Biography
Who is Alberto Tarantini?
Early life and beginnings
Alberto Tarantini César Tarantini was born in Ezeiza, Argentina, on December 3, 1955. He began his football path by progressing through the youth divisions of the Boca Juniors club during the early 1970s. During his initial years with the team, he became recognizable for his distinctive afro hairstyle and prominent front teeth. These physical traits led to him receiving the nickname conejo, which translates to rabbit.
Success with Boca Juniors
In 1977, Alberto achieved significant success with Boca Juniors when the team won the Copa Libertadores. The final match took place on September 14, 1977, at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay. After a goalless draw, Boca Juniors defeated Cruzeiro 5–4 in a penalty shootout. This victory marked his first international club football title.
His time with Boca Juniors also included winning the Primera Division Argentina titles for both the Nacional and Metropolitano tournaments in 1976. Despite his on-field success, he experienced a contractual dispute with the club management a few months before the 1978 FIFA World Cup. This conflict left him without a club for a period as the organization pressured other Argentine teams to avoid signing him.
International football career
Alberto played as a defensive left back early in his professional career, later shifting to a wing back role. He was part of the Argentina under-23 team that secured victory in the 1975 Toulon Tournament, playing alongside teammates like Jorge Valdano and Américo Gallego under coach César Menotti. He eventually became the primary left-back for the senior national team following the departure of Jorge Carrascosa.
At 22, he was the youngest player on the national squad during the 1978 FIFA World Cup. He played in the final match against The Netherlands and scored a goal during the 6–0 victory against Peru. His performance contributed to Argentina winning the tournament. He also represented his country in the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Also, he earned recognition in the 1978 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team and the 1978 World Soccer World XI.
Club career and later years
Following the 1978 World Cup, Alberto signed with the English club Birmingham City for a fee of £295,000. His tenure in England lasted for 23 games. Reports from that time noted incidents involving poor discipline, including a confrontation with Manchester United defender Brian Greenhoff and a physical altercation with a spectator. After leaving Birmingham, he returned to Argentina to play for Talleres de Córdoba and River Plate.
His career also included stints with various European teams such as SC Bastia, Toulouse FC, and FC St. Gallen. While playing for River Plate, he secured further domestic success by winning the Metropolitano title in 1980 and the Nacional title in 1981. In 1982, he was voted into the top ten of the South America Player of the Year awards.
Personal life
Alberto was married to the fashion model Patricia Pata Villanueva. His brother, George Tarantini, worked as a college soccer coach. In later years, he received further recognition for his historical impact on the sport, being named to the AFA Team of All Time in 2015 and the IFFHS Argentina All Times Dream Team in 2021.
Birthday and age
Alberto Tarantini was born on December 3, 1955, which makes Alberto 70 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Alberto shares the date with 58 other famous people.
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