| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1909 | ||
| Place of birth | Mar del Plata, Argentina | ||
| Date of death | August 13, 1981 (aged 72) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Independiente Mar del Plata | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1928-1934 | Gimnasia La Plata | ||
| 1935-1942 | River Plate | ||
| 1942-1943 | Peñarol | ||
| 1944 | Green Cross | ||
| National team | |||
| 1933-1941 | Argentina | 24 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of March 2008. † Appearances (Goals). |
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José María Minella (born in 1909 in Mar del Plata, died in 1981) was a former Argentine footballer and manager. He played for and managed the Argentina national team.
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Minella started playing at local club Independiente de Mar del Plata. In 1928 he was signed by Gimnasia La Plata who won the Argentine championship in 1929. In 1933 he played in the team nicknamed El Expreso (The express) that nearly won the championship, the first of many such disappointments for Gimnasia.
In 1935 he moved to River Plate where he was part of three championship winning teams in 1936, 1937 and 1941.
Towards the end of his playing career he played in Uruguay with Peñarol and in Chile with Green Cross.
Minella made his international debut in 1933, he played three times in the Copa América, in 1935, 1937 and 1941. Argentina won the 1937 and 1941 editions. He played a total of 24 games for his country netting one goal.
Minella took over as manager of River Plate in 1947, he led the team through the most successful era in their history. Between 1952 and 1957 they won five championships in six years, including a the first hat-trick of championships in the professional era (1955, 1956 & 1957).
Minella has a spell as manager of the Argentina national team between 1964 and 1965, he returned as caretaker manager for one game in 1968.
In preparation for the 1978 FIFA World Cup a football stadium was built in Mar del Plata and named Estadio José María Minella in honour of Mar del Plata's most significant footballing talent.
Club Titles
| Season | Team | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1929 | Gimnasia La Plata | Argentine championship |
| 1936 | River Plate | Primera División Argentina |
| 1937 | River Plate | Primera División Argentina |
| 1941 | River Plate | Primera División Argentina |
International titles
| Season | Team | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Argentina | Copa América |
| 1941 | Argentina | Copa América |
| Season | Team | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | River Plate | Primera División Argentina |
| 1953 | River Plate | Primera División Argentina |
| 1955 | River Plate | Primera División Argentina |
| 1956 | River Plate | Primera División Argentina |
| 1957 | River Plate | Primera División Argentina |
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