MILAN - Ask Matias Almeyda what football is all about. Gauge his passion and you'll see boundless passion for the beautiful game. As a kid, he was always keen to chase a ball around in the small town of Azul south of Buenos Aires. He began playing the game with his local neighbourhood sides. Matias fell in love with football through serious matches and proper competition, before deciding that he would make a career out of the sport. He didn't give up when River Plate began to vacillate, after they invited him for a series of trials. He attended the first with a shaved head, earning him the nickname "El Pelado" (Baldie), which he still goes by to this day. River Plate made him sweat before eventually agreeing to sign him.
There was no way of stifling Almeyda - a man who always went the extra mile on the pitch - with the line, "Maybe next year, eh kid?". Matias made it into River, the most renowned academy in South America, and the club has stayed with him, as if their colours are stitched across his heart. He played a starring role in Los Millonarios' 1996 Copa Libertadores triumph under former Inter man Ramon Diaz, before leaving South America for Europe.
He would later return to River to end his playing career and show no fear at the Bombonera in a derby in May 2011, taking care of all the dirty work for his side. None of the many professionals who talk a good game would have risked so much, as Almeyda swapped his boots for a tracksuit and committed to taking River back into the top flight after their embarrassing relegation. It took a whole lot of love to accept that position. Matias always kept his head held high and took the team back to where they belonged before being brutally dismissed. Once again, it was further proof of his belief about the occasional ingratitude of the football world, which Almeyda had always railed against. In Italy, he played his best football at Lazio (winning a league title, two Coppa Italias and a Cup Winners' Cup with the Biancocelesti) and also had spells at Parma before a solid stint at Inter.
That was a Nerazzurri side in transition, laying the foundations for a return to the top. The club then began to achieve success in Europe too. Their run included a magic night at St. James' Park in November 2002, when Hector Cuper's side won 4-1 at Newcastle United. Matias made it 2-0 with a superb long-range strike after once again winning the ball back with his tireless work ethic. While a shot like that might at first appear a little crazy, it really summed up Almeyda, a man who has no fear of losing face because he completely believes in everything he does. He always gave everything on the pitch, even when he was having a hard time off it.
El Pelado had the bravery to tackle one of the game's most delicate issues: depression. He came through the battle with his head held high, just as he did every time the referee's final whistle sounded. His love for the beautiful game never wavered even though those within in it often let him down with their hypocrisy and insincerity.
Carlo Pizzigoni
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