Introduction
Roberto Alfredo Perfumo (3 October 1942 – 10 March 2016) was an Argentine footballer and sports commentator. Nicknamed El Mariscal, Perfumo is considered as one of the best Argentine defenders ever. At club level, Perfumo played for Racing, River Plate and Brazilian team Cruzeiro. With the national team, he played the 1966 and 1974 World Cups.
Biography
Perfumo was born in Sarandí and his first approach to football was to play in his neighborhood team, named "Pulqui". In 1960 he debuted at the 5th. division of River Plate. Perfumo then became player of Racing Club, where he debuted in January 1964 in a friendly match against Flamengo played at Santiago, Chile.
Perfumo's first position at the field was midfielder but he began to play as right back in the Racing reserve team. He debuted in Primera División promoted by Néstor Rossi during a match against Ferro Carril Oeste. Playing with Racing Club Perfumo was regarded as one of the best Argentine defenders, winning the Primera title, the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup. In all those tournaments Perfumo was praised by media and fans as the most notable player of Racing Club.
After retirement, he worked as a football commentator for ESPN and for TV Pública show Fútbol para todos.
Perfumo died at 73 from a skull injury after falling from a stairway while dining with fellow journalists at a Buenos Aires restaurant in the neighbourhood of Puerto Madero, on 10 March 2016.
Titles
Titles as a player
Racing Club
- Primera División (1): 1966
- Copa Libertadores (1): 1967
- Intercontinental Cup (1): 1967
Cruzeiro
- Campeonato Mineiro (3): 1972, 1973, 1974
River Plate
- Primera División (3): 1975 Metropolitano, 1975 Nacional, 1977 Metropolitano
Titles as a manager
Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
- Copa Centenario (1): 1993