José Nasazzi

José Nasazzi is undoubtedly one of the best defenders of all time, winning the title of best player of the tournament 3 times in 3 major international competitions.

Trophies

Goals

Games

1918/20 Lito Montevideo (URU)

1921 Rolando Moor (URU)

1922/32 Bella Vista (URU)

1933/37 Nacional Montevideo (URU)

With the National Team :

41 caps

(Friendly matches: 7 caps)

(World Cup: 4 caps)

(Copa America: 15 caps)

(Olympic Games: 9 caps)

(Copa Lipton: 2 caps)

(Copa Newton: 2 caps)

(Copa Rio Branco: 2 caps)

1st cap: November 4, 1923 against Uruguay (2-0)

Last cap: September 20, 1936 against Argentina (2-1)

José Nasazzi Yarza

Born on May 24, 1901 in Montevideo (URU)

Died on June 17, 1968 in Montevideo (URU)

Uruguayan, center-back, right-back, 1m82

Nicknames: El Mariscal (The Grand Marshal), El Gran Capitan, El Terrible

A genius defender

Nasazzi showed an innate interest in football from a young age and demonstrated his skills. At only 16 years old, he became a player in the first team of the Lito club. Born in 1901, he would live the golden age of Uruguayan football by being the famous captain of the national team.

He left in 1921 for the Rolando Moor club, after a year he joined the Bella Vista club in 1922. In the Bella Vista club, he lived his best years individually but suffered from the overall level of the team which did not manage to win many trophies.

His individual level was so impressive that he joined the national team in 1923, on November 4th during a match against Paraguay, Uruguay won 2-0. From that moment on, José Nasazzi would establish himself as one of the best defenders in the world. Able to play as a central defender and right-back, he was a very complete defender.

One of the best defenders in history

Standing at 1.82 metres tall, he dominated the aerial game. With an outstanding defensive talent, he had a genius's vision that allowed him to stop any defender one-on-one. Nicknamed by his teammates as "El Mariscal" or "El Gran Capitan", he was nicknamed "El Terrible" by his opponents because of his immense talent. A rough defender, it was almost impossible to beat him in the aerial game. His only flaw was his technical quality, far from excellent, but he compensated for this with his tactical intelligence and speed, capable of chaining forward runs when necessary.

The defender with the impressive physique represented Uruguay from 1923 to 1936, with him as captain, Uruguay would experience its golden age. He played a total of 41 matches for his country and was spotted by all the greatest coaches of his time.

Considered by many to be the greatest Uruguayan player of all time, some sources say that the player holds the record for matches played in the Uruguayan division with 850 matches in 21 years. However, during almost his best years as a footballer, he did not win anything with his club Bella Vista. He had to wait to join Nacional at the age of 32 to win his first Uruguayan championship title. Alongside another legend, the Brazilian Domingos Da Guia, he won a second championship the following year, which constitutes his meager record at the national level.

In 1925, José Nasazzi took part in the longest tour in world football. 159 days, 9 countries, 23 cities and 38 matches. In Europe, he showed his great talents as a defender alongside the players of Nacional de Montevideo.

A player who is always at the top, from start to finish

José Nasazzi will lift the most precious trophy of his rich career in 1930, with the World Cup. This is the first edition of the tournament to be held in Uruguay. In the final, Uruguay faces Guillermo Stabile's Argentina, and wins the match 4-2 in front of just over 80,000 spectators. His final is wonderful, he was remarkable in his decisions, his leadership and his defensive quality. He therefore logically wins the title of best player of the competition after a perfectly mastered tournament.

José Nasazzi is one of these exceptional defenders in the big moments, he also has two other titles of best tournament player during the 1923 and 1935 editions of the Copa America (at 22 and 34 years old, proof of his great longevity).

Uruguay does not participate in the 1934 World Cup despite its squad being as wonderful as ever. The country would most certainly have been one of the favorites of the tournament. The player retired in 1937, after finishing runner-up in the Uruguayan championship.