Bernabé Ferreyra

Bernabé Ferreyra (12 February 1909 – 22 May 1972) was an Argentine association football forward. He was one of the first professional players in Argentine football to reach great popularity, to the point that he had a movie biography. Ferreyra ranks 6th among the all-time Primera División top scorers, with an average of almost 1 goal per match (233/234). due to his capacity as a striker and his strong kick. He was also known as La Fiera (the fierce).

With his 1932 transfer to River Plate, he became the first association football player in history to be transferred for more than £1 million in modern money terms (£23 000 GBP or £1,328,431.76 in 2023)

Playing career

Club Ferreyra was born in the city of Rufino, Santa Fe Province. Since early age Ferreyra chose football as his main activity, leaving school behind. Besides, he was expelled from school at 11 years old due to he used to escape to play in a field next to it. When his mother realised that Bernabé abandoned school, she sent him to live with his uncle. He scored 38 goals with the team during the tour. During the tour, goalkeeper of Peruvian Sport Boys collapsed on the pitch after a shot by Ferreyra hit his face, causing him a concussion. He kept this record for a total of 17 year –the longest unbroken time period for this record. Due to the huge amount of money paid for Ferreyra's trading –along with Carlos Peucelle's one year before–, earned River Plate the nickname Millonarios ("Millionaires") that has remained until present days. The magazine Caras y Caretas (Argentina) published that the amount paid for Ferreyra's trading was the equivalent to the cost of 11 luxury cars, 5,000 pairs of shoes, and 514 suits (all of first quality). His fame and striking strength was such that the newspaper Crítica gave a prize to the first goalkeeper that played Ferreyra without receiving a goal. The prize was awarded to Cándido De Nicola of Huracán (despite still suffering one goal in a 1–1 draw).

Ferreyra's shot was so strong that Independiente goalkeeper, Fernando Bello, injured his two wrists after stopping a penalty kick by him. With each passing match, Ferreyra was nicknamed different ways, such as Cañonero (Cannonade), Rompe redes (Nets breaker), and also Balazo (gunshot) when he started scoring from a distance of 40 meters.

Ferreyra finished his career prematurely due to the frequent injuries caused by his rivals. His last official match was on 11 May 1939 against Newell's Old Boys, which ended 2–2 and Ferreyra did not score. He retired at the early age of 29 and never accepted being a coach. Ferreyra had also a tribute match v Peñarol at Estadio Monumental, with a high attendance. The football scenes were filmed at River Plate Stadium, with Ferreyra and other players of the club making some cameos.

After his retirement, Ferreyra also acted in other movies, such as El susto que Pérez se llevó, a comedy directed by Richard Harland, HAy que casar a Ernesto (Orestes Caviglia, 1941), and La importancia de ser ladrón (Julio Saraceni, 1944).

Argentine tango La Fiera, dedicated to Bernabé Ferreyra,

In national football, A player stands, one of the most phenomenal for being a great scorer there is no one who can resist, his formidable shot has defeated many (chorus) Boys, be careful that The Fiera is coming

Excerpt from La Fiera (1932), a tango dedicated to Ferreyra

In his own words In his own words:

Titles River Plate Primera División (4): 1932, 1936 (Copa Campeonato), 1936 (Copa de Oro), 1937 Copa de Competencia (LAF) (1): 1932 Copa Ibarguren (1): 1937 Copa Aldao (2): 1936, 1937

Argentina Copa América (1): 1937

Individual Primera División top scorer: 1932 LAF