Carlos Babington, the left-footed playmaker who was the heartbeat of Huracán’s celebrated 1973 champions and a member of Argentina’s squad at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, has died on Wednesday at the age of 77. Known as “El Inglés” and always wearing the No. 10 shirt, he is remembered as one of the great talents in the history of Argentine football.
Huracán, the club where he became an idol, paid tribute in a message on social media, describing him as a 1973 champion, coach, club president and one of the greatest footballers Argentina has produced. The club also expressed its condolences to his family and friends.
A left foot of rare quality
His nickname came from his grandfather, who was born in London, although Babington was as much a child of Buenos Aires as anyone. As a boy he was called “Lavandina” because of his pale skin, but over the years he became El Inglés for good.
He made his first-team debut for Huracán in 1968, during a tour of Spain, against Tenerife under coach Pipo Rossi. From 1970 onwards he became a key figure at Parque Patricios, forming a partnership with Miguel Brindisi, with René Houseman ahead of them and Alfio Basile behind. All of it was shaped by César Luis Menotti, whose ideas transformed Argentine football.
Metropolitano glory and a spell in Europe
Huracán won the 1973 Metropolitano from start to finish, the only league title in the club’s history, and the side’s attractive style is still regarded by many as one of the best the country has seen. Babington was a central part of that team. He was also called up for Argentina at the 1974 World Cup in Germany.
After that tournament he stayed in Germany to play in the second division for SG Wattenscheid 09, spending four seasons in Europe before returning to Huracán. Between 1978 and 1982 he added more than 100 appearances and around 50 goals for the club. He ended his career with a brief spell in the United States and at Junior of Barranquilla. He missed the 1978 World Cup after the president of his German club refused to let him return to Argentina, despite requests from Menotti.
For Huracán overall, he played 190 matches and scored 84 goals.
Coaching and the presidency
Babington later managed several Argentine clubs, starting at Platense in the mid-1980s and returning to Huracán on four separate occasions. He also coached Racing, River Plate and, in 2003, Chacarita. In 2006 he was elected president of Huracán, and during the first part of his term the club won promotion back to the top flight. In 2009, under Ángel Cappa, Huracán came close to the title, but a controversial defeat to Vélez on the final matchday cost them the Clausura.
He resigned in 2011, a year before his term was due to end, amid a serious institutional and financial crisis at the club. His departure was a painful one, and he never returned to the Tomás Adolfo Ducó stadium, the ground where he had shone. He later faced several legal claims.
Babington remained one of the most respected voices in Argentine football, often lamenting what he saw as a decline in skilful players and a tendency for teams to play backwards. He will be remembered above all for that left foot and for the Huracán side that still stands as one of the finest in the nation’s history.
Source: www.lanacion.com.ar
