Héctor Scarone

Almost half a century before Pele - Rivelinno defenses go crazy all the world, and Petrone Scarone Uruguayans fleeing opponents with passes first between the two , played christened as ' wall ' . The level of technique and imagination Scarone earned him the nickname " The Wizard " . Zamora described him as " the symbol of football" ; Meazza said of him that "it was the most fantastic player " who had the opportunity to see .
It was the beginning of the twentieth century and Scarone entreveraba in pachangas of vacant land next to the Chapel of Arroyo Seco , Uruguay . On breaks amused by passing the ball through a hole in a fence (not more than 60 inches in diameter). With only 15 years old , the young Hector was to prove to the club he loves , the National Football Club . However , after several tests , they decided not to incorporate his scrawny physique . Many hours of gym and sacrifice then charged again , this time successfully . He joined the second team , after five games as a reserve , he made ​​the leap to the big national . 1917 and ran Scarone was 19.
Was already contained another striker nicknamed " The blade " Carlos Scarone , elder brother of Hector at the National . Your family status led to , in the beginning, the newcomer was called "The rasquetita " . The Scarone brothers came to play together almost ten years in the tricolor computer, winning six league together , plus the America of 1917 Cup. But time overshadowed the figure of Carlos at the Hector , after the withdrawal of his brother scored Uruguayan League 's other three America's Cups , two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup, becoming the best player of his time.
Ahead of his time

Inside or right handed playmaker , was unpredictable because you never knew which side was going to escape. Was infallible ball stop , and had a huge catalog of turns . Despite his short stature (1.72 m), was a superb pitching, since I knew rise in due course , descolocando your bookmarks . According account Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano , "I knew to expect the ball suspended in violation of the law of gravity." He was also an advance in its egocentric . The press of the time nicknamed him " The Borelli " prima donna of the time, due to its unpredictable and capricious reactions.
His record in the selection started in 1917 , when it became the first Copa America game official . In the final in Montevideo, Scarone , at age 19 , scored with a superb header the only goal of the final with that heavenly defeated arch-rivals Argentina . Then came another four Copa America for Uruguay , and 13 points placed him among the top five scorers in the old historic tournament. It is also the player who made ​​the most goals in a single game of the Cup, scoring five of the six who endorsed him to Uruguay Bolivia in 1926 edition .
On the occasion of the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924 , the Uruguayan made ​​a combined tour after nine games without losing any . During the Games, Uruguay won all their games by at least three goals . The best player , and fourth scorer with five goals , was Scarone , which was his first international cameo and earned him worldwide recognition . By winning this end, the Uruguayan group decided to greet the public of the steps that had been amazed with selected South American stranger . To do this , players got a lap around the field waving to all grandstands . It was the first " victory lap " of history.
Four years later , Uruguay returned to the Olympics , this time in Amsterdam. Again swept up to a ' River Plate ' end. The first half ended with Uruguay and Argentina tied to one. Broke the deadlock 20 minutes into the second half when Tito Borjas makes a dodge, passed Scarone and shouted : "Yours, Hector " . Scarone got the ball and scored the goal that gave the second Olympic gold Uruguay . That sentence was impregnated in Uruguayan society and is still used today when someone passes a final responsibility to another .
The First World

The triumphant circle was completed in 1930, when he organized his first FIFA World Cup and also in Uruguay. Scarone was no longer the same player ten years ago. But not so out of tune again to Argentina , Uruguay beat 4-2 in the end to be consecrated as the first world champion.
After the gold of Paris in 1924 , returned to Nacional Scarone , making a tour of Europe a year later. In April 1925, National and Barcelona clashed in Las Corts , in front of 50,000 spectators. Barca was a first class opponent and went 2-0 with goals from another magician , Samitier . However the Uruguayan group equalized with goals from Urdinarán and Scarone .
So good was the image left , in 1926 , after raising seven leagues Nacional, Barcelona decided to sign him , in what was considered at the time as the first major international procurement by the Catalan club .However, despite winning a Cup and Championship of Catalonia , "The Wizard " could not succeed in Spain . Some versions attributed his brief spell at Barcelona Josep Samitier, Barca great figure, who is accused of failing to provide balls. However, both denied it .
According to legend , a millionaire Scarone refused to continue in Barcelona, ​​with the intention of playing the 1928 Olympics contract. At that time they could only participate in amateur sports games , and the contract offered was professional. "I thought in my country in the Olympics soon to come and that he should wear the blue shirt . Thought National , my heart club , and decided not to sign ," said Scarone . Such decisions won the heart of the Uruguayan fans.
With dozens of titles in tow , including a World Cup , he undertook another trip to Europe. This time it was Italy, where in 1932 he joined Inter Milan , the team that spent a year and then play in Palermo. Again, despite play over 50 games and scoring 20 goals , his European tour led to no great success and in 1934 returned to his beloved National , where he earned his eighth league. He remained there until 1939, when at age 41 he decided to retire playing in the Montevideo Wanderers , mid-table team in the Uruguayan First Division . Despite his professional retirement, continued pouring his talent until 1950 categories of veterans, and more than half a century behind .
After his retirement , like many others, went to the bench and became coach. He went to Millonarios of Bogota, Argentine Di Stefano and Pederson ; Real Madrid , replacing the English Keeping the early fifties ; and his beloved club , Nacional, later becoming partner institution , shoot at goal teaching new players .
Mailman profession
Interestingly , like football at that time was different from today , despite its hard to beat wins, Scarone never left her job at the Courier Montevideo, where he worked as a postman until retirement . One worker, like any human being of flesh and blood . In his parting words against the coffin in the cemetery , the captain of all the teams , José Nasazzi , said : "We were young , we were winning , we were together , we thought we were indestructible." After his death , one of the tribunes of Central Park ( National Stadium ) was renamed Hector Scarone , the ' magician ' charrúa that marked an era .