Full name Hector Rodolfo Veira Name Hector Veira Years Team Role Footballer | 1963–1969 San Lorenzo 1970–1971 Huracan | |
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Date of birth (1946-05-29) May 29, 1946 (age 69) Place of birth | ||
Héctor "Bambino" Veira (born May 29, 1946 in Buenos Aires) is a former Argentine footballer. Since retiring as a player he has gone on to win several major titles as a manager.
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Playing career
Veira started his professional career in 1963 with San Lorenzo, in 1964 he became the topscorer in the Argentina Primera División at the age of only 18. In 1967 Veira received his first call up to the Argentina national football team and in 1968 he helped San Lorenzo to win the Metropolitano championship without losing a game, to become the first team in the professional era of Argentine football to become unbeaten champions. In 1970 Veira joined Huracán, the club he had supported as a boy. He then had a spell with Laguna in Mexico before returning to San Lorenzo in 1973. In his later career he played for Club Atlético Banfield in Argentina, Sevilla in Spain, Corinthians in Brazil, CSD Comunicaciones in Guatemala and Universidad de Chile.
Managerial career
Veira started his managerial career with San Lorenzo in 1980, he then had a short stint in charge of Vélez Sársfield before joining River Plate in 1985. Veira had a productive time in charge of River Plate, he led them to the 1985-1986 championship. In 1986 he led them to their first ever victory in the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Intercontinental later that year. In 1987 Veira returned to San Lorenzo where he stayed until 1990. He then returned to the club again in 1992, leading them to the 1995 Clausura championship. In 1996 he became the manager of Boca Juniors, staying with the club until 1998 when he took over as the coach of the Bolivian national team. In 2000 he became manager of Club Atlético Lanús and in 2002 he took charge of Newell's Old Boys. After retiring as manager of Quilmes after only one month in charge Veira returned to San Lorenzo for a fourth time in 2004, by the end of this period, he had been manager of San Lorenzo for 371 games, making him San Lorenzo's longest serving manager in their history.
Scandal
In 1987 Veira was accused of raping a 13-year-old boy, Sebastián Candelmo. In 1991 he was found guilty of the offence and sentenced to six years in prison. In 1992 he was given a conditional discharge and returned to work as manager of San Lorenzo. Veira has always maintained his innocence, and claimed that the boy was instructed by his mother to make the allegations for financial gains.
Personality
He is famous for having a series of bon mots and a very distinctive sense of humour. Some of his classic phrases are: