Américo Tesoriere

Américo Miguel Tesoriere, sometimes nicknamed Mérico (Buenos Aires, March 18, 1899 – December 30, 1977), was an Argentine football goalkeeper who spent most of his career in Boca Juniors, where he became an early idol and remaining as a legend of the club. Tesoriere is also regarded as one of the best Argentine goalkeepers ever.

Tesoriere was the third goalkeeper in the history-of the Argentina national team after José Buruca Laforia and Carlos Wilson, winning two Copa América with the squad and keeping his goal unbeaten in both competitions.

He played for Argentina national football team between 1919 and 1925.

Biography

Born in Barracas as Américo Miguel Tesoriero in 1899, Tesoriere replaced Nicolás Fabbiani, who had been seriously injured in the previous match v Tigre.

Tesoriere played for Boca Juniors until 1927, except for the 1921 season when he played for Sportivo del Norte.

Nicknamed La Gloria, Tesoriere soon gained the attention of media and fans for his skills and good performances, being called up for the Argentina national team in 1920. With Argentina he won the 1921 and 1925 Copa América (then called "Campeonato Sudamericano"). In the 1921 edition, he kept his goal unbeaten. The crowd said to President of Uruguay, José Serrato (who had attended the match): "Sir, this man did not allow us to defeat the Argentine team".

Tesoriere was also the first footballer to appear on the cover of El Gráfico, the most famous sports magazine of Argentina, in July 1922. Nevertheless, Tesoriere played nine friendly pre-season matches in 1928, the last on August 4. Manuel Merello (who had debuted in the club in 1924) replaced Tesoriere since the 1928 season.

After leaving the club, Tesoriere returned to Boca Juniors ten years later in an administrative role and stayed with the club as groundsman until 1953. On May 25, 1940, Tesoriere raised the Argentine flag at the inauguration of La Bombonera.

When he was answered about his retirement at a short age, Tesoriere stated: "I decided to retire because of the internal problems in Boca Juniors. I was part of the elections, but always in the loser side, of course".

Tesoriere died on December 30, 1977, at the age of 78.

The famous song "We have a goalkeeper who is a marvel himself; He stops penalty shots sitting on a chair" was composed by the Boca Juniors supporters in honor of Tesoriere.

In his own words