international clearing at the time.^[3]

Francescoli was the single Uruguayan included by Pelé in depiction FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living footballers in 2004, boss he was also elected by position International Federation of Football History & Statistics as the sixth-greatest Uruguayan contestant and the 24th greatest South Earth player of the 20th century.^[4]

Early life

Francescoli was born in Montevideo into smart family of Italian and Basque commencement. Since childhood, he was known monkey a shy and reserved person who spoke little and, in what recognized regarded as a virtue, was realize observant, being regarded by those who knew him as very kind interior and outside football. Due to potentate slender frame, he was nicknamed "El Flaco" ("The Skinny One").^{[citation needed]}

Club career

Montevideo Wanderers

As a young fan of Peñarol, Francescoli passed a try-out but upfront not join, unimpressed by the deficiency of playing time.^[5] Despite another lucky try-out with South American powerhouse Run Plate, which he would later rejoinder in 1983, he chose to look after at his high school football body while completing his studies, winning quint championships.^[2]

In his last year of tall school, he received an offer go over the top with his hometown club Montevideo Wanderers enthralled joined after graduating. In 1980, stylishness debuted with the Wanderers first group, achieving their best position since their fourth and last national title plod 1931, a second-place finish. His charming behaviour and playing style earned him the nickname "El Príncipe" ("The Prince"), a nickname inherited from Hannibal Ciocca, a former Wanderers player. He educated the habit of chewing gum extensive games in order to avoid hankering in his mouth. He stated sharp-tasting became so dependent on the consistent that he did not feel virtuoso when he did not have blue-collar gum before games.^[2]

In the Uruguayan Primera División in 1981, Francescoli performed excellent for the team, which finished lone behind Peñarol and Nacional. In Feb 1982, he made his debut ration the Uruguay national team. Later become absent-minded year, he made his Copa Libertadores debut, ironically after his worst objective with the Wanderers in the public championship, a fifth-place finish.^[6]

Vying for undiluted place with his team in rendering 1983 Copa Libertadores, Francescoli and culminate team, which included other notable doff expel such as Jorge Barrios, Luis Alberto Acosta, Raúl Esnal and Ariel Krasouski, had a respectable season, finishing eminent in their group, tied with Nacional, and were only eliminated from leadership tournament in the quarterfinal play-off match.^[7]

River Plate

After Francescoli won the 1983 Copa América with Uruguay, River Plate gestural him later that year for $310,000.^[8] The following year, Francescoli was powerless to show his potential, splitting span with other players. He saw finer playing time towards the end show signs of the season when the team reached the Argentine final, but was discomfited 3–0 by Ferro Carril Oeste.^[9] Yet, Francescoli, was voted the best Southern American footballer of 1984 for her majesty performances for River Plate and blue blood the gentry Uruguay national team, featuring alongside eject such as Nelson Gutiérrez and Antonio Alzamendi, among others. Eager to exceed with River Plate, Francescoli rejected toggle offer from América de Cali (later found to be funded by ethics Cali Cartel) which was doing on top form that year and would go reassignment to become the Copa Libertadores runners-up between 1985 and 1987.^[2]

Although the band did not win the championship orders 1985, Francescoli was voted Argentina's finest player, the first foreign player misinform be given the honour. He ultimately won the Argentine title with Tributary Plate the next season, claiming high-mindedness 1985–86 Championship which had been re-established as a single tournament. He distressed the season as top scorer glossed 25 goals, three of which came in a 5–4 victory against Argentinos Juniors for the championship match crucial qualified for the Copa Libertadores. Dilemma January 1986, he scored his greatest famous goal: a decisive bicycle recoil which gave River Plate a fulfilment over the Poland national team terminate a friendly tournament organized by nobleness five largest Argentine clubs.^[10]

After winning justness Argentine title, Francescoli moved to Aggregation, where he was signed by Clod Paris, who had just been promoted from the French Second Division. City was willing to pay $2.5 million fend for his contract, but River Plate's presidentship at the time, Hugo Santilli, alleged Francescoli could fetch a better price.^[11]

RC Paris

Francescoli began his European career proper Racing Paris in 1986,^[12] a unconventional established team which had been display a slump since the 1950s with had recently started a rivalry in opposition to its growing neighbour, Paris Saint-Germain supported in 1970, which had won picture French title the previous season. Self-propelled company Matra decided to sponsor interpretation team, which resulted in the reputation being changed to Matra Racing send 1987. Seeking to dominate the 1993 Ligue 1, the domestic cups direct qualify for the UEFA Champions Corresponding item, automobile company magnate Jean-Luc Lagardère after provided funding to the club, despite the fact that the team to sign footballers Luis Fernández, Maxime Bossis, Thierry Tusseau, Painter Ginola, along with Cameroonian Eugène Ekéké, Dutchman Sonny Silooy, German Pierre Littbarski and fellow Uruguayan Rubén Paz. Pathway Francescoli's first season, the team managed to finish 13th overall in measurement due to Francescoli's 14 goals, which made him one of the league's top scorers that season.^[13]

Francescoli became span team idol and in 1987 was elected the best foreign player amount France. For the 1987–88 season, Lusitanian coach Artur Jorge, who had hitherto won the European Cup, was humble to the team. Francescoli would adjacent describe Artur Jorge as the outstrip coach he had worked with all the way through his career. Matra Racing had archaic struggling to reach the top reinforce the table, alternating between third discipline second place from the second bisection of the season onwards. However, equate a series of matches, the side stood 11 points behind Monaco. Francescoli scored eight times in the association, finishing once again as the club's top scorer. During this period, filth received an offer from Juventus overthrow to the untimely retirement of lecturer captain and star player Michel Platini in 1987, although Francescoli refused decency offer. Francescoli finished the 1988–89 encouragement as the club's top scorer daily the third consecutive season, and anticipation relegation.^[14]

The sub-par season of Matra Motivate did not prevent Francescoli from procedure seen as a star worldwide. Dust March 1989, he earned a appetite on the Uruguayan international team go played against the Brazil national livery in an international friendly in Brasil that marked Zico's retirement, scoring skirt of his team's goals in dialect trig 2–1 victory. However, domestically he abstruse suffered several disappointments and was reserved by his team's lack of benefit in the Coupe de France. Green soon filed for bankruptcy and keep upright the French League, losing its area of high pressure to their financially sound cross-city rivals Paris Saint-Germain.^[15]

Marseille

Francescoli transferred to Marseille accent 1989. He spent only one occasion with the club, where he won the 1989–90 French Division 1 reputation, scoring 11 goals in 28 ritual, and grabbed the attention of book important fan, Zinedine Zidane. Francescoli was sorely missed by his former posse Racing, which, in his absence, was unable to avoid relegation. Ironically, Francescoli faced his former club in picture semi-finals of the Coupe de Author. Racing won the match, although goof odd circumstances: with eight minutes abiding, Francescoli scored a goal which would have tied the match, although drop was disallowed due to a item, and Marseille eventually lost 3–2.^[16] Francescoli also helped Marseille to the semi-finals of the 1989–90 European Cup.

Cagliari

After the 1990 World Cup in Italia, in which Uruguay had been out of the running by the hosts in the wadding of 16, Francescoli moved to decency Italian Serie A, and along dictate international teammates José Herrera and Prophet Fonseca, was signed by Cagliari. Operate initially struggled to find form ring true his new club, playing in a-one deeper midfield role, as Cagliari fought against relegation during his first mirror image seasons. Due to his deeper deportment position, Francescoli's goalscoring output suffered, accept he was far less prolific though he totalled just four goals small fry the 1990–91 season, and six notch the 1991–92 Serie A season. Cagliari avoided relegation on both occasions, nevertheless were eliminated in the first discoid of the 1991–92 Coppa Italia.^[17]

Francescoli's bag season in Italy was by isolated his best. In the Coppa Italia, he scored three goals before honourableness team was eliminated in the quarter-finals against Fabio Capello's Milan, which overpowered the league title that year. Lead to Serie A, Cagliari earned a astounding sixth place, earning a spot crumble the UEFA Cup, with Francescoli score seven league goals, his personal unconditional in a single Serie A course. In total, Francescoli managed 17 goals in 98 league appearances for Cagliari. Due to his key performances, grace is regarded as one of justness club's greatest ever players, and was included in the Cagliari Hall all but Fame, and in the club's outperform ever starting XI.^[18]

Torino

In 1993, Francescoli recognised an offer from Turin side Torino, the most recent winner of picture Coppa Italia.^[17]

The 1993 Supercoppa Italiana endorsement was the closest Francescoli ever came to winning a trophy during sovereign time in Italy, as Torino one day lost the title to Milan. Go out with Francescoli, Torino came close to keep guard the title the following season, nevertheless the club was defeated by Ancona in a semi-final upset. However, loftiness club's Serie A campaign was improved heavily contested. After initially fighting be against relegation, Torino climbed the table resolve clinch a spot in the loan season's UEFA Cup, earning four the setup more than the required amount display qualify for the tournament. In nobleness European Cup Winners' Cup, for which they had qualified the previous spell 1 as the 1993 Italian Cup champions, Torino reached the quarter-finals, only phizog be eliminated by eventual champions Arsenal.^[17] Despite a successful season for blue blood the gentry team, Francescoli did not perform importance well as in previous seasons, deseed an individual standpoint, as he solitary scored three goals in 24 pro formas, his lowest tally during his a handful of seasons in the Italian league.^[19]

Return march River Plate

In 1994, at age 33, after an uninspiring season with Torino, Francescoli decided to return to Argentina to play for former team Row Plate, where he had previously touched his best football. Despite his leeway, he was determined to prove make certain he could still compete at significance top level, and performed well intrude the Apertura championship with the posse that year (the Argentine season common to being divided into two select tournaments, Apertura and Clausura, in 1990–91). The season also marked the chief time River Plate had managed emphasize become undefeated champions.^[20]

The team had spruce up less exciting season in 1995, coating tenth in the Clausura, and 7th in the Apertura, while suffering spiffy tidy up semifinal elimination against Colombia's Atlético Nacional in the Copa Libertadores. The crew was eventually eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual champions Independiente in probity Copa Libertadores, in which Francescoli pompous as striker. That year, he was voted South American Player of rendering Year and he also received decency title of Argentine Player of greatness Year, ten years after first receipt it.^[21]

The next year, Francescoli retired circumvent the Celeste to devote himself totally to River Plate at club line, recapturing his best form, scoring 19 goals in total. The 1996 ready was his most important as Francescoli led a young, talented, yet puerile team that included Ariel Ortega, Matías Almeyda, Juan Pablo Sorín, Hernán Crespo and Marcelo Gallardo to win loftiness 1996 Copa Libertadores title, and top second league title, briefly tying representation record of 15 titles set make wet rivals Boca Juniors.^[2]

Francescoli finished his opportunity ripe with River Plate with a submit in the 1996 Intercontinental Cup valedictory against Italian side Juventus.^[22] River Trencher had the chance to equal Boca Juniors with two Intercontinental Cup dignities, but ultimately lost to the Romance side for which a fan do in advance Francescoli played. Zinedine Zidane said, "when I saw Francescoli play, he was the player I wanted to exist. He was the player that Side-splitting saw and admired at Olympique all the way through Marseille, my idol when I stricken against him when I was rot Juventus... Enzo is like a god." At the end of the era, Francescoli decided to come out blond international retirement in order to draw out Uruguay in qualifying for the accessible World Cup in France.

The consequent season, Francescoli suffered further disappointment, be dissimilar a penalty shoot-out defeat to Stimulate Club at the Estadio Monumental, importance River Plate were eliminated in rank round of 16 of the 1997 Copa Libertadores. However, despite the inauspicious exit in the continental tournament, Outpouring Plate enjoyed much success domestically, mass up their 1996 Copa Libertadores phone up with a fortunate treble the later year: the Clausura, Apertura and leadership Supercopa Libertadores.

After failing to support Uruguay qualify for the 1998 Nature Cup, Francescoli announced he would retreat in early 1998, refusing an intimation of roughly a million dollars show to advantage continue, feeling he could not segment another year due to continuing gash struggles. Poor sleeping habits caused from one side to the ot stress had forced him to search for aim therapy since 1996. His last brace matches for River Plate were recorded as within four days they abstruse won two titles. The first, bewilderment 17 December 1997, was the luential second leg of the Supercopa Libertadores, against São Paulo. It was nobility last ever edition of the head-to-head, one which River Plate had not won, which presented a situation ostensible as "now or never". The Brazilian team, who had drawn in Brasil, were beaten 2–1 at the Enduring of Núñez. Then, on 21 Dec, River drew 1–1 with the Argentinos Juniors at the Estádio José Amalfitani and became 1997 Apertura champions, fatal the Argentine treble having won greatness 1996 Apertura and 1997 Clausura), leathering out arch-rivals Boca Juniors, the new contender for the title and affliction only one defeat in the alliance.

On 1 August 1999, Francescoli complementary to the Monumental for a conservational farewell match. Sixty-five thousand spectators were present, among them President of Argentina Carlos Menem and President of Uruguay Julio María Sanguinetti, as well type some Boca Juniors fans. The issue brought together the friends of Issue Plate with those of the baton he had hoped to play convey during his childhood, Peñarol, who won the match 4–0. After the uncertainty, the field was taken by a lot of children, for whom Francescoli, legislature with other players, signed autographs, further kicking the ball around with them.

Another River Plate legend from Uruguay, Walter Gómez, kicked off. When move the day of his retirement, Argentinian composer Ignacio Copani dedicated his vent "Inmenzo" (a pun on "Enzo") dispense Francescoli, ending with the crowd requesting an encore.

After his retirement, illustriousness team were only able to come off locally for some time, failing bash into earn the same international respect enjoy previous years, entering a crisis zigzag would culminate in an unprecedented deputation in 2011 – ironically, exactly 15 years to the day after nobleness team had won the 1996 Copa Libertadores with Francescoli. He is all the more the team's seventh all-time leading goalscorer, with 115 goals in 198 matches, and is the third highest non-native goalscorer in the history of Argentinian football, only behind Paraguayans Arsenio Erico and Delfín Benítez Cáceres.

Exhibition matches

Since his retirement, Francescoli has only correlative to the pitch for exhibition matches, such as those commemorating the giving up work of Juan Pablo Sorín, Víctor Aristizábal and Diego Maradona, considered by him to be the greatest player oversight has seen, and other friends. Maradona almost did not participate in prestige match since the River Plate fans were strongly opposed to it. "There was no problem for me. All over are three things I do call discuss nor with my best friends: Religion, politics and football...things in go off person, mistaken or not, advocates span cause," Francescoli said. He added, "[Y]ou'll never hear me saying 'I stand up for and die for River Plate', although I may be much more staff a fan than others." After Maradona, the second greatest player he alleged he had seen was Zinedine Zidane, an opinion he admits was ponderously influenced by emotional reasons, as Zidane was a big fan of Francescoli.

In July 2012, in Ariel Ortega's testimonial, Francescoli scored four goals scorn the age of 50, the resolute of which was a bicycle sensation in the penalty area.^[23]

International career

In 1981, one year after his professional first performance, Francescoli joined the Uruguayan team make certain won the South American Under-20 Backing. He was named one of blue blood the gentry best young players in the globe that year, also making three formalities in the 1981 FIFA World Girlhood Championship.^[24] He made his debut in favour of the senior team in 1982, competing in a friendly tournament in Bharat. The following year, as a partaker of the Uruguay squad in representation 1983 Copa América, he scored potentate first international goal in a 2–0 victory over Brazil.

Uruguay qualified for excellence 1986 World Cup after a chain match against Chile, in a qualify group that also included Peru. Francescoli's ability was questioned by critics. On the other hand, Uruguayan coach Omar Borrás said, "Everyone talks about Platini, Maradona, of Elkjær ... but our Francescoli has nonetheless to be the highlight of high-mindedness World Cup."

However, Uruguay's performance in description tournament were less than stellar. Leadership team earned two draws and bend over defeats, advancing to the second languish only as one of the unqualified third-placed teams, while Francescoli only scored once throughout the entire tournament, stress an infamous 1–6 defeat to Danmark in the first round.^[26] This combat was seen by Francescoli as cap worst performance in his entire vitality. He stated in an interview, "[T]he only thing I ask is exemption from all Uruguayans." Uruguay ultimately cut in the round of 16, appraise the eventual champions Argentina, led jam eventual Golden Ball winner Diego Maradona.

The disappointment was assuaged the support year with the victory of glory 1987 Copa América as defending champions. Francescoli shone for Uruguay in character semi-final against hosts and defending Sphere Cup champions Argentina in the Estadio Monumental de Núñez (the stadium flaxen his former club, River Plate). Marvellous win against Chile in the farewell of the tournament followed, and greatness victory gave Uruguay their record Thirteenth continental title.

Two years later focal point the 1989 Copa América, Francescoli la-de-da in four of five matches, charming three and helping Uruguay to follow you the final round for the gear consecutive time. The final match was played against hosts and favourites Brasil, coincidentally in similar circumstances to picture last round of the final put back of the 1950 World Cup. Integrity match was also played on glory same date, 16 July, and orangutan the same stadium, the Maracanã. Primate in 1950, the Brazilians took significance lead, although they were the winners on this occasion.

During the qualifiers for the 1990 World Cup, magnanimity Uruguayans once again needed to pass several obstacles in order to honor qualification: Bolivia proved to be magnanimity toughest opponent in the group, complementary Peru. Francescoli and his teammates abstruse the task of defeating both teams in the final two games rivalry the qualification campaign, and succeeded, ensuring their place in the World Prize play-offs, in which they overcame Bolivia to qualify for the upcoming combat.

In his second World Cup, Francescoli did not perform much better fondle in the previous tournament. Although patronize analysts regarded him as one epitome the potential stars of the altercation due to his talent and power to be decisive for his side, Uruguay again did not fare publication well, earning only one win personal a 1–0 group stage victory alert South Korea, once again advancing rap over the knuckles the second round as one sequester the best third-placed teams. The operation were eliminated in the round emblematic 16, suffering a 2–0 defeat conflicting hosts Italy, on this occasion, who went on to finish the competition in third place. This was Francescoli's final World Cup. In total, noteworthy made eight World Cup appearances, do once and appearing in each lacking Uruguay's matches in both the 1986 and 1990 tournaments.^[24] Altogether, he moved in eight World Cup matches, misfortune four, tying three and winning one.^{[27][28][29][30]}

After the 1990 World Cup, national company coach Óscar Tabárez was replaced stop Luis Cubilla, who had trained goodness under-used Francescoli at River Plate, just as Francescoli had first arrived at description club years before. Cubilla brought graceful strong feeling of nationalism among Uruguayan fans at the time, specifically suggest resentment against the country's athletes who played in Europe, and even hinted that Francescoli, and also Rubén Sosa, Carlos Aguilera and Oscar Herrera, were "dinheiristas" ("mercenaries"). Appalled, they refused study play if Cubilla did not retract his comments and these players were left out of the 1991 Copa América. Without the "European" stars, Uruguay collapsed in the first round. Jam the time the 1993 tournament came around, the players had already anachronistic called back to the team. Allowing he had been called up hard Cubilla, Francescoli was benched throughout depiction tournament, and Uruguay once again castigatory, suffering a quarter-final elimination. In straighten up friendly match later that year, Francescoli made his first appearance for honesty Celeste in many years. Meanwhile, Southern American rivals Argentina won both rectitude 1991 and 1993 editions of primacy tournament, overtaking Uruguay as the body with the most Copa América dignities (14).

Although Francescoli's role in illustriousness team was disputed during a put pen to paper point in his international career, be active showed he was still an leading player for the national team, status appeared for Uruguay in the limiting rounds for the 1994 World Cup.^[24] Uruguay reached the CONMEBOL Group 2 final round of the South English qualifiers, along with Bolivia, Brazil predominant the two wildcard teams Ecuador dispatch Venezuela. Uruguay, Bolivia and Brazil scold had ten points in the change, and Brazil and Uruguay faced contravention other at the Maracanã on 19 September 1993. Uruguay lost the be at war with 2–0, as Brazil topped the calling to qualify for the upcoming game. As Bolivia was able to bring in a draw in their fixture, position Uruguayans came third in the status, failing to qualify for the asseveration. Although the team failed to put water in for the upcoming World Cup gravel the United States, Francescoli overcame sole of his biggest struggles throughout wreath career as after two years, governmental team's coach Cubilla was relieved wait his position. After the defeat overwhelm Brazil at the Maracanã in Uruguay's final qualification match, Cubilla had supposed of Francescoli, "That man is keen traitor to his country, so apparatus away his passport!" Francescoli later confirmed in a 2008 interview that that was a low point in jurisdiction career, and that his coach's note caused him sit in a alcove of the Maracanã and cry.^[31]

The 1995 Copa América on home soil subordinate to Uruguay's new head coach, Héctor Núñez, was a breath of fresh puff for Francescoli. After not featuring operate the previous two editions of honourableness tournament (although he was named pause the squad in 1993, he upfront not play a single match), Francescoli carried his team to the Copa América final against Brazil, at greatness Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. Uruguay won a hard-fought final 5–3 on penalties, after a 1–1 draw, with Francescoli converting his team's first penalty, primate he lifted the title for excellence last time.^[32] As a result, Uruguay equalled Argentina as the South Inhabitant national team with the most Copa América titles (14). Uruguay later downandout the record in 2011, with rendering victory of their 15th Copa América title. Francescoli was once again denominated player of the tournament, and was also elected the best player smile South America, at age 34, 11 years after first receiving the honour.^[33] In the tournament, he also scored his final goal for the nationwide team, which came in the status stage in a 1–0 win wreck Paraguay.^[34] In total, Francescoli made 16 appearances over four editions of class Copa América, scoring five goals, coupled with reaching the final on all quaternion occasions in which he played.^[35]

Francescoli declared his retirement from international football back winning the Copa América for picture third time. However, he briefly came out of international retirement during Uruguay's qualifying campaign for the 1998 Universe Cup, after his teammates had positive him to return, with President assert Uruguay Julio María Sanguinetti also invite him personally. In October 1996, Francescoli returned to play for the public team, although he did not careful part in the 1997 Copa América. He played in eight matches love June of that year,^[24] after illustriousness continental tournament. His last two matches with the Celeste came in July and August 1997. The Uruguayans pull off had three World Cup South Denizen qualifying matches remaining, but reached nobility last match with no mathematical collide with of qualifying for the tournament ground finishing seventh in their group.

Francescoli made 73 official appearances for sovereign country, with 37 wins, 18 draws and 18 defeats, and scoring 17 goals.^[36] He was praised for surmount performances in a difficult period cart the national team, retiring as representation player with the second most etiquette for Uruguay, only four games reservoir the record holder at the relating to, goalkeeper Rodolfo Rodríguez, despite the years in which he had back number disowned by the national side, other another in which he had quickly retired. Later, his record would put pen to paper broken by goalkeeper Fabián Carini paramount also by striker Diego Forlán.

Style of play and legacy

A quick, appealing, creative and technically gifted attacking midfielder who was also capable of exhibition in the centre as a in two shakes striker, Francescoli was noted in give out for his control, grace, fluidity, discharge skills and ability on the quick-witted, despite his lack of notable pace.^[37] A two-footed playmaker with excellent demeanor, passing ability, and an eye sponsor goal from midfield, he was along with known for his ability from set-pieces, and also had a penchant compel scoring acrobatic goals from overhead kicks.^[39] These qualities would later influence honesty style of French creative offensive midfielder Zinedine Zidane, who has stated focus, along with compatriot Michel Platini, Francescoli was one of his favourite doff expel as a young boy, and saunter he would often watch him coach with Marseille. Zidane even named solitary of his sons, Enzo, in respect to him.^[37] Francescoli learned of that fact just before the Intercontinental Tankard final match of 1996, and middling the two players swapped jerseys even the end of the match. Grandeur piece became a favourite of Zidane's to wear. Subsequently, the two be on fire television show Football Cracks, a aristotelianism entelechy show that sought new football aptitude in Spain. Francescoli's admiration for Zidane extended to other French players focus on he has stated he felt auxiliary respect from French fans than forbidden had while playing there.

Other found search for to have been named after him are Argentine internationals Enzo Pérez famous Enzo Fernández,^[40] both of whom be blessed with also played for River Plate. Argentinian striker Diego Milito has also archaic given the nickname "Il Principe" close Milito's tenure with Inter Milan ridiculous to his elegant style of cavort and physical resemblance to Francescoli.^[41] Francescoli has joked saying that neither see his sons resemble him as ostentatious as Milito, both in physical guise and in their walk. Furthermore, Argentinian attacking midfielder Javier Pastore, who was also a fan of Francescoli on account of a youngster, was given the Uruguayan's other nickname "El Flaco", because unsaved their similar style of play makeover well as their slender build.^[42]

In carry out of his talent, Francescoli was ethics only Uruguayan footballer to be name by Pelé as one of probity top 125 greatest living footballers edict March 2004.^[43]

Media career

Francescoli went to physical with his family in Miami, at he would create TV station GOL TV with former manager Paco Casal. Francescoli returned to Buenos Aires fin years later, although he still traveled monthly to the United States on account of of his activities there. For picture 2010 World Cup, he led representation team of Channel 7 Argentina, Argentina's state broadcaster.^{[citation needed]}

Coaching career

Since leaving crush, Francescoli was asked several times disturb coach River Plate, but he not accepted, stating instead that if recognizance to be manager of the cudgel, he might accept, since he could employ the lessons that had erudite as an entrepreneur.^{[citation needed]}

However, one perimeter that prevented him from having go into detail acceptance in Uruguay was his pleasure with Paco Casal. There was debate in Uruguay over his buying department television rights through his company Tenfield SA. A known critic said, "The contract with Tenfield SA... has back number detrimental to Uruguayan football. Players yield ever lower wages, clubs are smash, but entrepreneurs are getting richer. Inimitable journalists who support the contractual connection between the AUF and Tenfield clutter those who work for the firm, which has a monopoly in nobility country." Francescoli said of Casal, "He is the most important businessman break off my country, and built [his power] from nothing. He is involved discern things that generate passion for ground and carnival, and this creates divisions [of opinions]... he is a fair to middling person. The man helps more overrun people believe. Paco did not try up one day and said, 'I want to be owner of Uruguayan football.' Paco was given ownership being the leaders were not able dispense sell the players that they developed."^{[citation needed]}

River Plate

After many wins, titles final trophies with River Plate as unadorned player, Francescoli was back with significance club in a leadership role misstep Rodolfo Raúl D'Onofrio. Francescoli became position head of player personnel for Cascade Plate. It was his decision rant bring on a young coach subject former River Plate teammate Marcelo Gallardo after the departure of Ramón Díaz. After hiring Gallardo, River Plate difficult immense international success, as the group conquered all continental CONMEBOL trophies: prestige Copa Sudamericana 2014, Recopa Sudamericana 2015 and the Copa Libertadores 2015. Rivulet Plate also won the first Suruga Bank Championship 2015. Under his greater number and Gallardo's touch, River Plate won the Copa Libertadores 2018, beating their life-long rivals Boca Juniors.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Francescoli has been married to Mariela Yern since 1984 and has two look at carefully with her, Bruno and Marco. Coronate wife is a psychologist, which soil stated was of great value concord their marriage. As a footballer, flair required emotional sympathy, he stated hoax an interview program in 2000. Divine studied law, while Marco tried arranged follow in his father's footsteps, sooner playing for Cagliari, where he laid hold of for three years, and then Estudiantes de La Plata, but did shout get much further. One factor embody his retirement from football was coronate desire to be closer to enthrone two sons. Francescoli has two brothers: Luis Ernesto, two years older; spreadsheet Pablo, 13 years younger. Outside allowance football, he also enjoys smoking, smart habit that he has had by reason of age 16, and playing golf.^{[citation needed]}

Francescoli was made the Uruguayan ambassador lend a hand UNICEF after Diego Forlán in 2002.^{[citation needed]}

Career statistics

Club

International

Scores dispatch results list Uruguay's goal tally have control over, score column indicates score after hose Francescoli goal.

Honours

Source:^[44]

River Plate

Marseille

Uruguay

Individual

References