Alfredo Oscar Graciani (6 January 1965 – 21 April 2021) was an Argentine footballer. He played for a number of clubs in Argentina and also played in Switzerland and Venezuela at the end of his playing career. He had a successful career at Boca Juniors, having played 250 matches for the club, and winning two titles.[1] Nicknamed Alfil ("bishop" in chess, due to his diagonal movements on the pitch) and Bat, Graciani is ranked 14th. among the all-time leading scorers for Boca Juniors.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alfredo Oscar Graciani | ||
| Date of birth | 6 January 1965 | ||
| Place of birth | Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||
| Date of death | 21 April 2021 (aged 56) | ||
| Place of death | Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||
| Position(s) | Striker, right winger | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1981–1984 | Atlanta | ||
| 1985–1991 | Boca Juniors | 211 | (75) |
| 1992–1993 | Racing Club | 28 | (7) |
| 1993–1994 | Boca Juniors | 7 | (0) |
| 1994 | Deportivo Español | 9 | (4) |
| 1995–1996 | Atlético Tucumán | ||
| 1996–1997 | Argentinos Juniors | ||
| 1997 | Lugano | ||
| 1998 | Caracas FC | ||
| International career | |||
| 1983 | Argentina U20 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
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Graciani started his playing career in the youth divisions of Atlanta, where his brother Néstor also played. He made his debut with the senior squad in 1981 v Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata in Primera B, the second division of Argentine football by then. Atlanta coach Luis Artime sent him to the field on 80' substituting Carlos Landaburo. In 1983, Graciani was part of the team that won the Primera B championship promoting to Primera División. During his career at Atlanta, Graciani played a total of 89 matches, scoring 18 goals.[3]
Graciani was also called up for the Argentina u20 team that played in the 1983 South American championship, qualifying for the 1983 World Championship where he was part of the roster.[4]
In 1984 Graciani was signed by Boca Juniors, where he went on to become their leading goalscorer of the 1980s, winning two international titles with the club, the 1989 Supercopa Libertadores and 1990 Recopa Sudamericana. In 1992 Graciani joined Racing Club but returned to Boca Juniors in 1993. By the end of his Boca Juniors career he had played 250 games for the club in all competitions, scoring 83 goals.[1][5]
In 1994 Graciani played for Deportivo Español before dropping down a division to play for Atlético Tucumán and then Argentinos Juniors in the Primera B Nacional. Three years later, he was signed by Swiss club Lugano, finishing his career playing for Venezuelan club Caracas in 1998.[6]
After retirement as a player, Graciani went on to work as a football coach, being part of the coaching staff at Boca under Jorge José Benítez during the 2004–05 season.
Graciani died from a cardiac arrest in Buenos Aires on 21 April 2021.[7]
Titles
edit- Atlanta
- Primera B: 1983
- Boca Juniors
- Argentinos Juniors
References
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- ^ a b Murió Alfredo Graciani on TyC Sports, 21 Apr 2021
- ^ Falleció Alfredo Graciani on Bola Vip
- ^ Dolor en Boca: murió Alfredo Graciani on Olé, 21 Apr 2021
- ^ Mexico 1983: Brazil live up to top billing on FIFA.com
- ^ Alfredo Graciani statistics on Bocampeon web (archived, 24 Mar 2008)
- ^ Alfredo Graciani: "Feliz de haber hecho la trayectoria que hice en el fútbol argentino." interview on LT3 Rosario, 27 Sep 2020
- ^ "Dolor en Boca: murió Alfredo Graciani a los 56 años". infobae (in European Spanish). 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.