Pain in the world of football: Chango Cárdenas, author of the most important goal in the history of Racing, died

“We are very sad. We regret to announce the death of Juan Carlos “Chango” Cárdenas, scorer of the most important goal in our history. Racing Club embraces all its family and friends”.

With this publication, an image in its moment of glory and the legend “See you always, Chango”, the Academy confirmed the painful news that hit Argentine football: the death of the legendary striker, at the age of 76.

November marked the 55th anniversary of his legendary goal against Celtic from 35 meters, which gave Racing the Intercontinental Cup. The club defines that cry as “the most important in our history”. “That goal changed all of our lives.. I didn’t hit her hard, she hit her precisely. I don’t know if she got up on me, but I hit her full with my instep,” she told Infobae about his work, which took him to eternity.

“The 1960s was when international titles began to be won. Racing wins the final of the Libertadores in 1967 and for the first time Argentine football has a world champion. I think we realized we could win. That goal changed my life, but I am still the same peasant who left Santiago”, he highlighted that conquest.

El Chango had come to Racing from Union of Santiago. He remained there between 1962 and 1972, with a brief period on loan from New Chicago. And a return in 76, in the epilogue of his career. With the light blue and white he won the First Division tournament of 66, the Libertadores of 67 and the aforementioned Intercontinental. He also left his mark in Mexico, where he played with the jerseys of the Veracruz and of Puebla.

In that series against the Scottish cast, he had already scored the winning goal in the 2-1 draw at Avellaneda that tied the key. And in the Centenario stadium in Montevideo he went down in history for the shoe that marked a milestone in the racinguista record.

El Chango became an idol of the club of which he had been a fan since he was a child. How was the crush on Racing born? “We were a very humble family and one day I went to see the greengrocer, Sambrano, to ask him for work: ‘Don Luis, I need to earn a few pesos,’ I told him. ´I give you work but you have to do Racing´, he threw me. He was the only one from Racing in the Triángulo neighborhood of Santiago. And I didn’t hesitate: ‘Well, I’ll join the Academy’. A few days later he appeared with the shirt and I was crazy, ”he recalled in 2017. Perhaps it was a wink of fate, that he knew on which throne he was going to sit.

In 2014 he had been recognized by the Buenos Aires Legislature as “Outstanding Sports Personality”. In January 2021 he had been hospitalized after contracting coronavirus, which led to pneumonia. But he had managed to recover. Today he is already missed by his loved ones, former teammates and Racing fans, who will forever keep his name attached to the great feat in Montevideo.

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