José Nasazzi

José Nasazzi

José Nasazzi in 1926
Personal information
Full name	José Nasazzi Yarza
Date of birth	May 24, 1901(1901-05-24)
Place of birth	Montevideo, Uruguay
Date of death	June 17, 1968(1968-06-17) (aged 67)
Place of death	Montevideo, Uruguay
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Right-back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1918–1920	Lito
1922–1932	Bella Vista
1933–1937	Nacional
National team
1923–1937	Uruguay	51	(0)
Teams managed
1942–1945	Uruguay
Honours Competitor for Uruguay Men's Football Olympic Games Gold 1924 Paris Team Competition Gold 1928 Amsterdam Team Competition
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Nasazzi and the second or maternal family name is Yarza.

José Nasazzi Yarza (May 24, 1901 – June 17, 1968) was the Uruguayan footballer who captained his country when they won the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930.

Biography

He was born in Bella Vista, Montevideo to Giuseppe, an Italian immigrant from Milan, and María from the Basque Country of Spain.

Nasazzi is regarded by many as Uruguay's greatest ever football player. He was known as "El Gran Mariscal" (The Great Marshal) and had already won the gold medal at the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games, as well as the Copa América in 1923, 1924 and 1926, by the time of the first World Cup.

During the World Cup tournament, Uruguay's only serious rivals were their neighbors Argentina. After defeating Peru and Romania in the first round, Uruguay defeated the Yugoslavia 6-1 in the semi-finals to set up a final against Argentina. Although his team were 2-1 behind at half-time, Nasazzi rallied his teammates in the second half, leading them to a 4-2 victory and making himself the first captain to lift the Jules Rimet Trophy.

Although Uruguay refused to defend their title in 1934, Nasazzi won the Copa América again (in 1935), before retiring in 1937.

At club level, he played for Bella Vista, Lito and Nacional

Nasazzi's Baton is an unofficial title named after José. It is said to have been held by Uruguay after the first World Cup, and subsequently to have been taken over by any team to beat the holders over 90 minutes in a competitive match. It is currently held by the Netherlands. Nasazzi played with Uruguay from 1923 to 1937 earning 51 appearances.

Honors

Club

• Nacional
  • Primera División: 1933, 1934

Country

• Uruguay
  • FIFA World Cup: 1930
  • Football at the Summer Olympics: 1924, 1928
  • South American Championship: 1923, 1924, 1926, 1935

Individual

• Best player at the South American Championship: 1923, 1935
• Best South American footballers of the 20th century (according to IFFHS): 26th