South Americans in the Football League 1978-92 – Appendix
A brief overview of the South American footballers who played in the Football League between 1978 and 1992.
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Osvaldo ‘Ossie’ Ardiles
Born: 03.08.1952 Córdoba, Argentina
Signed from: Huracán (Argentina), July 1978 [£325,000]
Football League Career: Tottenham Hotspur 1978-87 – 221 appearance (16 sub), 16 goals; Blackburn (loan) 1987-88 – 5 apps; QPR 1988-89 – 4 apps (4 sub); Swindon Town 1989-90 – (2 sub)
Debut in England: Nottingham Forest v Tottenham, First Division 18 August 1978 (1-1)
Retired 1989 – managed Swindon Town (1989-91), Newcastle United (1991-92), West Bromwich Albion (1992-93), Tottenham (1993-94)
International Career: Argentina 1975-82; 51 caps, 8 goals
Played in the 1978 and 1982 World Cups
Claudio Marangoni
Born: 17.11.1954 Rosario, Argentina
Signed from: San Lorenzo (Argentina), December 1979 [£320,000] Club Record
Football League Career: Sunderland 1979-80; 19 apps (1 sub), 3 goals
Debut in England: Sunderland v Cardiff, Second Division 8 December 1979 (2-1)
Left: Huracán, December 1980
International Career: Argentina 1983-84; 9 caps
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Alejandro ‘Alex’ Sabella
Born: 05.11.1954 Buenos Aires, Argentina; Died: 08.12.2020 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Signed from: River Plate (Argentina), August 1978 [£160,000]
Football League Career: Sheffield United 1978-80; 76 apps, 8 goals; Leeds United (£400,000) 1980-81; 22 apps (1 sub), 2 goals
Debut in England: Sheffield United v Orient, Second Division 19 August 1978 (1-2)
Left: Estudiantes, January 1982 [£120,000]
International Career: Argentina 1983-84; 8 caps
Managed Argentina 2011-2014
Alberto Tarantini
Born: 03.12.1955 Ezeiza, Argentina
Signed from: Boca Juniors (Argentina), October 1978 [£259,000] Club Record
Football League Career: Birmingham City 1978-79; 23 apps, 1 goal
Debut in England: Tottenham v Birmingham, First Division 14 October 1978 (1-0)
Left: Talleres de Córdoba, April 1979 [£225,000]
International Career: Argentina 1974-82; 61 caps, 1 goal
Played in the 1978 and 1982 World Cups
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Pedro Verde
Born: 12.03.1949 General Pico, Argentina
Signed from: Hercules Alicante (Spain), August 1979
Football League Career: Sheffield United 1979-80; 9 apps (1 sub), 3 goals
Debut in England: Sheffield United v Doncaster, League Cup First Round First Leg 11 August 1979 (1-1)
Retired 1980
International Career: Argentina 1978; 3 caps
Ricardo ‘Ricky’ Villa
Born: 18.08.1952 Roque Pérez, Argentina
Signed from: Racing Club (Argentina), July 1978 [£375,000]
Football League Career: Tottenham Hotspur 1978-82; 124 apps (9 sub), 18 goals
Debut in England: Nottingham Forest v Tottenham, First Division 18 August 1978 (1-1)
Left: Fort Lauderdale Strikers (USA), May 1983
International Career: Argentina 1975-78; 17 caps, 1 goal
Played in the 1978 World Cup
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Néstor Lorenzo
Born: 26.02.1966 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Signed from: Bari (Italy), November 1990 [£160,000]
Football League Career: Swindon Town 1990-92; 24 apps (4 sub), 2 goals
Debut in England: Swindon v Portsmouth, Second Division 10 November 1990 (3-0)
Left: San Lorenzo (Argentina), May 1992 [released]
International Career: Argentina 1988-90; 13 caps, 1 goal
Played in the 1990 World Cup
Rafael Villazán
Born: 19.07.1956 Villa del Carmen, Durazno, Uruguay
Signed from: Recreativo Huelva (Spain), May 1980 [£140,000]
Football League Career: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1980-82; 20 apps (3 sub)
Football League Debut: Wolves v Crystal Palace, First Division 30 August 1980 (2-0)
Left: Defensor (Uruguay), June 1982 [released]
International Career: Uruguay 1975-77; 12 caps
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José Perdomo
Born: 05.01.1965 Salto, Uruguay
Signed from: Genoa (Italy), August 1990 [trial]
Football League Career: Coventry City 1990; 4 apps
Football League Debut: Aston Villa v Coventry City, First Division 8 September 1990 (2-1)
Left: Real Betis (Spain), October 1990
International Career: Uruguay 1987-90; 27 caps, 2 goals
Played in the 1990 World Cup
Mirandinha
Born: 02.07.1959 Chaval, Ceará, Brazil
Signed from: Palmeiras (Brazil), August 1987 [£570,000]
Football League Career: Newcastle United 1987-89 – 54 apps, 19 goals
Football League Debut: Norwich v Newcastle, First Division 1 September 1987 (1-1)
Left: Palmeiras (Brazil), 1989
International Career: Brazil 1987; 4 caps, 1 goal
