Luis Monti

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Luis Monti
Personal information
Full name	Luis Felipe Monti
Date of birth	May 15, 1901(1901-05-15)
Place of birth	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Date of death	September 9, 1983 (Aged 82)
Playing position	Defender
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1921 1922 1922-1930 1931-1939	Huracán Boca Juniors San Lorenzo Juventus	? (?) 0 (0)  ? (?) 225 (20)
National team
1924-1931 1932-1936	Argentina Italy	16 (5) 18 (1)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Olympic medal record
Competitor for  Argentina
Men's football
Silver	1928 Amsterdam	Team Competition

Luis Felipe Monti (May 15, 1901 – September 9, 1983) was an Italian-Argentine football player who has the distinction of playing in two World Cup final matches with two different national teams. Monti's first was with his native Argentina in 1930, which he lost to Uruguay. The second was for Italy as one of their Oriundi in 1934. This time Monti was on the winning side in a 2-1 victory over Czechoslovakia.

Monti was a rugged and ruthless player, but had good technical skills to go with his strong tackling. He played as an attacking centre half in the old-fashioned Metodo system: a position roughly equivalent to the defensive central midfield position today. As such he would mark the opposing centre forward when his team were defending, but would be the main midfield playmaker when his team were on the attack. He was nicknamed Doble ancho (Double wide) due to his coverage of the pitch.

[edit] Career in Argentina

Monti started his career in 1921 with Huracán, where he won the first of his many championships. The following year he signed with Boca Juniors but left without playing a game. He joined San Lorenzo where he won a further three Argentine championships.

Monti was first called up to represent his country in 1924. He won the Copa America in 1927, and the Silver medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics. Argentina cruised to the World Cup final in 1930, defeating France, Mexico, Chile, and the USA, Monti scoring two goals along the way, and literally crippling opponents with his brutal tackling; so notorious did his aggression become that some controversy arose regarding his inclusion in the team contesting the final.^{[citation needed]} Some sources speculate that Monti was carrying an injury, but whatever the truth, and despite a death threat,^[1] he had a quiet game as Uruguay triumphed 4-2.

[edit] Career in Italy

In 1931 Monti was signed by the Italian club Juventus. However he was overweight and out of condition. A month's solitary training and Monti was back to top form helping Juve to four consecutive League Championship titles (1932-35). Monti went on to play 225 matches and score 19 goals in Serie A.

He was also called up, within a year, to play for the Italy national team as oriundo^[2]. Amid some controversy, hosts Italy won their way to the 1934 World Cup final and defeated Czechoslovakia 2-1. Monti had done it at last, albeit rather unconventionally.

[edit] The Battle of Highbury

The Battle of Highbury is a legendary match that took place between Italy and England on November 14, 1934 at Arsenal Stadium, Highbury, the home ground of Arsenal. Monti was playing centre half for Italy, but as early as the second minute he broke a bone in his foot after a clash with England centre forward Ted Drake. Down to 10 men, in the days before substitutes, Italy succumbed 2-3 in a tempestuous match. Monti was only to play twice more for Italy.

In total Monti won 16 caps (5 goals) for Argentina between 1924 and 1931, and 18 caps (1 goal) for Italy between 1932 and 1936. He died in 1983 aged 82.

[edit] Titles

[edit] Club titles

Season	Team	Title
1921	Huracán	Argentine league
1923	San Lorenzo	Argentine league
1924	San Lorenzo	Argentine league
1927	San Lorenzo	Argentine league
1931-1932	Juventus	Italian League
1932-1933	Juventus	Italian League
1933-1934	Juventus	Italian League
1934-1935	Juventus	Italian League
1937-1938	Juventus	Italian Cup

[edit] International titles

Season	Team	Title
1927	Argentina	Copa America
1928	Argentina	Olympic silver medal
1934	Italy	FIFA World Cup

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Detail of international appearances for Argentina and Italy, by RSSSF
• Biography at Planet World Cup
• Short bio at La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italian)

v • d • e Argentina squad - 1930 FIFA World Cup Runners-up GK Bossio • GK Botasso • FW Cherro • DF Chividini • FW Demaría • DF Della Torre • DF J. Evaristo • FW M. Evaristo • FW Ferreira • MF Monti • DF Muttis • DF Orlandini • DF Paternoster • FW Perinetti • FW Peucelle • DF Piaggio • FW Scopelli • FW Spadaro • FW Stábile • MF Suárez • FW Varallo • DF Zumelzú • Coach: Olazar & Tramutola

v • d • e Italy squad - 1934 FIFA World Cup Winners (1st Title) DF Allemandi • FW Arcari • MF Bertolini • FW Borel • DF Caligaris • MF Castellazzi • GK Cavanna • GK Combi • FW Demaria • FW Ferrari • MF Ferraris • FW Guaita • FW Guarisi • GK Masetti • FW Meazza • MF Monti • DF Monzeglio • FW Orsi • MF Pizziolo • DF Rosetta • FW Schiavio • MF Varglien • Coach: Pozzo