Full name Tomas Felipe Carlovich Name Tomas Carlovich | Playing position Years Team Position Midfielder | |
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Date of birth (1949-04-20) April 20, 1949 (age 66) Similar People Carlos Timoteo Griguol, Cesar Luis Menotti, Aldo Poy, Victor Antonio Legrotaglie, Magico Gonzalez | ||
Tomás Felipe Carlovich (born in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina on April 20, 1949) is a retired football player, nicknamed "El Trinche". He has been widely recognised as one of the best Argentine football players ever.
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As a coach, he has managed Central Córdoba, where he spent most of his career. Nevertheless, he has recently stated that he is not interested in taking over the professional team again
Career
Carlovich grew up in Belgrano neighborhood, Rosario. At the end of the 1960s decade he began to play football in Rosario Central, but he received most recognition during his tenure in Central Córdoba. Playing for Central Córdoba, Carlovich won the promotions of 1973 and 1982.
He also played in Colón de Santa Fe and Independiente Rivadavia (team which defeated Internazionale in a friendly match, with Carlovich as part of the line-up), and Deportivo Maipú. Carlovich retired definitely in 1986.
The historical "forward and back nutmeg"
During a match between Central Córdoba and Talleres de Remedios de Escalada, a supporter encouraged Carlovich to make a double nutmeg, moving the ball first forward, then back. This request was immediately fulfilled by "El Trinche", causing a huge ovation from his fans in the grandstand. This nutmeg would be repeated many times by Carlovich along his career.
The 1974 consagration
The last match as a preparation for the 1974 World Cup found the Argentina national football team going to Rosario to play a friendly game against a squad formed exclusively by players born in that city. Some of the Rosarian players were prominent footballers, such as Mario Kempes, Mario Zanabria, Daniel Killer, Carlos Aimar and Carlovich as well.
At the end of the first half, the team from Rosario won 3-0. The supremacy of the local team was so big that the Argentina national team coach, Vladislao Cap, asked for his colleague to exclude Carlovich for the second half, what finally happened. The final score was 3-1
Recognition
Carlovich is considered one of the best Argentine football players ever. José Pekerman choose him as the best central midfielder he had ever seen; César Luis Menotti also stated that: "Carlovich is one of those kids whose unique toy has been a ball since they were born. Watching him playing football was impressive". But the most significant words in recognition to Carlovich were probably told by who is considered the best Argentine footballer ever, Diego Maradona: When arriving to Newell's Old Boys, and after being defined by a journalist as "the best footballer", Diego replied to him: "The best footballer has already played in Rosario, and his name is Carlovich".