Zenón Díaz

Zenón Díaz (San Marcos, Córdoba, 31 December 1880; – Rosario, 5 September 1948) was an Argentinian football player. His position on the field was defender, having playing all his career in Rosario Central, where he won four national cups.

Zenón Díaz
Personal information
Date of birth (1880-12-31)December 31, 1880
Place of birth San Marcos, Córdoba, Argentina
Date of death September 5, 1948(1948-09-05) (aged 67)
Place of death Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1903–1919 Rosario Central 150 (8)
National team
1905–1916 Argentina 10 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Díaz was not only notable in football but also in athletics, where he specialised in jumps and throws.

Club career

Díaz started playing as goalkeeper for Rosario Central after he was discovered by two club executives, who had watched him playing in the streets. Those executives had been impressed by Díaz's ability in the use of hands. He debuted as goalkeeper in a match v Rosario A.C. in 1903, which Central lost 2–1. Nevertheless, Díaz did not remain much longer playing as goalkeeper because (in his own words) "I preferred to play in a position where I could run".[1]

As a defender, Díaz consolidated as one of the most famous backs of his time. Díaz played for Rosario Central from 1903 to 1919, when he retired after a match v arch-rival Newell's Old Boys on May 4. As a curious fact, Díaz played the last minutes as goalkeeper, replacing his nephew Octavio Díaz, who had left the field after being injured.

Díaz played around 150 games and scored 8 goals, winning 4 national cups and 7 regional titles with Rosario Cental. Like most of players during amateur era, he also worked at the Central Argentine Railway.[2][3] Díaz's playing style was based on a though mark, and his slide tackles became his most characteristic move on the field.[1]

National team career

With the Argentina national team, his debut was vs English club Nottingham Forest during their 1905 tour on South America. His last match with Argentina was in 1916 v Uruguay. Díaz was the first Argentine native (non-British origin) player to be capped for the national team.[4]

His first match was in 1905 versus Nottingham Forest. Later he played in several cups against Uruguay, and participated in the first Copa América held in 1916.[5]

Later years
Díaz (right) with his son Oscar in a radio broadcast to commemorate Rosario Central's 50th. anniversary

Díaz attended the celebration of the 50th. anniversary of Club Rosario Central held in 1939, being honored by the club as one of its most notable players. He was also the flag bearer during the ceremony. Díaz also participated in the radio program La Voz del Deporte ("the voice of sports") where he was part of a special edition to commemorate the 50th. anniversary.[6]

Zenón Díaz died on September 5, 1948,[7] after battling against a disease.[8]

Honours
Rosario Central
Argentina

References
  1. "Zenón Díaz profile by Leonardo Volpe on Historia del Fútbol Rosarino blogsite, 20 Sep 2010
  2. Brisaboa, Jorge (1996). De Rosario y de Central (First ed.). Rosario, Argentina: Homo Sapiens Ediciones. pp. 20 to 35. ISBN 9508081007.
  3. Durhand, Carlos (2010). "Historia en Azul y Amarillo". Diario La Capital de Rosario.
  4. Who were ye?: Scot who brought football to Messi city on the BBC, 9 Jul 2014
  5. "Zenón Díaz – Argentina National Team". Soccer Data Base.
  6. Revista del 50 aniversario of Rosario Central, p. 90-91, 109, published 1940
  7. La muerte de Zenón Díaz enluta al fútbol nacional on El Litoral, 5 Sep 1948
  8. Es grave el estado de Zenón Díaz on El Litoral newspaper, 4 Sep 1948
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