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Ricardo Julio VillaArgentine footballer, midfielder
Date of Birth: 18.08.1952
Country:  Argentina |
Content:
- Early Career and Success with Argentina
- Triumph at Tottenham Hotspur
- Post-Retirement and Legacy
- Accomplishments
Early Career and Success with Argentina
Osvaldo Cesar Ardiles is an Argentine professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He represented several clubs in Argentina, including Quilmes, Atletico Tucuman, and Racing. Following Argentina's success in the 1978 FIFA World Cup, Ardiles, along with teammate Osvaldo Ardiles, joined English club Tottenham Hotspur at the behest of then-manager Keith Burkinshaw.
Triumph at Tottenham Hotspur
Ardiles made an immediate impact at Tottenham, scoring on his debut against Nottingham Forest. Over the course of his tenure with the club, he made 133 appearances and netted 18 goals. Notably, he delivered a crucial goal in the 1981 FA Cup Final replay against Manchester City. This strike, scored in the eighth minute of the match, was later voted as the Wembley Goal of the Century in 2001. After his time with Tottenham, Ardiles went on to play in the United States and Colombia before retiring with Defensores de Belgrano in the Argentine lower division.
Post-Retirement and Legacy
Following his retirement, Ardiles represented Argentina's veteran team at the 2001 FIFA World Cup and scored a goal against England. He also ventured into politics in the 1990s and later became the technical secretary for Club Talleres in July 2005. Ardiles currently resides in Villa Carlos Paz with his wife and four children. In November 2007, it was announced that all members of World Cup-winning teams prior to 1982 would receive championship medals. As a result, Ardiles was recognized as a 1978 World Cup champion. In 2008, he was inducted into the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame alongside his compatriot Osvaldo Ardiles.
Accomplishments
FIFA World Cup: 1978FA Cup: 1981, 1982
