Helenio Herrera

Helenio Herrera Gavilán (10 April 1910 – 9 November 1997) was a Franco-Argentine football player and manager.

Although born in Argentina, Herrera's parents were both Spanish, his father being a well-known Spanish anarchist in exile. He emigrated at age four with his parents to Casablanca, Morocco where he adopted French citizenship.

The exact date of his birth is unknown, and it is alleged that in the 50s, he changed his year of birth from 1910 to 1916.

Playing career

Playing as a defender, in 1932 he earned a transfer from RC Casablanca to mainland France – CASG Paris. Before World War II, Herrera (or H.H. as he was known) played in Stade Français, FCO Charleville (where he was called up for the national team twice) and Excelsior Roubaix. During the war, he played for five years more in Red Star Paris, Stade Français, EF Paris-Capitale and Puteaux, where he started his managing career in 1944 as a player-manager. He retired in 1945, and while his playing career was very short of notable successes, his managing career, coinciding with the early beginnings of UEFA competitions, had a marked effect on the game's tactical definitions.

Managing career

After his first season in Puteaux, Herrera rejoined Stade Français for a third time now as manager. After three seasons with no trophies collected, the club's president opted to sell the club. Herrera moved to Spain, where he spent the next six years with Real Valladolid, Atlético Madrid, where he won the championship...
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