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ESPN staff 8y

Argentina great Roberto Perfumo dies following fall in Buenos Aires

Former Argentina national team captain Roberto Perfumo died Thursday in Buenos Aires after suffering a head injury from a fall. The former defender, also known as "El Mariscal," was 73 years old.

Perfumo, who was working as a soccer analyst for ESPN, was under intensive care after the fall. Alberto Crescenti, director of emergency medical services at the hospital, said Perfumo's condition was "very serious" when he arrived to the hospital following a fall down the steps of a restaurant.

Born in the neighborhood of Sarandi in the Buenos Aires suburbs, Perfumo started his career in Racing Club. Then he played for Cruzeiro from Brazil and ended his career with River Plate.

Perfumo is known as one of the best defenders in Argentina's history, winning the Primera title, the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup during his days with Racing Club.

As a player for the national team, Perfumo participated in two World Cups with Argentina. In England 1966 he started in every game and in Germany 1974 he was the captain of the team.

After Perfumo decided to retire as a player in 1978, he started his coaching career. As a manager he won two titles. In 1992, he led Olimpia de Paraguay to win the "Torneo Republica." One year later, he gave Gimnasia de La Plata from Argentina the only championship in the club's history when they won the "Copa Centenario."

"El Mariscal" joined ESPN in 2002, after he ended his career as a manager. He became the lead soccer analyst for the award-winning soccer talk show "Hablemos de FĂștbol." For his work in this show, he received the 2008 "Martin Fierro" award given to the best sports journalist in TV.

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