Marcos Francisco Croce (6 March 1894 – 10 July 1978) was an Argentine footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Croce spent most of his career at Racing Club, but he also played in Alumni, Estudiantes BA, and Sportivo Palermo.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marcos Francisco Croce | ||
| Date of birth | 6 March 1894 | ||
| Date of death | 10 July 1978 (aged 84) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1910–? | Alumni | ||
| Estudiantes (BA) | |||
| 1917–1925 | Racing Club | ||
| 1928–1931 | Sp. Palermo | ||
| International career | |||
| 1916–1919 | Argentina | 7 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Croce is regarded not only as the first great goalkeeper for Racing Club but one of the best in the history of the club.[1][2]
Biography
editCroce debuted in Alumni at the age of 16 years,[3] then moving to C.A. Estudiantes. In 1917 he was transferred to a Racing Club, where he had a long tenure also winning 10 titles with the club between 1917 and 1925.[3] Besides, Croce also was one of the first Argentine goalkeeper to kick penalties, scoring several goals.[4]
Between 1920 and 1921, Croce set a record of 1,077 minutes keeping his goal unbeaten (for more than 11 consecutive matches).[2] This record still remains for Argentine Primera División matches. Croce broke the record set by another Racing goalkeeper, Syla Arduino, who had remained 891 minutes unbeaten.[5]
In 1928, Croce (who was playing for Sportivo Palermo) was part of the Capital Federal Combined that played two friendly matches v Scottish side Motherwell F.C. in Buenos Aires. Those exhibition games were scheduled as part of Motherwell tour of South America.[6] Croce's good performances gained him recognition by the press, even appearing on the cover of sports magazine El Gráfico.[7]
Croce retired from football in 1931 playing for Sportivo Palermo. He died on 10 July 1978 at 84 years old.[4]
Internationally, Croce played seven matches for the Argentina national football team.[4][8] He was also part of Argentina's squad for the 1917 South American Championship, sharing duties with River Plate goalkeeper Carlos Isola.[9]
In my career as footballer, I hold the honor of not having commercialised my efforts and to have played only for the love of the sport. I was an 'amateur' in the broadest sense of the word.[3]
— Croce about his career in football
Titles
edit- Primera División (5): 1917, 1918, 1919, 1921, 1925
- Copa Honor MCBA (4): 1912, 1913, 1915, 1917[10]
- Copa Ibarguren (2): 1917, 1918[10]
- Copa Aldao (2): 1917, 1918
References
edit
- ^ MARCOS CROCE, EL PRIMER GRAN PORTERO on Racing Club, 10 July 2014
- ^ a b TOP 5: LOS MEJORES ARQUEROS DE RACING CLUB by Por Federico Dotti on Balón Latino, 12 octubre, 2020
- ^ a b c Marcos Croce on El Primer Grande
- ^ a b c Idolos: Marcos Croce on Racing Club
- ^ Los récords de Croce y Saja by Oscar Barnade on Clarín, 17 Feb 2015
- ^ South American Trip of Motherwell FC 1928 by Pablo Ciullini at the RSSSF
- ^ El Gráfico n° 464, published 26 May 1928
- ^ "Marcos Croce". National Football Teams. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "South American Championship 1917". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Argentina - Domestic Cup History". RSSSF. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.