.jpg) Montuori withFiorentina | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Miguel Ángel Montuori | ||
| Date of birth | (1932-09-24)24 September 1932 | ||
| Place of birth | Rosario, Argentina | ||
| Date of death | 4 June 1998(1998-06-04) (aged 65) | ||
| Place of death | Florence, Italy | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1951–1952 | Racing Club | ||
| 1953–1955 | Universidad Católica | 59 | (28) |
| 1955–1961 | Fiorentina | 162 | (72) |
| International career | |||
| 1955–1960 | Italy | 12 | (2) |
| Managerial career | |||
| Pontassieve | |||
| Aglianese | |||
| Montecatini [it] | |||
| 1971–1972 | Universidad Católica (fitness coach) | ||
| 1972 | Rangers | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Miguel Ángel Montuori (Spanish:[miˈɣelˈaŋxelmonˈtwoɾi],Italian:[monˈtwɔːri]; 24 September 1932 – 4 June 1998) was an Argentine and Italianfootballer who played as aforward orattacking midfielder.[1] He is regarded as one ofFiorentina's greatest players of all time, due to his technique, creativity, eye for goal, andplaymaking ability.[2] Despite his talent and success, he was also regarded as an "unfortunate" player, due to his many runner-up medals, and his injuries, which forced him to retire during the prime of his career.[3] Born in Argentina, he played for theItaly national team at international level.
Montuori was born inRosario, Argentina, to a mother ofAfro-Argentinian descent and an Italian father ofNeapolitan origin.[4]
Besides his sports career, Montuori developed hobbies such as painting and chess, also defeatingRené Letelier, the Chilean champion at the time.[5][6]
In 1963, Montuori was operated from ananeurysm.[5]Montuori died from anemphysema inFlorence in 1998, and was laid to rest in theSantiago General Cemetery, Chile.[6][3]
Montuori began his career withRacing Club before emigrating to Chile and joiningUniversidad Católica fromSantiago in 1953, winning theChilean Primera División in 1954, scoring 24 goals in 26 league appearances for the club.[7][6] He subsequently moved to play withACF Fiorentina in Italy in the summer of 1955, at the request of club president Enrico Befani, and was handed the number 10 shirt. He played at the club from 1955 to 1961, making 162Serie A appearances, and scoring 72 goals. In theCoppa Italia he played 13 matches scoring 6 goals, and in the1956–57European Cup he played seven games and scored one goal, helping the team to thefinal. He also played two matches in theMitropa Cup with Fiorentina.[2]
With Fiorentina, Montuori was able to achieve great domestic and international success, as well as international recognition; upon his arrival at the club, he won the onlyItalian title of his career, during the1955–56 season, and he followed this triumph with four consecutive second places. He was also able to win the1960–61 European Cup Winners' Cup, and the1960–61 Coppa Italia, also reaching the final of the Italian Cup three consecutive times between 1958 and 1960. He also won several minor international trophies with Fiorentina, such as theGrasshoppers Cup in 1957, theCoppa dell'Amicizia twice, in 1959 and 1960, as well as theCoppa delle Alpi in 1960. Montuori's playing career ended prematurely, at the age of 28, in the spring of 1961. During an away friendly match againstPerugia, he was hit strongly in the face by the ball, which caused his retina to detach, and his vision to blur, leading him to retire from professional football.[2][3]
Born in Argentina, Montuori represented theItaly national team, making his debut againstFrance in 1956, and making his final appearance againstSwitzerland in 1960.[3] He also became the firstnon-Italian born player tocaptain Italy, wearing the captain's armband in a friendly match againstSpain, in Rome, on 28 February 1959. With Italy, he received 12 international caps and scored 2 goals.[2][8]
Following his retirement, Montuori worked as ajournalist forIl Mattino.[6]
As a football coach, Montuori ledPontassieve Calcio [it],Aglianese andMontecatini [it] in Italy.[6] Back to Chile in 1971, he served as afitness coach forUniversidad Católica and coach ofRangers de Talca.[9][10]
In 1986, Montuori returned to Italy and worked as afootball commentator for TV media.[6]
Universidad Católica[2]
Fiorentina[2]
Individual