Full name Juan Lopez Fontana Name Juan Fontana 1949–1955 Uruguay | 1946–1949 Uruguay Role Football player | |
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Date of birth (1908-03-15)March 15, 1908 Date of death October 4, 1983(1983-10-04) (aged 75) Died October 4, 1983, Montevideo, Uruguay | ||
Place of birth Montevideo, Uruguay | ||
Juan López Fontana (15 March 1908 - 4 October 1983) was a Uruguayan football manager. He coached the Uruguay national team that won the 1950 FIFA World Cup defeating Brazil.
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Biography
López was born in the Barrio Palermo of Montevideo, Uruguay's capital and the home of Estadio Centenario where Uruguay had won the 1930 FIFA World Cup under Alberto Suppici. López started out in coaching as a medical assistant at local club Central Fútbol Club, managed by Suppici, who taught López the fundamentals of coaching. López was coaching Uruguay as early as 1947.
Uruguay won the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil under López's management. His side beat Bolivia 8-0 in their only first-round game, earning a spot in a four-team final group in the absence of a traditional cup final. Uruguay drew Spain and beat Sweden going into a final match at the Estádio do Maracanã with Brazil, who only needed a draw to win their first World Cup. López's Uruguay came from behind to win the match 2-1, however, sealing their second World Cup win in what has been referred to as the Maracanaço.
At the 1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland, López coached his side to a place in the semifinal, beating traditional powerhouses Czechoslovakia, Scotland and England along the way. A 4-2 defeat after extra time to Hungary, the dominant team of the era, set up a third place match with Austria. Uruguay were defeated 3-1 by the Austrians.
By 1962, López was coaching the national side as part of a committee including Hugo Bagnulo and Roberto Scarone, and at the 1962 FIFA World Cup worked alongside Juan Carlos Corazo. At the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, he worked with head coach Roberto Porta until Uruguay were beaten in the semi-final 3-1 by Brazil.
He also coached C.A. Peñarol.
International
Uruguay