Héctor Castro

Early life Castro was born in Montevideo. When he was 13, he accidentally amputated his right forearm while using an electric saw, which gave origin to his nickname, El manco (meaning "the one-armed", or "the maimed").

Playing career

International career Castro made his debut for the Uruguay national football team in November 1923. He played his final match for la Celeste in August 1935 having played 25 times, scoring 18 goals.

1928 Olympics Playing for Uruguay at the 1928 Olympic Games Castro won a gold medal.

1930 FIFA World Cup

Castro was in the Uruguay squad for the inaugural 1930 FIFA World Cup. He scored Uruguay's first ever goal at a World Cup and the first at the Estadio Centenario, in their opening group game against Peru on 18 July 1930. He also scored their fourth goal in the final, a 4–2 win against Argentina.

South American Championship Castro played in South American Championship-winning teams in 1926 and 1935.

International goals Uruguay's goal tally first + # Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 25 November 1923 Estadio Pocitos, Montevideo, Uruguay 1–0 2–1 Friendly 2. 8 December 1923 Estadio Racing Club, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1–1 3–2 Copa Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores 3. 3–2 4. 17 October 1926 Estadio Sport de Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile 2–0 3–1 1926 South American Championship 5. 24 October 1926 Estadio Sport de Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile 2–0 2–0 6. 1 November 1926 Estadio Sport de Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile 1–0 6–1 7. 2–0 8. 3–0 9. 5–1 10. 1 November 1927 Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru 4–0 4–0 1927 South American Championship 11. 6 November 1927 Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru 6–0 9–0 12. 10 December 1927 Viña del Mar, Chile 2–2 3–2 Friendly 13. 3 June 1928 Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, Netherlands 1–0 4–1 1928 Summer Olympics 14. 20 September 1929 Estadio Gran Parque Central, Montevideo, Uruguay 1–0 2–1 1929 Copa Newton 15. 18 July 1930 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay 1–0 1–0 1930 FIFA World Cup 16. 30 July 1930 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay 4–2 4–2 1930 FIFA World Cup final 17. 13 January 1935 Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru 1–0 1–0 1935 South American Championship 18. 27 January 1935 Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru 1–0 3–0

Coaching career After retiring as a player, Castro worked as a football coach with Nacional. He won the Uruguayan championship in 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, and again in 1952.

Later life and death Castro died in 1960 at the age of fifty five.

Honours

As a player FIFA World Cup: 1930 Copa América: 1926, 1935 Summer Olympics Gold Medal: 1928

As a coach Uruguayan Championship: 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1952

As an assistant coach Uruguayan Championship: 1939

Castro was assistant coach to William Reaside in 1939 but was coach in the finals for that year's tournament. Therefore, he was Nacional's coach at all five years of the Quinquenio de Oro's closing games.