Carlos Peucelle

Carlos Desiderio Peucelle (13 September 1908 – 1 April 1990) was an Argentine football player who played as an inside forward or as a right winger and is considered one of Argentina's finest wingers in their history. He is also known for being the catalyst for starting "La Máquina" with River Plate who went on to dominate football in South America in the 1940s.

Playing career Peucelle played first team football for San Telmo and Sportivo Buenos Aires before joining Argentine giants River Plate for a fee of 10,000 pesos. Peucelle gained the nickname "El Primer Millonario" because of this big money transfer.

Peucelle played for River from 1931 to 1941 (307 matches and scored 143 goals). During this time "Los Millonarios" were champions of Argentina on 4 occasions; 1932, 1936, 1937 and 1941. He is credited as being one of the creators of "La Máquina" (The Machine), the all conquering River Plate team of the 1940s. In fact he wrote a book entitled "Futbol Todotiempo e Historia de La Máquina" (Football the times and history of "La Máquina").

Peucelle also played for the Argentina national football team he was in the squad of the 1930 FIFA World Cup, where he scored three goals, and played in the final match against Uruguay, which Argentina lost 2–4.

Peucelle was part of two Copa América winning squads, in 1929 and 1937.

Peucelle played a total of 59 games for Argentina scoring 12 goals.

Coaching career After he retired, he was chief managers of several teams throughout Latin America. These included; Deportivo Cali in Colombia, Deportivo Saprissa in Costa Rica, Sporting Cristal in Peru and Olimpia in Paraguay. Peucelle also managed River Plate and San Lorenzo in Argentina. Peucelle established the first soccer school in Colombia.

Career statistics

International goals Argentina's goal tally first + # Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 16 June 1929 Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1–0 2–0 Friendly 2. 3 November 1929 Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1–0 3–0 1929 South American Championship 3. 26 July 1930 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay 5–0 6–1 1930 FIFA World Cup 4. 6–0 5. 30 July 1930 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay 1–1 2–4 1930 FIFA World Cup Final 6. 19 April 1931 Estadio de Puerto Sajonia, Asunción, Paraguay 1–0 1–1 Friendly 7. 22 September 1931 Estadio de Puerto Sajonia, Asunción, Paraguay 1–0 5–1 Friendly 8. 18 July 1935 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay 1–0 1–1 1935 Copa Héctor Gómez 9. 5 March 1940 Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires, Argentina 2–0 6–1 1940 Roca Cup 10. 3–0 11. 4–0 12. 17 March 1940 Estadio Racing Club, Avellaneda, Argentina 3–0 5–1 1940 Roca Cup

Honours

Club River Plate Primera División (4): 1932, 1936, 1937, 1941 Copa Competencia (LAF) (1): 1932 Copa Ibarguren (2): 1937, 1941 Copa Adrián C. Escobar (1): 1941 Copa Aldao (3): 1936, 1937, 1941

International Argentina Copa América (2): 1929, 1937 FIFA World Cup Runner-up: 1930