Roberto Perfumo

Roberto Perfumo
	Perfumo in 1969
Personal information
Full name	Roberto Alfredo Perfumo
Date of birth	3 October 1942
Place of birth	Sarandí, Argentina
Date of death	10 March 2016 (aged 73)
Place of death	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
1960–1961	River Plate
Senior career*
Years	Team
1962–1970	Racing Club
1971–1974	Cruzeiro
1975–1978	River Plate
Total
International career
1964–1974	Argentina
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Roberto Alfredo Perfumo (3 October 1942 – 10 March 2016) was an Argentine footballer and sports commentator. Nicknamed El Mariscal, Perfumo is considered one of the best Argentine defenders ever.^[1]^[2] At club level, Perfumo played for Racing, River Plate and Brazilian team Cruzeiro. With the national team, he played the 1966 and 1974 World Cups.

Biography

El Mariscal Perfumo in River Plate (1975)

Perfumo with Johan Cruyff at the 1974 FIFA World Cup

Perfumo was born in Sarandí and his first approach to football was to play in his neighborhood team, named "Pulqui". In 1960 he debuted at the 5th. division of River Plate. Perfumo then became player of Racing Club, where he debuted in January 1964 in a friendly match against Flamengo played at Santiago, Chile.

Perfumo's first position at the field was midfielder but he began to play as right back in the Racing reserve team. He debuted in Primera División promoted by Néstor Rossi during a match against Ferro Carril Oeste. Playing with Racing Club Perfumo was regarded as one of the best Argentine defenders, winning the Primera title, the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup. In all those tournaments Perfumo was praised by media and fans as the most notable player of Racing Club.^[3]

After retirement, he worked as a football commentator for ESPN and for TV Pública show Fútbol para todos.

Perfumo died at 73 from a skull injury after falling from a stairway while dining with fellow journalists at a Buenos Aires restaurant in the neighbourhood of Puerto Madero, on 10 March 2016.^[1]^[2]