Legendary Argentinian goalkeeper Hugo Gatti has died at the age of 80, several months after experiencing complications following a hip surgery.
Nicknamed “El Loco” or “The Madman” for his flamboyant personality and unconventional style of play, Gatti was a celebrated footballer who made over 350 appearances for Argentinian powerhouse Boca Juniors during his distinguished career.
Reports indicate that Gatti was in intensive care with pneumonia after his hip surgery. The surgery was necessitated by an injury sustained in a fall while walking his dog.
Sadly, he passed away on Sunday, after spending over a month in hospital, as confirmed by sources to La Nacion.
Gatti is recognized as one of the earliest goalkeepers to adopt gloves and earned 18 caps for the Argentinian national team.
He was also a member of Argentina`s squad for the 1966 World Cup in England.
The iconic goalkeeper played for both River Plate and Boca Juniors in Argentina, having started his professional career with Atlanta in Buenos Aires.
Gatti holds the record for the most appearances in the Argentine league with an impressive 765 matches.
He was also known for his innovative style, often leaving his designated penalty area, a rare tactic for goalkeepers of his time.
Following his retirement after 13 years with Boca Juniors, Gatti transitioned into a career as a football commentator on television.
Earlier this year, it was reported that he was in intensive care due to pneumonia, a complication arising from his hip surgery. Although the initial surgery was successful, a hospital-acquired virus led to post-operative complications.
These complications and subsequent breathing difficulties required Gatti to be placed in a high-dependency unit.
He is survived by his two sons. His passing comes less than a year after the death of his wife of over 50 years, Nacha Nodar, whom he married in 1977 and with whom he had his two children.
One of his sons, Lucas, followed in his father`s footsteps into football, playing as a midfielder for Argentinos Juniors, Dundee, and Badajoz. After retiring as a player in 2022, Lucas became the U23 manager for League Two club Bromley.
In 2019, Gatti made headlines with his bold claim that Lionel Messi needed to leave Barcelona and join Real Madrid to truly prove himself as the greatest player ever.
