Carlos Babington Dies at 77: Remembering the Argentine Legend and Junior de Barranquilla Icon

Carlos Babington, the Argentine midfielder known for his elegant touch and performance in Club Junior Barranquilla's near-miss 1983 championship, has died at age 77.

The news was confirmed by Club Atlético Huracán, the Argentine institution where he was a celebrated player, coach, and president.

Babington, nicknamed ‘El Inglés’ for his surname and ‘El Lord’ for his refined style, was a key figure in a historic Junior campaign that saw the team score 100 goals and finish as runners-up. His move to Colombia at 33, after playing in Germany and the United States, revived his career and cemented his legacy in Barranquilla, Zona Cero reported.

Babington joined Junior in 1983 alongside fellow Argentine and 1974 World Cup teammate Daniel Carnevali at the behest of coach Jorge ‘Indio’ Solari. The duo was instrumental in transforming Junior into a formidable side, with Babington’s vision and precision in the midfield orchestrating many of the team’s attacks, according to Zona Cero.

“Babington was slow, not fast, but he was very technical,” Solari told Zona Cero in a 2024 interview.

“He would move from side to side, give his back, dribble well and launch very well, passing short and long. All that gave him the possibility to triumph and the era also helped because they didn’t demand so much from him. Now they put a marker next to you and they don’t let you get it unless you also run like the rival.”

Babington Drove the Potent 1983 Junior Attack

The 1983 Junior squad, featuring a core of Argentine players including Edgardo ‘Patón’ Bauza, Omar Alfredo Galván, and Óscar Perroud, became known for its potent attack. Babington, playing as a deep-lying midfielder, was the architect. He contributed 12 goals in 46 appearances, a tally that included 9 penalties, according to El Tiempo.

His assists were just as vital. He was the engine behind a strike force that saw William Knight score 20 goals, Fernando Fiorillo and Jesús ‘Kiko’ Barrios each net 18, and Bauza and Barrios add 14 more. Amín Bolívar contributed 7 goals, and Babington’s fine touch set up opportunities.

The team reached the final matchday with a mathematical chance at the title. Junior needed to defeat Nacional at home and hope América did not beat Millonarios away. Junior drew 1-1 with Nacional, while América also drew with Millos.

A last-minute chance by Eladio Vásquez would have clinched the title for Junior, but it went wide, El Tiempo reported. América clinched the championship with a 0.75 bonus point, finishing with 19.75 points to Junior’s 19.

Earlier in the season, Junior had won its first seven matches, a streak broken by a 3-1 loss to Bucaramanga. Junior later exacted revenge with an emphatic 8-1 victory, the largest in the club’s history, Zona Cero noted.

A Career Marked by Menotti and Huracán

Babington’s playing career peaked with Club Atlético Huracán. He debuted in 1969 and was a central figure in the 1973 Metropolitano championship, a title won under the legendary coach César Luis Menotti. That Huracán team, which included other Argentine greats like René Houseman and Miguel Brindisi, is considered one of the most important in the club’s history, ESPN Colombia reported.

His international career included representing Argentina at the 1974 FIFA World Cup in Germany, where he played in five matches and scored one goal in a 1-1 draw with Italy. After his time at Huracán, he played for Wattenscheid in Germany’s second division before returning to the United States with the Tampa Bay Rowdies before joining Junior, El Tiempo confirmed.

Life After Playing and Junior’s Enduring Connection

Following his retirement in 1983, Babington transitioned into coaching. He had multiple spells at Huracán as a manager, guiding the club back to the first division in 1990 and 2000. He also coached other prominent Argentine clubs like Racing Club, River Plate, and Banfield, and had a stint in Mexico with León de México, ESPN Colombia reported.

Babington later served as the president of Huracán from 2006 to 2011. His tenure ended with a legal controversy; he faced a trial for administrative fraud alongside his son, though the case was initially dismissed before being overturned, according to ESPN Colombia.

His connection to Junior remained strong. The club attempted to bring him back for the second half of 1984, even conducting a fan poll on whether to re-sign him or sign Carlos López. The club chose based on fan opinion, but López did not meet expectations. Babington later revealed the offer was declined due to his wife’s inability to adapt to Barranquilla’s intense heat, Zona Cero reported.

Junior fans remember Babington as one of the most exquisite players to wear the red and white shirt. He is credited with helping the team qualify for the 1984 Copa Libertadores.

In 2026, his death prompted an outpouring of grief, with Junior’s official statement remembering him as a player who “left his mark on the club’s history” and always held a special place in his memory for his time in Barranquilla, Revista Semana reported.