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Obdulio
Varela
(Uruguay)
Known
as the “Negro Jefe” (Black Chief), Obdulio Jacinto
Varela emerged as a centerhalf and senior player at
Deportivo Juventud. He got his nickname in the River
Plate region ever since, contradicting every tip,
Uruguay beat Brazil in the World Cup final of 1950 in
the Maracana stadium in Rio. Varela was captain of the
team and drove it to victory against all odds. The
tournament was decided over a mini-league in a final
pool and Brazil only needed a draw to become champions
and even lead 1-0 at one stage. Uruguay came back and
scored twice to win the title in front of a
world-record 200.000 spectators.
That win is recalled as
a miracle and made Obdulio Varela immortal in the eyes
of the Uruguayan people. In 1940, 1946 and 1948, the
Uruguayan team led by him had won the Baron de Rio
Branco Cup and his club team Peñarol had won the
Uruguayan league championship on six occasions. He was
37 when the national team travelled to Switzerland to
defend their title in 1954. Varela was then the oldest
ever player to have appeared in a World Cup, but that
didn’t affect his game. Czechoslovakia and Scotland
were beaten comfortably in the first round before
Uruguay also beat England 4-2 in the quarterfinal when
Varela picked up a leg injury. There were no
substitutions back then so he had to play the full 90
minutes heavily bandaged.
Varela and two other key
players did not get fit for the semifinal against
Hungary which Uruguay lost 4-2 after extra time.
Obdulio ended his World Cup career unbeaten in seven
matches and many people believe a full strength
Uruguay team would have beaten the magic Hungarians. A
natural, street-wise and self-made man, he made the
most of what he had and became a soccer legend and one
of the best captains in the sport ever.
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