René Houseman

René Orlando Houseman (19 July 1953 – 22 March 2018), nicknamed Loco, being still regarded by many sports journalists as one of the best wingers ever. At the beginning of 1973, as a recommendation by manager César Menotti, he was hired by Huracán.

Mother, don't worry because these legs will save you — Houseman to his mother at the beginning of his career

Houseman is a mixture of Maradona and Garrincha — César Menotti and then to South Africa when he joined AmaZulu.

In 1984, he returned to Argentina to play for Independiente, but he only played three matches in total. Nevertheless, Houseman was part of the roster that won the Libertadores and Intercontinental Cups that year.

Houseman retired from football in 1985, playing for his first club, Excursionistas, in a match versus Boca Juniors.

International career

During his international career, Houseman also played for the Argentina national team and participated at the 1974 FIFA World Cup, where he scored three goals. His greatest achievement in football was being a member of the 1978 FIFA World Cup winning team and scoring in the 6–0 win over Peru.

Post-retirement Houseman was part of the coaching staff led by Ángel Cappa that managed Huracán between 2008 and 2009. He said he was never paid for his services. Houseman scored a goal versus River Plate which he later claimed not to remember as he was drunk throughout that game. In 2017, it was revealed that Houseman had tongue cancer. The Argentine Football Association announced that it would help him to afford medical treatment.

Houseman died on 22 March 2018 after a long battle with cancer, eight days after the death of his 1978 teammate, Rubén Galván.

Honours Club Defensores de Belgrano Primera C: 1972

Huracán Primera División: 1973 Metropolitano; runner-up: 1975 Metropolitano, 1976 Metropolitano

Colo-Colo Copa Chile: 1982

Independiente Copa Libertadores: 1984 Intercontinental Cup: 1984

International Argentina FIFA World Cup: 1978 Copa Newton: 1975, 1976 Copa Lipton: 1976 Copa Félix Bogado: 1976 Copa Ramón Castilla: 1976, 1978