There was sad news for fans of Spanish football on Friday as distinguished former La Liga coach Vicente Cantatore passed away, aged 85.
The Argentine-born Cantatore – although he was a naturalised Chilean – was one of only eight individuals to have managed both of Seville’s rival clubs – Sevilla and Real Betis.
However, Cantatore was most well-known for his time in charge of Real Valladolid – where he enjoyed two spells – and whom he guided to the Copa del Rey final in 1989, although they lost 1-0 to Real Madrid in the showpiece, in what was only the club’s second ever final.
El Real Valladolid, de luto por el fallecimiento de don Vicente Cantatore, exentrenador blanquivioleta y una de las personas clave en la historia del Club. Nuestro más sincero pésame a familiares y allegados. D.E.P.
— Real Valladolid C.F. (@realvalladolid) January 15, 2021
That was enough to qualify Valladolid for the Cup Winners Cup for the first time in their history and they reached the quarter-finals, although by then Cantatore had left for Sevilla.
He spent two seasons at Los Rojiblancos, qualifying them for the UEFA Cup with a sixth-place finish and reaching the Round of 32 the following year.
Cantatore later had spells in charge of Tenerife, Valladolid, Real Betis and Sporting Gijon – before ending his managerial career in 2001.
Image via Marca