The Argentine football community is in mourning following the death of Carlos Horacio Salinas, a former midfielder whose flair and tenacity defined a golden era for Boca Juniors and earned him the enduring nickname “El Loco.” Salinas died on Tuesday at the age of 70. He leaves behind a complex legacy as a multi-champion and a pivotal figure in South American club football during the late 1970s.
A Decisive Figure in Boca Juniors’ First Intercontinental Crown
Salinas etched his name into Boca Juniors history during a prolific 1978 campaign under manager Juan Carlos “Toto” Lorenzo. After drawing 2-2 in the opening leg at La Bombonera, Boca traveled to Germany to face Borussia Mönchengladbach in the return leg of the Intercontinental Cup. The Argentine side secured a dominant 3-0 victory in Karlsruhe, with Salinas scoring the final goal to seal the club’s first world title.
His contributions that year extended far beyond the European fixture. Salinas played a crucial role in Boca’s Copa Libertadores bicampeonato, scoring against arch-rivals River Plate during the semifinal stage at El Monumental and netting another in a 4-0 rout of Deportivo Cali in the tournament’s final match.
Early Career and Turbulent Cross-Town Moves
Born on February 20, 1956, in San Miguel de Tucumán, Salinas grew up in the Ciudadela neighborhood as the youngest of seven children. He began his professional journey at San Martín de Tucumán before making a move to River Plate in 1974, where he contributed to the squad that broke an 18-year domestic title drought.
However, his time in Núñez was cut short by his outspoken personality. Historical accounts cite an infamous Superclásico incident where Salinas swapped jerseys with Marcelo Trobbiani and walked into El Monumental’s tearoom wearing opponent colors, prompting his departure. A stellar subsequent stint with Chacarita Juniors ultimately persuaded Toto Lorenzo to bring the midfielder across Buenos Aires to La Ribera in early 1978.
Post-Retirement Hardships and Club Support
Beyond his peak years in blue and gold, Salinas represented several other clubs, including Independiente and Argentinos Juniors, alongside stints in Colombia and the United States. Yet his life after hanging up his boots proved challenging. Boca Juniors acknowledged that Salinas suffered through a difficult retirement and relied on assistance from the club’s Mutual de Ex Jugadores organization in his later years.
In a public tribute on its official website, the club remembered his fearless approach on the pitch: “Tenía un estilo que cautivó a la gente de Boca. Fue protagonista de la epopeya en Alemania con un golazo espectacular,” noting that he never shirked away from pressure when wearing the colors. Memorial services and official tributes from the institution are expected to follow as Argentine football honors the passing of one of its most distinctive 1970s icons.
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