Ricardo La Volpe Biography: Early Life, Career, And Achievements

Ricardo La Volpe is a former Argentine professional footballer and manager who is widely regarded as one of the most influential coaches in Mexican football history. He is a World Cup-winning goalkeeper who played for most of his career in Argentina and Mexico. La Volpe’s coaching career spans over three decades, during which he has managed several top-tier clubs and national teams.

La Volpe began his career as a professional footballer in 1971 with Club Atlético Banfield and won the second division of Argentina two years later. He played for several other clubs in Argentina, including River Plate, and then moved to Mexico to play for Atlante. He retired from playing in 1984 and began his coaching career with Club Atlante in 1985.

Throughout his coaching career, La Volpe has won several titles, including the Mexican league title with Atlante in the 1992-93 season. He has also managed several national teams, including Mexico and Costa Rica, and coached the former at the 2006 World Cup. Despite his numerous successes, La Volpe has also faced several controversies and challenges throughout his career, including accusations of racism and mistreatment of players.

Key Takeaways

Ricardo La Volpe is a former Argentine professional footballer and manager who is widely regarded as one of the most influential coaches in Mexican football history.
La Volpe played for most of his career in Argentina and Mexico and began his coaching career with Club Atlante in 1985.
Throughout his career, La Volpe has won several titles, including the Mexican league title with Atlante in the 1992-93 season, and managed several national teams, including Mexico and Costa Rica. However, he has also faced several controversies and challenges throughout his career.

Early Life and Education

Ricardo La Volpe was born on February 6, 1952, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He grew up in a football-loving family and began playing the sport at a young age. La Volpe’s father, Ricardo La Volpe Sr., was a professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for several clubs in Argentina.

La Volpe attended the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires, a prestigious high school in Argentina. After completing his education, he pursued a career in football and joined the youth academy of Club Atlético Platense, a professional football club based in Buenos Aires.

La Volpe’s talent as a goalkeeper was quickly recognized, and he made his professional debut for Platense in 1970. He played for the club for two seasons before joining Club Atlético Banfield in 1972.

Throughout his career, La Volpe played for several other clubs in Argentina and Mexico, including Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro, Club Atlético River Plate, Club Atlético Huracán, Club América, Atlante F.C., and Atlético Morelia. He also represented the Argentina national team, earning 11 caps between 1974 and 1978.

Despite his success as a player, La Volpe is perhaps best known for his achievements as a coach. He began his coaching career in 1983, working as an assistant coach for Club Atlético Banfield. He went on to coach several other clubs in Argentina and Mexico, including Club Atlético Boca Juniors, Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield, Club Atlas, and Club América.

La Volpe’s coaching career also included stints as the head coach of the Mexico and Costa Rica national teams. He led Mexico to the round of 16 at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and he coached Costa Rica to the quarter-finals of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Beginning of Coaching Career

Ricardo La Volpe began his coaching career in 1989 in the Mexican league. He managed several teams such as Oaxtepec, Puebla, Atlante, Guadalajara, Querétaro, América, Atlas, Toluca, and Monterrey.

First Steps

La Volpe’s first coaching experience was with the Oaxtepec team in 1989. He then moved on to manage Puebla, where he had a successful stint and helped the team reach the playoffs. After Puebla, he managed Atlante, where he had a mixed record.

Move to Mexico

La Volpe’s move to Mexico in 1992 proved to be a turning point in his coaching career. He had a successful stint with Guadalajara, where he implemented an attacking style of football that earned him a reputation as an innovative coach. He then moved on to manage Querétaro, América, Atlas, Toluca, and Monterrey.

Despite mixed results with some of these teams, La Volpe continued to earn a reputation for his innovative approach and attacking style of football. His success in Mexico eventually led to him being appointed as the coach of the Mexican national team in 2002.

La Volpe’s early coaching career in Mexico laid the foundation for his later success as a coach. His innovative approach to football and commitment to attacking play helped him establish himself as one of the most respected coaches in the Mexican league.

Career Highlights

Club America

Ricardo La Volpe began his coaching career with Club America in 1996. During his tenure, he led the team to the Mexican league championship in the 1997 Winter season. This victory was the first for Club America in over a decade. La Volpe’s success with the team did not stop there. In the 1998 Winter season, he led Club America to the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup title. This was the first time that Club America had won the title since 1992.

Mexican National Team

La Volpe’s most significant achievement as a coach was leading the Mexican National Team to the Round of 16 at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The team’s performance was impressive, and they made it to the second round for the first time since 1994. During his tenure as the national team coach, La Volpe also led the team to the CONCACAF Gold Cup title in 2003 and the Confederations Cup final in 2005.

La Volpe’s coaching style was characterized by his emphasis on ball possession and his preference for an attacking style of play. He was known for his tactical acumen and his ability to get the best out of his players. Despite mixed results at times, La Volpe’s success with Club America and the Mexican National Team cemented his reputation as one of the most influential coaches in Mexican football history.

Controversies and Challenges

Throughout his career as both a player and a coach, Ricardo La Volpe has been no stranger to controversy and challenges. Here are some of the most notable ones:

In 2006, as the coach of the Mexican national team, La Volpe left out Cuauhtemoc Blanco, a player widely regarded as the country’s top player, from the World Cup squad. This decision caused a lot of controversy and criticism from both fans and the media.
In 2014, La Volpe was accused of sexual harassment by a female employee of the Chivas Guadalajara football club, where he was working as a coach at the time. The case was eventually settled out of court, but it tarnished La Volpe’s reputation and led to his resignation from the club.
In 2016, La Volpe was involved in a physical altercation with a TV commentator during a live broadcast of a football match. The incident happened after the commentator criticized La Volpe’s coaching tactics, and it resulted in La Volpe being fired from his job as coach of the Club América football team.
La Volpe has also been known for his outspoken personality and his tendency to speak his mind, even when it gets him into trouble. He has been involved in several public feuds with other coaches, players, and members of the media throughout his career.

Despite these controversies and challenges, La Volpe remains one of the most respected and successful coaches in the history of Mexican football. His innovative tactics, attention to detail, and commitment to developing young players have earned him a reputation as a true footballing visionary.

Legacy and Influence

Ricardo La Volpe’s legacy in football is characterized by his innovative tactics and strategic approach to the game. He is widely recognized for his contributions to the development of modern football, particularly in Mexico, where he coached several successful teams.

La Volpe’s emphasis on ball possession, attacking football, and playing out from the back has inspired many managers, including Pep Guardiola, who has credited La Volpe’s Mexico team as a major influence on his coaching philosophy.

La Volpe’s impact on Mexican football is also evident in the success of his former players, many of whom have gone on to become successful managers themselves. For example, Javier Aguirre, who played under La Volpe at Club Atlante, has credited him as a mentor and role model.

Despite his success as a coach, La Volpe’s legacy has also been marred by controversy. In 2014, he was accused of sexual harassment by a former TV host, leading to his resignation as coach of Club Universidad Nacional.

Despite these controversies, La Volpe’s influence on modern football cannot be denied. His tactical innovations and strategic approach to the game have inspired a generation of coaches and players, and his impact on Mexican football will be felt for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of La Volpe?

La Volpe is a surname of Italian origin. Its meaning is “the fox”.

Who was Ricardo La Volpe?

Ricardo Antonio La Volpe Guarchoni was an Argentine former professional footballer and manager. He was born on February 6, 1952, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

What is Ricardo La Volpe’s biography?

La Volpe began his career as a coach in the Mexican league in 1989, managing several teams such as Oaxtepec, Puebla, Atlante, Guadalajara, Querétaro, América, Atlas, Toluca, and Monterrey. Despite mixed results, La Volpe earned a reputation for his offensive-style of football. He also coached the Mexican national team from 2002 to 2006 and led them to the Round of 16 at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

What is Ricardo La Volpe known for?

La Volpe is known for his successful coaching career in the Mexican league, where he won several titles with different teams. He is also known for his offensive playing style, which was characterized by high pressing and quick transitions. He is also known for his stint as the coach of the Mexican national team, where he led them to the Round of 16 at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.