aArgentine football is in mourning. Omar Souto was pronounced dead on Sunday, November 23rd. He is a historic national team coach and was one of the people who enabled Lionel Messi to play for the Argentina national team. He died at the age of 73.
He worked for the Argentine Football Association (AFA) for more than 30 years and left an indelible mark on the fans and on the history of Argentine football. The team captain said goodbye to Souto.
Messi shines and gives his all in warm-up before Inter Miami CF vs. Cincinnati
Leo remembers Omar on social media
“It is with great sadness and sadness that the Argentine Football Association announces the death of Omar Souto, the legendary coach of the Argentine national team. We simply thank you, Mr. Omar, for your solidarity and unparalleled dedication to the Albiceleste,” the AFA said on social media.
The Inter Miami star also shared a post on Instagram paying tribute to Omar Souto. Leo posted three photos of the two of them. The first photo shows her posing with the World Cup trophy she won in Qatar 2022. In the second, he hugs Souto during a recreational match. In the third photo, he poses with the trophy from the 2022 Finalissima vs. Italy match at Wembley.
Lionel wrote: “You were always there and the one who paved the way for AFA to find me. A great human being that all of us who had the privilege of passing through the national team will never forget. Your mark will remain forever. We will never forget you, Omar. Rest in peace.”
The truth is that although Messi was born in Argentina, he was able to play for the Spanish national team thanks to his time in Bara. But Souto is the man who followed in Leo’s footsteps and was responsible for giving Messi his first call-up to the Under-20 national team in 2003, when he began to make a name for himself at Barcelona’s La Masa.
Ariel Senosian’s book Messi, a Complete Genius tells the story of Omar obtaining a directory containing the phone numbers of people who lived in Rosario, Leo’s hometown. He was able to contact Lionel’s grandmother, who gave him contact information for his uncle, who also gave him contact information for Messi’s father Jorge.
However, he changed the Argentine star’s name. “I called the father, introduced myself, and told him I wanted to sign his son, but I got his name wrong. I had always heard that Leo was a nickname for Leonardo. “His name is Lionel,” Jorge said, “and he’s waiting to hear from Argentina.”
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Souto was also responsible for putting pressure on Arsenal substitute Emiliano ‘Dib’ Marnes. He gave him tickets to a national team match, but in return asked him to introduce himself as a goalkeeper.
Flynn Rubares, Rodrigo de Paul, Leandro Paredes and other Argentina national team players followed Leo’s example and paid tribute to him on social media.
AFA declared three days of mourning with flags flying at half-staff in Viamonte and Ezeiza. A minute’s silence will also be observed at all games on the day. Mr. Souto had been battling illness for several years.
Today, the world of football and Argentina remembers this hero without a cape.
