Luis Galvan dead aged 77: Tributes pour in as Argentine World Cup winner dies just two weeks after legendary team-mate
A FORMER Argentine World Cup winner has died – two weeks after the South American nation lost one of its most iconic goalkeepers Hugo Gatti.
Luis Galvan died around midday local time today aged 77 in the city of Cordoba where he had spent the last few years living and was admitted to hospital earlier this year.
The highlight of his footballing career came when he was selected to represent Argentina at the 1978 World Cup, which the country staged and won for the first time.
He played all games in the tournament alongside captain Daniel Passarella including the final in the Monumental Stadium against the Netherlands, which they won 3-1.
Galvan retired from international football with 34 caps, a year after the nation’s disappointing campaign at the 1982 World Cup when they were eliminated in the second group phase.
The former centre-back spent most of his career playing for Talleres de Cordoba, the club he started out with professionally and returned to in 1986 following a year in Bolivia where he played for La Paz-based side Bolivar.
It emerged around three weeks ago that Luis was ill in hospital with pneumonia in both lungs.
His family had previously revealed in March that he had been hospitalised with a kidney problem.
A relative said he had gone down with pneumonia after picking up a virus while he was being treated, insisting at the time he was getting better and saying: “His desire to live remains intact.”
Club Atletico Talleres, the full name of the club where Galvan made 503 appearances over a period of 17 years, posted on X: “We communicate with great sadness the passing of Luis Adolfo Galvan, emblem of the Club and World Champion with the Argentina National Team in 1978.
“We accompany your family and loved ones at this time, and we raise our prayers for the eternal rest of their soul. We accompany your family and loved ones at this time, and we raise our prayers for the eternal rest of their soul.”
Legendary Argentinian goalkeeper Hugo Gatti died on April 20, just over a month after being admitted to a hospital intensive care unit in his homeland when he contacted pneumonia following a hip operation.
The retired goalkeeper, nicknamed El Loco or The Madman because of his outspoken character and eccentric style of play, was operated after injuring himself in a street fall as he walked his dog.
The 80-year-old’s surgery went well – but a virus he also contracted in hospital is said to have led to him suffering post-op complications and the breathing problems that ended up with Gatti in a high-dependency care unit and ultimately led to his death.
Gatti, capped 18 times by his country, was part of the Argentine squad that travelled to England for the 1966 World Cup.
He has been described as the first goalkeeper to wear gloves and one of the first to regularly leave his penalty area. He would often take on opponents and venture upfield. He was also an expert penalty stopper.
After retiring following 13 years at his last club Boca Juniors he became a controversial TV football pundit.
He bizarrely claimed in 2019 Lionel Messi must quit Barcelona and join Real Madrid to prove he was truly the greatest of all time.
Lucas, one of the two children he had with his wife of more than 50 years Nacha Nodar, was also a professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Argentinos Juniors, Dundee, and Badajoz.
He was appointed U23 manager at Bromley Football Club after hanging up his boots.