View source for Ángel Labruna

{{Short description|Argentine footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ángel Labruna
| image = Angel Labruna 1940.jpg
| caption = Labruna in 1940
| fullname = Ángel Amadeo Labruna
| height = 171 cm
| birth_date = {{birth date|1918|9|28|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1983|9|19|1918|9|28|df=yes}}
| death_place = Buenos Aires, Argentina
| currentclub =
| clubnumber = 10
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1939–1959
| years2 = 1960–1961
| years3 = 1961
| years4 = 1961
| clubs1 = [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]
| clubs2 = [[Rampla Juniors]]
| clubs3 = [[Club Atletico Platense|Platense]]
| clubs4 = [[Club Social de Deportes Rangers de Talca|Rangers de Talca]]
| caps1 = 515
| caps2 = 16
| caps3 = 2
| caps4 = 5
| goals1 = 294
| goals2 = 3
| goals3 = 0
| goals4 = 1
| totalcaps = 538
| totalgoals = 298
| nationalyears1 = 1942–1958<ref>{{Cite news|title=Angel Amadeo Labruna – Goals in International Matches|publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/labruna-intlg.html}}</ref>
| nationalteam1 = [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]]
| nationalcaps1 = 37
| nationalgoals1 = 17
| manageryears1 = 1968–1970
| manageryears2 = 1971–1972
| manageryears3 = 1973
| manageryears4 = 1974
| manageryears5 = 1975–1981
| managerclubs1 = [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]
| managerclubs2 = [[Rosario Central]]
| managerclubs3 = [[Racing Club de Avellaneda|Racing Club]]
| managerclubs4 = [[Talleres de Córdoba]]
| managerclubs5 = [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]
| pcupdate = 29 Dec 2018
}}

'''Ángel Amadeo Labruna''' (28 September 1918 – 19 September 1983) was an Argentine [[Association football|footballer]] and coach who played as a [[forward (association football)|forward]]. With 323 goals scored in official matches, which include 294 league goals, Labruna is the 2nd all-time [[List of Argentine Primera División top scorers|top scorer]] of [[Argentine Primera División|Primera División]] after [[Paraguay]]an [[Arsenio Erico]]. Labruna was also part of the celebrated [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] offense, nicknamed ''[[La Máquina]]'' (''The Machine''), and he was considered one of the best South-American footballers of his generation. In his career, Labruna scored 564 goals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.ufpr.br/~mmsabino/sstatistics/labruna.html|title = Labruna}}</ref>

==Biography==
Labruna was born in [[Buenos Aires]].

==Club career==
[[File:Labruna Sivori 1955.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Labruna entering to ''La Bombonera'' with [[Omar Sívori|Sívori]] in 1955. He is the all-time top scorer of the ''[[Superclásico]].'']]
[[File:La Maquina.jpg|thumb|right|''[[La Máquina]]'' of 1941: [[Juan Carlos Muñoz (footballer, born 1919)|Muñoz]], [[José Manuel Moreno|Moreno]], [[Adolfo Pedernera|Pedernera]], Labruna and [[Félix Loustau|Loustau]]]]
[[File:Loustau WalterGomez Labruna.jpg|thumb|right|[[Félix Loustau]], [[Walter Gómez]] and Ángel Labruna, the strikers of River Plate in 1952]]
Labruna made his debut in the [[Argentine Primera División|Primera División]] as a replacement for [[José Manuel Moreno]], who had been suspended by the club, wearing the [[Squad number (association football)|number 10 shirt]]. The match was disputed on 18 June 1939 in La Plata against [[Estudiantes de La Plata|Estudiantes]], which defeated River by 1–0.

His goals and outstanding performances caused Moreno to play on the right side of the field when he was allowed to play again. Labruna played in River for 20 years, winning 9 domestic championships with the team (1941, 1942, 1945, 1947, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957) and being the top scorer twice (1943 with 23 goals and 1945 with 25).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/argtops.html |title=Argentina - List of Topscorers |publisher=[[RSSSF]] |date=15 January 2025}}</ref>

He was part of his club's legendary team along with [[Juan Carlos Muñoz (footballer, born 1919)|Juan Carlos Muñoz]], [[José Manuel Moreno]], [[Adolfo Pedernera]], and [[Félix Loustau]], where he played as an [[Forward (association football)#Second striker|inside-left forward]]. Although this attacking line only disputed 18 games with those players, they were regarded as one of the best forward line in the history of Argentine football. They were nicknamed ''[[La Máquina]]'' (''The Machine'') due to their skills with the ball and synchronized play. Coach and former player [[Carlos Peucelle]] said that his team was formed by "A goalkeeper and 10 forwards", using an imaginary "1–10".

Labruna holds a number of records for River Plate, including his record of 16 goals in the [[El Superclásico|superclásico derby]] with fierce rival [[Boca Juniors]].<ref name=Tenho>{{cite web |url=https://www.futebolportenho.com.br/angel-labruna-e-o-hincha-de-river-plate/ |title=Ángel Labruna e o hincha de River Plate |trans-title=Ángel Labruna and the River Plate fan |language=br |website=www.futebolportenho.com.br |date=28 September 2010 |access-date=25 June 2025 }}</ref>

In 1959, Labruna left [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]] having defended the club's colors in 515 matches and scoring 317 goals, including 293 in the [[Primera División Argentina|Argentine first division]], making him the [[Primera División Argentina topscorers|competition's all-time highest goalscorer]] along with [[Arsenio Erico]], a record that remains nowadays.<ref name=Tenho/> At the age of 41 years and 14 days, Labruna became the oldest-ever outfield player in the history of the Primera División, another record that he still holds.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.clarin.com/deportes/jugadores-viejos-futbol-argentino_0_Hyfg49Ju-.html |title=Quiénes son los jugadores más viejos del fútbol argentino |trans-title=Who are the oldest players in Argentine soccer? |language=es |website=www.clarin.com |date=14 August 2017 |access-date=25 June 2025 }}</ref> He later played two seasons in the Chilean [[Club Social de Deportes Rangers de Talca|C.S.D. Rangers]], and the Uruguayan team [[Rampla Juniors]] of Montevideo, before returning to Argentina to finish his career at [[Club Atletico Platense|Platense]], when he was 43 years old.

==International career==
Labruna played 37 matches for the [[Argentina national football team|Argentina national team]], scoring 17 goals. He also won two [[Copa América|South American Championships]] (1946 and 1955) and as a nearly 40-year-old he played in the final phase of [[1958 FIFA World Cup]] held in [[Sweden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/58full.html|title=World Cup 1958 finals|website=[[RSSSF]]}}</ref>

As other great players of his generation, Labruna could not participate in other World Cups due to the event's suspension during World War II and later for the decision taken by the Argentine Football Association, which did not compete in the World Cups of [[1950 FIFA World Cup|Brazil]] and [[1954 FIFA World Cup|Switzerland]].

===Coaching career===
[[File:Fillol labruna.jpg|thumb|right|Labruna in 1983, during his time as manager of [[Argentinos Juniors]], with [[Ubaldo Fillol]], goalkeeper of that team]]
After ending his career as a player he became Assistant Coach and Coach in River Plate, [[Defensores de Belgrano]], [[Club Atlético Platense|Platense]], [[Rosario Central]] (where he won his first [[Nacional championship]], in 1971), [[Talleres de Córdoba]], [[Racing Club de Avellaneda|Racing Club]], [[Club Atlético Lanús|Lanús]], [[Chacarita Juniors|Chacarita]] and [[Argentinos Juniors]].

In 1975 River called Labruna to offer him work as coach. Labruna won two championships that same year, breaking a "curse" of 18 years without titles. Labruna's period in charge of River Plate brought the club much domestic success, a side endowed with players such as [[Daniel Passarella]], [[Norberto Alonso]] and [[Leopoldo Luque]].

==Personal life==
Labruna had two sons, Daniel (died in 1969) and Omar, who worked with [[Ramón Díaz]] in River Plate and then coached [[Olimpo de Bahía Blanca]] and other teams.

Labruna died on September 19, 1983, from a heart attack, at 64 years old. He is buried at [[La Chacarita Cemetery]] in [[Buenos Aires]]. Every September 28, River Plate's fans celebrate the "International River Plate Fan's Day" as a tribute to one of the club's greatest idols.

==Statistics==
{| Class = "wikitable sortable"
|-
! width=200px|Team
! width=100px|Years
! width=50px|Matches
! width=50px|Goals
! width=50px|Average
|-
| Align = "left" | [[Club Atlético River Plate|River Plate]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iffhs.de/|title=IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics)|website=IFFHS}}</ref>
| 1939–1959
| 533 
| 317
| 0.62
|-
| Align = "left" | [[Rampla Juniors Fútbol Club|Rampla Juniors]]
| 1960
| 16
| 3
| 0.19
|-
| Align = "left" | [[C.S.D. Rangers]]
| 1960
| 3
| 1
| 0.00
|-
| Align = "left" | [[Club Atlético Platense|Platense]]
| 1961
| 2
| 0
| 0.00
|-
| Align = "left" | [[Argentina national football team|Argentina national team]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/arg-recintlp.html|title=Argentina - Record International Players|website=[[RSSSF]]}}</ref>
| 1942–[[1958 World Cup|1958]]
| 37
| 17
| 0.46
|-
| Align = "left" | '''Total Career'''
|'''1939–1961'''
|'''573'''
|'''341'''
|'''0.59'''
|}

==Honours==
===Player===
'''River Plate'''
*[[Argentine Primera División]]: 1941, 1942, 1945, 1947, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957
*[[Copa Ibarguren]]: 1937, 1941, 1942, 1952
*[[Copa Adrián C. Escobar]]: 1941
*[[Copa Aldao]]: 1941, 1945, 1947
*[[South American Championship of Champions]] runner-up: [[South American Championship of Champions|1948]]

'''Argentina'''
* [[Copa América]]: [[1946 South American Championship|1946]], [[1955 South American Championship|1955]]

===Manager===
;Rosario Central
* [[Argentine Primera División]]: [[1971 Argentine Primera División|Nacional 1971]]

;River Plate
* [[Argentine Primera División|Primera División]]: [[1975 Argentine Primera División|Metropolitano 1975]], [[1975 Argentine Primera División|Nacional 1975]], [[1977 Argentine Primera División|Metropolitano 1977]], [[1979 Argentine Primera División|Nacional 1979]], [[1979 Argentine Primera División|Metropolitano 1979]], [[1980 Argentine Primera División|Metropolitano 1980]]
* [[Copa Libertadores]] runner-up: [[1976 Copa Libertadores|1976]]

===Individual===
* [[Copa Aldao]] top scorer: 1941, 1945, 1947 (joint)
* [[Argentine Primera División]] top scorer: 1943 (joint), 1945
* [[International Federation of Football History & Statistics|IFFHS]] Argentina All Times Dream Team (Team C): 2021<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iffhs.com/posts/1239|title=IFFHS ALL TIME ARGENTINA MEN'S DREAM TEAM|date=26 August 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Angel Labruna}}
* {{WorldFootball.net|angel-labruna}}
* [http://elfeolabruna.com.ar/biografia/ El Feo Labruna – Tribute webpage] {{in lang|es}}

{{Portal|Biography}}

{{Clear}}
{{Argentina Primera Division top scorers}}
{{Argentine Primera División winning managers}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Argentina squads
|bg = #6AB5FF
|fg = White
|bordercolor =silver
|list1=
{{Argentina squad 1946 South American Championship}}
{{Argentina squad 1955 South American Championship}}
{{Argentina squad 1956 South American Championship}}
{{Argentina Squad 1958 World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Ángel Labruna managerial positions
|list1=
{{Club Atlético Platense managers}}
{{River Plate managers}}
{{Racing Club managers}}
{{Rosario Central managers}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Labruna, Angel}}
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:1983 deaths]]
[[Category:Footballers from Buenos Aires]]
[[Category:Argentine sportspeople of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Burials at La Chacarita Cemetery]]
[[Category:Argentine men's footballers]]
[[Category:Club Atlético River Plate footballers]]
[[Category:Club Atlético Platense footballers]]
[[Category:Rampla Juniors players]]
[[Category:Rangers de Talca footballers]]
[[Category:Argentine Primera División players]]
[[Category:Uruguayan Primera División players]]
[[Category:Chilean Primera División players]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Chile]]
[[Category:Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Uruguay]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Chile]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Uruguay]]
[[Category:1958 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Argentina men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Argentine football managers]]
[[Category:Club Atlético River Plate managers]]
[[Category:Club Atlético Platense managers]]
[[Category:Rosario Central managers]]
[[Category:Talleres de Córdoba managers]]
[[Category:Racing Club de Avellaneda managers]]
[[Category:Club Atlético Lanús managers]]
[[Category:Chacarita Juniors managers]]
[[Category:Argentinos Juniors managers]]
[[Category:Argentine Primera División managers]]
[[Category:Copa América–winning players]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:20th-century Argentine sportsmen]]