Fransisko Varalio Argentine footballer, forward Date of Birth: 05.02.1910 Country: Argentina

1. Biography of Francisco Varallo
2. Clubs
3. Achievements
4. Legacy
5. Early Career and Transition
6. Professional Football and Training
7. Decline and Retirement
8. Passion for Football

Biography of Francisco Varallo

Francisco Varallo, an Argentine footballer and forward, had a powerful shot and excellent speed. He was equally skilled with both feet, but his only weakness was his heading ability. Varallo was born on February 5, 1910 in Argentina.

Clubs

Varallo started his career at Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, but he is best known for his time at Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires. He joined Boca Juniors in 1931 and became the club's all-time leading goal scorer with 181 goals, a record that still stands today.

Achievements

Varallo achieved numerous titles and honors throughout his career. He was a winner of the Copa America in 1936 and a four-time champion of Argentina in 1929, 1931, 1934, and 1935. He also represented Argentina in the 1930 World Cup, scoring 6 goals in 16 matches.

Legacy

Now in his nineties, Francisco Varallo has left a significant mark on the history of Boca Juniors and football in general. Despite facing criticism and hostility from fans when he transferred to Boca Juniors, he remained passionate about the sport throughout his life.

Early Career and Transition

Varallo began his career at Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata, but his name is now synonymous with Boca Juniors. He made the transfer to Boca Juniors for a then-enormous sum of 10,000 pesos. This change brought significant financial benefits, as his wages increased from 10 pesos per game at Gimnasia to 8,000 pesos per match at Boca Juniors, plus an additional 800 pesos per month. Varallo used his first Boca Juniors paycheck to build a house for his parents in La Plata, where he still resides today.

Professional Football and Training

Varallo made his professional football debut on May 31, 1931, in a match against Chacarita. The transition to professional football was a significant change for him and his teammates, as they went from being amateurs to professionals with daily training sessions. In Gimnasia y Esgrima, they only trained once before each game, but at Boca Juniors, they trained three times a week.

Decline and Retirement

In 1939, at the age of 29, Varallo was forced to retire from football due to an old knee injury that he had sustained back in 1930. Despite his departure from the sport, Varallo's name has become a legend in local football and serves as a reminder of those times.

Passion for Football

Varallo was known for his powerful shot, excellent speed, and versatility, but his heading ability was a weakness. He once remarked, "Out of my 181 goals, only 5 were scored with my head. It has always been a problem for me."

Varallo is a fervent supporter of modern football, acknowledging that the game has evolved. He defends the current generation of players, saying, "Football has changed, so I support the players who play today. We played differently... but we shouldn't mix the past with the present," he concluded as a living witness to the early days of professionalism.