| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ángel Amadeo Labruna | ||
| Date of birth | September 28, 1918 | ||
| Place of birth | Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||
| Date of death | September 20, 1983 (aged 64) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1939–1959 | River Plate | 515 | (293) |
| 1960–1961 | Rampla Juniors | 16 | (3) |
| 1961 | Platense | 2 | (0) |
| 1961 | Rangers de Talca | 5 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 1942–1958 | Argentina | 37 | (17) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1968–1970 | River Plate | ||
| 1971–1972 | Rosario Central | ||
| 1973 | Racing Club | ||
| 1974 | Talleres de Córdoba | ||
| 1975–1981 | River Plate | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of July 2008. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Angel Amadeo Labruna, (b. Buenos Aires September 28, 1918 – d. September 20, 1983), was a football player and coach in Argentina. He is the second of the all-time highest goalscorers with 293 goals, behind Arsenio Erico with 295 goals. Labruna was also part of the celebrated River Plate offense, nicknamed "La Máquina" (The Machine), and he was considered one of the best South-American footballers of all time.
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He started in River Plate on June 18, 1939 and played there for 20 years in the top league in his country. Won nine championships in the Argentina Tournament (1941, 1942, 1945, 1947, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957) having the distinction of being top scorer twice (1943 with 23 goals and 1945 with 25).[1]
He was part of his club's legendary team along with: Juan Carlos Muñoz, José Manuel Moreno, Adolfo Pedernera, and Félix Loustau, where he played as inner-left forward.
Labruna holds a number of records for River Plate, including his record of 16 goals in the superclásico derby with fierce rivals Boca Juniors.
In 1959, Labruna left River Plate having defended their colors in 515 matches, scoring 293 goals making him the all-time highest goalscorer in the Argentine first division along with Arsenio Erico. He later played two seasons in the Chilean Rangers, and Uruguay's Rampla Juniors in Montevideo and Platense in Argentina, to retire when he was 43 years old.
Labruna played 37 matches for the Argentina National Team (scoring 17 goals). Won one Copa América (1955) and as a 40-year old he played in the final phase of World Cup in 1958 in Sweden.[2]
Same as other greats of his generation he could not participate in other World Cups due to the event's suspension during World War II and later for his country's decision of not competing in the cups in Brazil and Switzerland.
After ending his career as a player he became Assistant Coach and Coach in River Plate, Defensores de Belgrano, Platense, Rosario Central (where he won his first National Championship, in 1971), Talleres de Córdoba, Racing Club, Lanús, Chacarita Juniors and Argentinos Juniors.
Labruna's period in charge of River Plate brought the club much domestic success, a side endowed with players such as Daniel Passarella, Norberto Alonso and Leopoldo Luque.
He is buried at La Chacarita Cemetery in Buenos Aires.[3]
Every September 28, River Plate's fans celebrate the "International River Plate Fan's Day" as a tribute to one of the club's greatest idols.
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