Ossie Ardiles: Don’t cry for me Argentina

Revista de la Liga with Graham Hunter

Ossie Ardiles’ football story is one of the most incredible ever told.

There’s no getting away from it, much of it was played out under a dark political cloud. Some of his friends at university in Argentina’s second city Córdoba where he was studying law were ‘disappeared’ – murdered by their own government. His father-in-law was an officer in the repressive military regime.

But there is also light – plenty of it – in this amazing journey. Ossie is one of the game’s most likeable characters, beloved by Spurs fans, and he was also a remarkable player, a skilful, artful midfield dribbler who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1978.

A favourite theme of Ossie’s is good luck. In part one he tells us how he was fortunate to come from a comfortable background – although his lawyer father thought football was a waste of time! But Ossie was a tough little youngster who sought out game time in the shanty towns in order to sharpen his wits and skills. There’s also chat about his love for Pele and the 1970 Brazilian World Champions – unusual heroes for an Argentine, and how Micky Hazard was every bit a Spurs great.

You will love this Big Interview with this charming, engaging man.

Graham.

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