Biography
Who is Mario Kempes?
Early life and career beginnings
Mario Alberto Kempes was born on July 15, 1954, in Bell Ville, a city in the province of Córdoba in Argentina. His father, Mario Quemp, had German heritage, while his mother, Teresa Chiodi, was of Italian descent. Growing up in Argentina, he showed an early interest in football and started playing with a junior team at the age of seven. By the time he reached fourteen, he joined the Talleres reserves to further develop his athletic skills.
His official club career started at local team Instituto, where he played alongside Osvaldo Ardiles. He soon transferred to Rosario Central, where he quickly established himself as a strong goalscorer. During his time with Rosario Central, he scored 85 goals in 105 matches, which soon caught the attention of international scouts and prompted Valencia to sign him for their squad.
Success at Valencia
After moving to Spain, Mario Kempes became a central figure for Valencia. He won the Copa del Rey, the European Cup Winners' Cup, and the European Super Cup during his tenure with the Spanish club. As a hardworking forward, he gained fame for striking from outside the penalty area with surging runs towards the goal rather than operating solely inside the box as a traditional center-forward.
His incredible goalscoring form earned him the Pichichi Trophy as La Liga's top goalscorer in two consecutive seasons, scoring 24 and 28 goals respectively. During his successful tenure at Mestalla, he amassed 116 goals in 184 league games. Many opposing defenders found it difficult to handle his unique attacking style and relentless pace on the pitch.
World Cup glory with Argentina
Before the 1978 FIFA World Cup, Mario Kempes was the sole foreign-based player included in coach César Luis Menotti's Argentina national team squad. He was determined to prove himself on home soil after failing to score in West Germany four years prior. His performance during the tournament silenced any doubters as he became the focal point of the nation's attack.
He scored six goals during the tournament, including two crucial goals in the final against the Netherlands, which Argentina won 3–1. His second goal came in the 105th minute during extra time to secure the victory. For his outstanding contributions, he received the Golden Boot as the top goalscorer and the Golden Ball as the player of the tournament.
Later career and broadcasting
After leaving Valencia in 1984, Mario Kempes spent two years at Hércules in Alicante and later played for various Austrian clubs through the late 1980s. He rounded off his playing career with stints in Indonesia, Chile, and Albania during the 1990s. Transitioning into management, he coached teams such as Lushnja, Mineros de Guayana, The Strongest, and Blooming, while also serving as a player-manager in Indonesia.
In his post-playing career, Mario Kempes established a prominent role in sports media. He works as a football analyst and commentator in Spanish for ESPN Deportes. Alongside other broadcasters, he provides commentary for the Latin American versions of video game franchises including FIFA and EA Sports FC.
Birthday and age
Mario Kempes was born on July 15, 1954, which makes Mario 72 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Mario shares the date with 44 other famous people.
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