Oscar Ruggeri

Oscar Ruggeri
Personal information
Full name	Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri
Date of birth	26 January 1962 (age 62)
Place of birth	Corral de Bustos, Córdoba, Argentina
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Youth career
1970–1980	Boca Juniors
Senior career*
Years	Team
1980–1984	Boca Juniors
1985–1988	River Plate
1988–1989	Logroñés
1989–1990	Real Madrid
1990–1992	Vélez Sársfield
1992	Ancona
1992–1993	América
1994–1997	San Lorenzo
1997	Lanús
Total
International career
1983–1994	Argentina
Managerial career
1998–2001	San Lorenzo
2001–2002	Guadalajara
2003	Tecos UAG
2003	Independiente
2003–2004	Elche
2004	América
2006	San Lorenzo
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri (born 26 January 1962 in Corral de Bustos, Córdoba) is a former footballer. Nicknamed "El Cabezón" ("The Big-Headed One"), Ruggeri is one of the most successful defenders ever to come out of Argentina.

Career

Ruggeri started his career at Boca Juniors, playing with Diego Maradona, with whom he won a league title in 1981. In 1985 he moved to rivals River Plate, where he won the Copa Libertadores, the Intercontinental Cup and another league title in 1986. In 1988 he left for Europe where he played for Spanish clubs Logroñes and Real Madrid, where he won yet another league championship. He also played for Vélez Sársfield, Ancona in Italy, América in Mexico, San Lorenzo and Lanús, where he ended his career.

During his career he represented his country in three World Cups, captaining Argentina in the final two games of the 1994 competition, after Diego Maradona was expelled from the tournament. Ruggeri was also a key piece in the Argentina teams that won the trophy in 1986 and lost the final to West-Germany in 1990. After losing to Romania in the 1994 tournament, Ruggeri retired from international football having played 97 international games, an Argentine record until it was surpassed by Diego Simeone.

Ruggeri played in 21 Copa América games, a national record he shares with José Salomón.

Career statistics

Season	Club	Games	Goals
1980	Boca Juniors	21	2
1981	Boca Juniors	31	1
1982	Boca Juniors	43	3
1983	Boca Juniors	19	1
1984	Boca Juniors	28	1
1985	Boca Juniors	13	1
1985~86	River Plate	35	1
1986~87	River Plate	18	1
1987~88	River Plate	28	2
1988~89	Logroñes	34	1
1989~90	Real Madrid	31	2
1990~91	Vélez Sársfield	31	1
1991~92	Vélez Sársfield	24	4
1992	Ancona	7	1
1992~93	América	27	4
1994	San Lorenzo	22	1
1995	San Lorenzo	35	3
1996	San Lorenzo	27	5
1997	San Lorenzo	17	1
1997	Lanús	13	2