Full name Jose Antonio Yudica 1954–1958 Newell\'s Old Boys Name Jose Yudica | Playing position Role Football player Years Team Position Forward | |
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Date of birth (1936-02-26) February 26, 1936 (age 79) | ||
Place of birth Rosario, Argentina | ||
José Antonio Yudica (born February 26, 1936, Rosario, Santa Fe) is a retired Argentine football player and manager.
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Yudica had limited success as a player, winning only two titles during his brief spell at Deportivo Cali. After retirement as a player he took up management, this is where he achieved his most notable successes, leading Quilmes to their first ever championship, winning three Argentine league titles with three clubs (the first manager ever to achieve this), and leading Argentinos Juniors to success in the Copa Libertadores.
Playing career
Yudica had a 16-year career as a player, he started his career at Newell's Old Boys, and went on to play for Argentine giants Boca Juniors, and a number of other teams including Vélez Sársfield, Estudiantes, Platense, Quilmes, Talleres de Remedios de Escalada, San Telmo and Deportivo Cali in Colombia.
Titles as a Player
Deportivo Cali
Talleres (RE)
Managerial career
After spells with Deportivo Español and Colón Yudica's first major achievement in management was saving struggling Quimes from relegation in 1977.
He eclipsed this the following season by leading them to their first and only Primera division title; Metropolitano 1978.
After this he won two Second division titles with Quilmes and San Lorenzo.
Yudica made his return to the big time by leading Argentinos Juniors to victory in Nacional. The Copa Libertadores campaign of 1985 was one of the most remarkable in the history of the tournament. Argentinos found themselves in the same 1st round group as fellow Argentinian team Ferro Carril Oeste, at the end of the group the two teams were tied for first place on 9 points, this required a playoff, which Argentinos won 3–1.
Argentinos won the 2nd group stage outright, to claim a place in the final against Colombian side América de Cali (fierce rivals of Yudica's former club, Deportivo Cali).
The final was a two legged affair, but both games finished 1–0 to the home team, requiring a cup final playoff but this game ended 1–1, Argentinos Juniors finally triumphed after a 5–4 victory in a penalty shootout.
Yudica led Argentinos to a further international title in 1986 winning the less prestigious Copa Interamericana against Defence Force from Trinidad and Tobago.
After his successes with Argentinos Yudica returned to Newell's Old Boys, the club at which he began his playing career over 30 years before.
He led them to the Primera division title in 1987/1988, winning him the unique distinction of becoming the first manager ever to lead 3 different teams to the Argentine league title.
Later in his career Yudica returned to manage Deportivo Cali, and also had a spell in charge of C.F. Pachuca in Mexico.