Daniel Lagares
08/01/2020 - 12:31
- Clarín.com
- sports
It happens with Mario Kempes as it happens with other greats. Undervalued, unrecognized and, at worst, ignored or forgotten. Only in their obituaries, because there will be no more time, or some ephemeris, these characters fleetingly take the dimension they deserve with ease. The Kempes, perhaps, more than any in the history of Argentine football.
To box the matter, a definition is worth it: if he played today, Kempes would be priceless. Inter quotes Lautaro Martínez at 111 million dollars and Barcelona is tempted to approach the figure to take it to his badly injured team? Well, they are the market laws of this time. If Kempes played today, how much would his chip be worth? Without taking away Lautaro's merits, a reality that lacks a long journey, the bahiense is still far from the player who was the Cordovan. Other names of European stardom could be added, without a doubt.
Perhaps that comparison, a simple deduction from the coffee table but not far from reality, is enough to put Mario in the proper showcase Kempes was a phenomenal scorer, but he was much more than that. A striker without space, a crack without time, a monster adaptable to any system, teammates and rivals. A unique piece . Demolishing in his starts from the middle zone, unstoppable the race with dominated ball, owner of a formidable shot and a fearsome header, he also learned the secrets of setbacks and recovery.
A must have.
Perhaps the lack of skill with the right leg, left-handed to the core, was his major flaw. In another style, with a different physical build, just like Maradona or Messi. I don't know
Because of the value for money, the 500,000 dollars that Valencia paid Central for Mario in 1976 sound laughable . Sure, 44 years passed. The world and the markets are different. But the ball remains the same: In the 246 games of his two stages in Valencia (76-81 and 82-84), Kempes scored 173 goals adding up all the competitions.
He left Argentina after 11 goals in 13 games at Instituto (only in Primera, not counting the Cordoba League) and out of 99 in 107 games in Rosario Central (74-76). He converted 15 in 29 games in the year that River repatriated him (81-82) to counter the "Maradona effect" produced by Diego's arrival in Boca.
Kempes, in 2017. Photo: Archive
And then it would be necessary to add his pilgrimage, already in his autumn, by Hercules, First Vienna, Kremser and the unusual final in the Chilean Fernández Vial and the Indonesian Pelita Jaya. Total, more than half a goal every 90 minutes: 0.66 in 606 games with 337 goals .
The national team is separate territory, with number 13 on their back they lost an incredible goal just after the debut game with Poland in the 74th World Cup, which was a 3-2 defeat. There would be a rematch. Boy, would I have it. Do we need to talk about the 78 World Cup? The farewell was in Spain 82, together with Diego, Ramón Díaz and Barbas in the half-generational change that César Menotti produced, one of his supporters as in the beginning were Miguel Ignomiriello and Enrique Sívori in the National Team or Carlos Griguol in that Central of the partnership with Aldo Pedro Poy. I don't know
Time goes by. The song already says it, we are getting old. Quite an irony, it seems that "what came after" is what tarnishes what they were. Today, Kempes is an ESPN analyst and the new generations only see the panelist on the screen or the ingenious commentator of video games, most do not know that impressive footballer past and who we are his contemporaries we do not put too much enthusiasm in valuing the essential , to the soccer player Kempes.
With Mario fit the generals of the law. Daniel Passarella remained in popular memory as the president who led River to relegation. But he was champion technician. And one of the best Argentine players in history. Carlos Bianchi is the successful man as coach but he is in the top ten of the Argentine scorers. He made 206 goals in a Vélez that was not the Vélez he built from the bench. And as with them, there are other examples. Bertoni, Brindisi, the remembered Perfumo, have not had fair recognition of what they were as footballers.
The Kempes case, perhaps, is the greatest injustice.
