The Argentine football community is mourning the death of Carlos Horacio “Loco” Salinas, a former forward who won the Copa Intercontinental with Boca Juniors and played a decisive role in San Lorenzo’s historic relegation. He was 70 years old, according to death announcements confirmed by Boca Juniors and reported across national outlets.
From San Miguel de Tucumán to the World Stage
Born in the Ciudadela neighborhood of San Miguel de Tucumán just four blocks from San Martín’s stadium, Carlos Horacio Salinas grew up as the youngest of seven children in a humble family, as he often recounted in interviews. His journey in professional football began in the youth divisions of Gimnasia de Jujuy before he moved to Buenos Aires to make his top-flight debut in 1974.
After establishing himself with Chacarita Juniors, Salinas earned a high-profile transfer to Boca Juniors at the start of 1978.
Glory in Germany and the Intercontinental Crown
The pinnacle of Salinas’s time with Boca Juniors arrived during the 1978 Copa Intercontinental. Traveling to Germany to face Borussia Mönchengladbach in the decisive fixture, Salinas scored the third goal in a commanding 3-0 victory.
That result secured the global crown for the Buenos Aires club. The strike cemented Salinas as an enduring figure in the club’s international legacy, a moment widely covered in retrospective profiles following news of his passing.
The Penalty That Sealed San Lorenzo’s Fate
When Diego Maradona arrived at Boca Juniors, Salinas moved across Buenos Aires to Argentinos Juniors as part of the transaction. It was during his spell with the Bicho that he participated in one of the most tense matches in Argentine league history on August 15.
Facing San Lorenzo, Salinas stepped up to convert a high-pressure penalty that secured a draw for Argentinos Juniors. The result dropped San Lorenzo into the relegation zone, sealing their descent to Primera B.
Recalling the incident years later, Salinas explained that he had not been designated as the primary penalty taker. “I didn’t have to kick it, actually, but I grabbed the ball because my teammates were all behind the goal grabbing their socks, nobody wanted to kick,” he stated. Regarding his technique against the opposing goalkeeper, he added: “Before kicking, the goalkeeper was already throwing himself to one side, so I touched it to the other, without major problems, and went out to celebrate.”
A Well-Traveled Career and Later Years
Following his tenure with Argentinos Juniors, Salinas continued his career with Independiente, Racing de Córdoba, and stints abroad in Colombia, Peru, and the United States. He officially brought his playing career to a close in 1987.
Despite those difficulties, his legacy as a Libertadores winner, Intercontinental champion, and a fixture of 1970s Argentine football remains firmly intact among supporters of the clubs he represented.
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