Question regarding 1996 copa champs River Plate

[Soju Gorae]

I was watching a TV special recaping River's blistering rampage through the '96 Copa Libertadores and noticed that squad had Crespo, Ortega, and Almeyda. Was that squad one of River Plate's strongest? And which is considered to be the best squad they had in their history?

After watching that special, I was just completely floored of they way they performed. Just beautiful, flowing, attacking football. Crespo's overhead goal against Sporting Cristal was just top class. Beautiful goal.

And what was the name of their coach at the time and where is he managing now?

[pololo]

I was watching a TV special recaping River's blistering rampage through the '96 Copa Libertadores and noticed that squad had Crespo, Ortega, and Almeyda. Was that squad one of River Plate's strongest? And which is considered to be the best squad they had in their history?

After watching that special, I was just completely floored of they way they performed. Just beautiful, flowing, attacking football. Crespo's overhead goal against Sporting Cristal was just top class. Beautiful goal.

And what was the name of their coach at the time and where is he managing now?

La Maquina(The Machine) team from the 50's(i think) where the best they say.
Yes it was a great team with many good players that won the Libertadores cup 1996 and they had a legend name Enzo Francescoli who considers as one of the greatest.
Zidane had a dream to meet him in person and play with him, and that dream came through when Juventus played River Plate in the Tokyo Cup which Juventus won.
The name of the coach is Ramon Diaz who was also a great forward.

[sangreazul]

La Maquina(The Machine) team from the 50's(i think) where the best they say.
Yes it was a great team with many good players that won the Libertadores cup 1996 and they had a legend name Enzo Francescoli who considers as one of the greatest.
Zidane had a dream to meet him in person and play with him, and that dream came through when Juventus played River Plate in the Tokyo Cup which Juventus won.
The name of the coach is Ramon Diaz who was also a great forward.
just adding that the assistant coach for Ramon "El Pelado" Diaz was Omar Labruna, son of Angel Labruna, who was not only the leading goal scorer and probably one of the biggest if not the biggest idolo in River Plate's history, but also the coach when River won the championship in 1975 after 25 of drought ....

[pedernera]

just adding that the assistant coach for Ramon "El Pelado" Diaz was Omar Labruna, son of Angel Labruna, who was not only the leading goal scorer and probably one of the biggest if not the biggest idolo in River Plate's history, but also the coach when River won the championship in 1975 after 25 of drought ....


The 86 team which won the Libertadores and World club cup IMo was better under coach Bambino Veira it included World cup winners Enrique,Ruggeri,Pumpido(86)Gallego and alonso(78)Also playing was Uruguayan star Antonio Alzamendo who was South American player of the year in that year.
The Maquina was in the early forties and was famous for its great forward line which according to old guys in Argentina had 2 candidates for the greatest player of all time Jose Manuel Moreno and Adolfo Pedernera who was replaced by another in 46 Alfredo Di Stefano.
River had also a fantastic team in the mid fifties which included Enrique Sivori.Walter Gomez,Amadeo Carrizo and Pipo rossi not to mention the second half of the seventies with Passarella,Ortiz,Luque,Fillol,Alonso all World cup winners

[hoss23]

A later edition had Aimar, Saviola, D'Alessandro...although I never saw them play.

[sangreazul]

A later edition had Aimar, Saviola, D'Alessandro...although I never saw them play.
What impresses me most is that along with Crespo, Almeyda, and Ortega that the original poster mentioned is that all of these players came up through their youth system .... Now that's the way to work !!!

[leoriver]

I was watching a TV special recaping River's blistering rampage through the '96 Copa Libertadores and noticed that squad had Crespo, Ortega, and Almeyda. Was that squad one of River Plate's strongest? And which is considered to be the best squad they had in their history?

After watching that special, I was just completely floored of they way they performed. Just beautiful, flowing, attacking football. Crespo's overhead goal against Sporting Cristal was just top class. Beautiful goal.

And what was the name of their coach at the time and where is he managing now?


Yes that was a great team indeed although in the local tournament at that time wasnt doing very well,so it was best just for them to dedicate themselves to La Copa Libertadores which to me is more important.You forgot to mention that in that team also included one of Rivers biggest idols,Enzo Francescoli. Yes with him and Ortega in the middle was amazing and having Gallardo coming up in the bench.Crespo was young and hungry not to mention brilliant as for Almeyda also young at the time displaying alot of sacrifice in the middle.Not only that River also had Juan Pablo Sorin(actually I think he came later) in that team Gabriel Cederez(vendido de ************),Celso Ayala etc great team but not the greatest.After winning the CUP River plays boca for the local tournament with practically the same team and loose 1-4 the night Caniggia scored 3 goals (another trader).

The 86 team was more complete in all the lines and a much more expierenced coach like Hector Veira El Bambino.


1986 Champs----1996 Champs

1.Pumpido-------1.Burgos
2.N.Gutierrez----2.Celso Ayala
3.Montengro-----3.Altamirano
4.Gordillo--------4.H.Diaz
5.Gallego--------5.Almeyda
6.Ruggeri--------6.Rivarola
7.Alzamendi------7.Ortega
8.H.Enrique-------8.Escudero
9.Funes----------9.Francescoli
10.Alonso-------10.Cedrez
11.Alfaro--------11.Crespo


............Pumpido.........

Gordillo.....Gutierrez......Montenegro
............Ruggeri....................

.............Gallego.................

Enrique...........................Alfaro
..............Alonso..................

Alzamendi.............Funes.........


...............1996...............

...............Burgos.............
.................Ayala............
Diaz........Rivarola..........Altamirano..

................Almeyda..................
Escudero..........................Cederes
.................El Enzo...................

......Ortega...........Crespo.......

[sangreazul]

After reading a couple of these posts about the 86 and 96 teams, it reminded me that both won the Libertadores against the same team, America de Cali.
Also, River lost the Libertadores final in 1966 and 1976. Will 2006 keep the tradition of reaching the final every 10 years ??? Correct me if I'm wrong, but River also started being called the "gallinas" after losing the 1966 final against Penarol in Santiago. No I'm not this old, but the Argentine League is my favorite and I do follow it pretty close :)

[leoriver]

After reading a couple of these posts about the 86 and 96 teams, it reminded me that both won the Libertadores against the same team, America de Cali.
Also, River lost the Libertadores final in 1966 and 1976. Will 2006 keep the tradition of reaching the final every 10 years ??? Correct me if I'm wrong, but River also started being called the "gallinas" after losing the 1966 final against Penarol in Santiago. No I'm not this old, but the Argentine League is my favorite and I do follow it pretty close :)


You are correct.Reps points just been added.

[The Double]

I was watching a TV special recaping River's blistering rampage through the '96 Copa Libertadores and noticed that squad had Crespo, Ortega, and Almeyda. Was that squad one of River Plate's strongest? And which is considered to be the best squad they had in their history?

After watching that special, I was just completely floored of they way they performed. Just beautiful, flowing, attacking football. Crespo's overhead goal against Sporting Cristal was just top class. Beautiful goal.

And what was the name of their coach at the time and where is he managing now?

Expediente Futbol is a great show, never get tired of watching it.

Had tears in my eyes seeing Enzo raise the cup, to be honest. Ramon Diaz is now at on a 6 month trial at Oxford United. As good as that team was, just looking at the names that were on the Maquina squad is amazing.

By the way, the intro the crowd gave River as they were coming out during the final game was amazing.
Chills up my spine.

[Soju Gorae]

Expediente Futbol is a great show, never get tired of watching it.

Had tears in my eyes seeing Enzo raise the cup, to be honest. Ramon Diaz is now at on a 6 month trial at Oxford United. As good as that team was, just looking at the names that were on the Maquina squad is amazing.

By the way, the intro the crowd gave River as they were coming out during the final game was amazing.
Chills up my spine.
Expediente Futbol is indeed a great show.

It seemed like there were literally a million confetti in the air and the entire pitch was covered with it along with the smoke from the flares that completely smothered air. Never in my short life had I seen that sort of support for a football club. Just the majestic visual of the atmosphere gave me chills as well.

That special definitely got me interested in knowing more about the club.

[leoriver]

That 96 Libertadores "welcome" the fans gave the RIVER players was outta f--king hand ! ! !

I just had to go see the pictures of that night when I saw you guys mention it...boca doesnt have anything on that

[Pibe#10]

After reading a couple of these posts about the 86 and 96 teams, it reminded me that both won the Libertadores against the same team, America de Cali.


yea they (América lost the two finals against River) that's why that game for the 2003 Libertadores in Cali was so emotional....and every time América scored they celebrated it so passionately.......that was a good game.....good times good times.

[leoriver]

yea they (América lost the two finals against River) that's why that game for the 2003 Libertadores in Cali was so emotional....and every time América scored they celebrated it so passionately.......that was a good game.....good times good times.


But that really doesnt erase the 2 finals lost ;-) we all know that.Not only did you loose twice to River but lost in 85 to Argentino Jrs. and in 87 if im not mistaken to Peñarol.And they call us gallinas?

[Ilovecolombia redded]

we lost 3 of those on basic fact of penalties


nothing we could really do colombia hadnt devoloped qaulity goalkepers until the 80s

[argentine soccer fan]

La Maquina(The Machine) team from the 50's(i think) where the best they say.

The team called 'La Maquina' actually was from the 40's, but you are right in that they probably were the best ever. They are a legendary squad, with a forward line of 'Charro' Moreno, Angel Labruna, Adolfo Pedernera and Felix Lustau (sp?). When Pedernera left River, Alfredo Di Stefano took his spot.

It's too bad that Europe was too busy fighting a war in the 40's, because in Argentina we had the players to win the World Cup.

[Pibe#10]

we lost 3 of those on basic fact of penalties


nothing we could really do colombia hadnt devoloped qaulity goalkepers until the 80s

you're saying América lost due to penalties? do some research.

[Ilovecolombia redded]

yeah they did they lsot 3 of the libertadores finals on penaalties both to river and a nother one to some team i have no idea

[argentine soccer fan]

i have no idea

:D

[condor11]

do you guys remember the scores against cristal?

i know we got our asses handed to us in buenos aires, but if im not mistaken we beat river 2-1 in lima, just wanted to confirm