Sport
The greatest River Plate XI of all time
Argentina is full of iconic players and clubs and few encapsulate this reputation better than River Plate. The Buenos Aires side are the most successful side domestically in Argentine football winning a record 38 Primera Division titles throughout the past century. On top of that, Los Millionarios have won a plethora of international trophies too such as the Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana and the Intercontinental Cup. With these success ranging from the 1930s to the present day, plenty of legendary names have appeared at El Monumental down the years. These legends have crossed generations and become iconic names across the world. With that in mind, just which superstars have done enough to be considered in River Plate’s greatest XI?
GK: Amadeo Carrizo
For goalkeepers, there are few that have set trends such as Amadeo Carrizo. Carrizo spent almost his entire career with River Plate playing from 1945-1968. Carrizo’s longevity was only belied by just how innovative he was when out on the pitch. Carrizo was always looking to stay active and always closed down strikers approaching the box and launch balls directly up field. Breaking away from the traditional mould, Carrizo won plaudits across the world for his innovative style. He was also the first ever goalkeeper to wear gloves in net to improve grip on the ball underlining how he innovated the game. If you also add that he won 7 Primera Titles in 513 games for the club, it showcased his legendary status. With 513 appearances over 23 years, Carrizo is still River Plate’s all-time appearance leader in a record that doesn’t look to be broken anytime soon.
RB: Jonatan Maidana
It was unthinkable that River Plate were actually relegated from Argentina’s top flight in 2011. However, this saw a wave of new players come into the club and revitalise them back to top form. At the heart of this was Jonathan Maidana, a defender that’s became a stalwart at the club today. Maidana’s fearless nature and excellent defensive awareness has seen him enjoy the phoenix-like rise by River in the 2010s. This included being part of a side that has dominated in all areas in recent years. With Maidana in the squad, River won the 2014 Primera Division as well as securing 2 Copa Libertadores trophies in 2015 & 2018. In fact, Maidana captained River Plate in their 2018 success underlining his role in their recent form. A great effort from a dedicated servant to the club.
LB: Norberto Yacono
River Plate dominated South American football in the mid-20th century and was untouchable for decades. As lauded as the frontline was, there were plenty of stars in the backline too such as Norberto Yacono. Yacono’s biggest skills came down to his ability to shut down players thanks to excellent marking skills and precise tackling. This made him a regular star for River over three separate decades. Over nearly 400 appearances for River, he won no less than 6 league titles with the club from 1941 to 1953. It’s a record that very few have been able to match even nearly a century after his debut.
CB: Daniel Passarella
There are few names in Argentine football more iconic than Daniel Passarella. Passarella was a player that had no weaknesses in any area of the pitch and much of this success was found with River Plates during the 1970s and 1980s. Passarella was an excellent tackler and passer of the ball making him the lynchpin from attacking out the back. He also had a thirst for goal too scoring 97 goals for River in 290 games. With Los Millionarios, he was one of their main penalty takers and his composure helped them win plenty of iconic trophies including 6 Primera Division titles. Individually, he was named 1976 Argentine Player of the Year and also part of Argentina’s World Cup wins in 1978 and 1986. Passarella’s legacy has continued after his retirement having managed River to 3 Primera Division titles in the 1990s and even becoming club president in 2009. A true legend of the club and football in all areas of the game.
CB: Oscar Ruggeri
Playing at the height of River’s success in the 1980s, Oscar Ruggeri was as fearless as they come in the backline. Not least considering he joined the club in 1985 from arch-rivals Boca Juniors. However, this hardly dampened his passion to succeed. Ruggeri’s relentless energy and dominant aerial ability made him one of the best defenders in the game. This was underlined by him being a part of a team that won a quadruple in 1986 which included the Primera Division, Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup. It was during this time that Ruggeri was named in the 1986 South American Team of the Year – a feat he would repeat in 1989. After such commanding performances, Ruggeri left River in 1989 to join Spanish side Logrones – a move that set up a spot with Real Madrid a short time afterward.
CM: Norberto Alonso
A livewire of a midfield who could change games in a heartbeat, Norberto “Beto” Alonso was a player that could change games in a heartbeat. Over 3 separate spells with the club in the 1970s and 1980s, Alonso used his knack for finding spaces and converting chances to win games season after season. His most effective season came in River’s successful 1975 title win where he scored 20 goals in 28 games to propel his side to the title. This was almost matched in the 1978 campaign where he scored 15 goals in 14 games for the side. After signing off his career with River in their quadruple winning 1986 season, Alonso retired with 9 league titles with the club and having scored 158 goals in 374 appearances. An excellent record for an attacking midfielder.
CM: Enzo Francescoli
Aptly named after the nearby Rio De La Plata, the Uruguayan border is within sight from the club. With that has brought several Uruguayan stars to the club – none more so than Enzo Francescoli. Known affectionally as “El Principe”, Francescoli wowed crowds with his pacy runs, mazy dribbles and ability to create chances out of nothing. During his two spells with River during the 1980s and 1990s, Francescoli was the star that made things happen for the club. This included scoring 25 goals in 32 game during their stunning 1986 season as well as 19 goals in the 1996/97 season where they won both the Primera Division and the Copa Libertadores. This form saw Francescoli nominated 4 South American Team of the Year squads from 1994-1997 and also named South American Footballer of the Year in 1984 and 1995. A true legend that gave everything until he hung up his boots in 1997.
CM: Ariel Ortega
Argentina’s squad was full of stars in the late 1990s but few were as successful domestically as Ariel Ortega. Capable of playing centrally or on either flank, Ortega’s passing range and creativity made him a force to beckoned with anywhere on the pitch. Ortega shone with River through three stints during the 1990s and 2000s. His best form came in the 2001-02 season where he scored 14 goals for River as they won the Clausura section of the Primera Division. It was this form that saw Ortega earn his 4th South American Team of the Year nomination of his career. After his third stint with the club finished in 2011, Ortega retired 7 trophies with the club – a reminder of his statures as one of Argentina’s best playmakers of the time.
FW: Jose Manuel Moreno
River’s frontline of the 1930s and 1940s was one of the most feared units anywhere on the planet. One of their primary stars was Jose Manuel Moreno who was one of the best strikers of his generation. A skilful player who could beat opponents as well as finish emphatically, Moreno was never a player to waste a chance. He underlined this by repeatedly scoring double figure tallies season after season. With River, Moreno scored 179 goals over two spells and won 6 Primera Division titles with the club. After leaving River in 1948, Moreno would go onto win league titles across South America becoming the first professional footballer to win four league titles in four different countries. It’s this form that seen El Charro still fondly remembered to this very day.
FW: Adolfo Pedernera
If there was any true breakout star of La Machina – it would have been their main playmaker Adolfo Pedernera. Generally, the player to link attacks and bind them together, Pedernera was the glue that made this unit work so flawlessly. Given the nickname El Maestro, Pedernera scored just as many chances as he created. Over much of the late 1930s and 1940s, he would enjoy much success winning 5 Primera Division titles with River and even being named best player at the 1946 Copa America. Pedernera left River in 1945 and would find success in Colombia in Millionarios before retiring with Huracan in 1955. His legacy is still revered to this very day as Pedernera set out what it meant to be a true number 10.
FW: Angel Labruna
For River fans, there is perhaps been no player more dedicated to the club than Angel Labruna. Labruna was the main finisher of the famed La Machina attacking unit of the 1930s and 1940s regularly converting chances without blinking. However, Labruna never lost his touch over his 20 years with River scoring a staggering 317 goals over 533 games – scoring at a rate of 0.62 goals a game. This staggering record saw Labruna win 9 titles with the club and set their all-time scoring record – one that stands to this day. He would go onto find more success with River on the touchline guiding them to two Primera Division titles in both 1975 and 1979. With so much success with the club, it is no wonder why many see Labruna as one of the club’s greatest legends of all time.
