November 4, 1967: How Racing Club Became Argentina’s First World Champion
Racing Club defeated Celtic 1–0 on November 4, 1967, at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay, to become the first Argentine club to win the Intercontinental Cup. Led by manager Juan José Pizzuti, the squad cemented a historic milestone that shaped South American football history.
Celtic arrived in South America having claimed the Scottish League, Scottish Cup, and European Cup under manager Jock Stein.
Three Deserving Battles in the Intercontinental Final
The path to the world title demanded resilience across three separate fixtures. The opening leg took place on October 18, 1967, in Scotland, where Celtic secured a 1–0 victory courtesy of a goal from Billy McNeill. Racing responded in the return leg at the Estadio Presidente Perón in Avellaneda, playing before an attendance exceeding 100,000 supporters. Norberto Raffo and Juan Carlos Cárdenas scored to overturn the deficit and seal a 2–1 win, forcing a decisive neutral-ground playoff in Montevideo.
The decisive encounter remained deadlocked until the 11th minute of the second half. Cárdenas collected possession a few meters past the halfway line, turned on his axis, and unleashed a long-range left-footed strike that flew into the right corner past goalkeeper John Fallon.
The Lineup That Secured Eternal Glory
The squad that took the pitch for Racing Club in Montevideo entered folklore under the enduring moniker “El equipo de José.” The team arrived at the global showcase as the reigning Argentine champions of 1966 and holders of the 1967 Copa Libertadores.
Manager Pizzuti deployed the following eleven players for the final:
- Goalkeeper: Agustín Mario Cejas
- Defenders: Oscar Martín, Roberto Perfumo, Alfio Basile, Nelson Chabay
- Midfielders: Juan Carlos Rulli, João Cardoso, Humberto Maschio
- Forwards: Norberto Raffo, Juan Carlos Cárdenas, Juan José Rodríguez
The victory inspired a popular chant that echoed across Avellaneda for decades: “Y ya lo ve, y ya lo ve, es el equipo de José.”
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