“He misses the doctor”: the day Carlos Bilardo challenged Franz Beckenbauer for his titles

Carlos Salvador Bilardo hates losing. Can’t stand it. Strictly speaking, no coach likes defeat. But the Argentine went to the extreme, turning his love of winning into a philosophy that divided the waters of trans-Andean football for decades. “Bilardism” versus “menotism” was an almost cultural battle over different ways of seeing football.

Those who supported the Estudiantes de La Plata idol say that in sport the most important thing is victory, beyond the tools used to achieve it. While the supporters of César Luis Menotti say that the forms are important and proclaim that in the case of football it must be an attractive game for the spectators.

But Bilardo carried this discussion into all areas of life. As a player, he won several trophies. Two First Division competitions in his country, in 1959 (with San Lorenzo) and 1967 (with the La Plata club), a gold medal at the Pan American Games and a pre-Olympic with the trans-Andean under-23 team; plus three Copa Libertadores, one Intercontinental and one Interamerican, all with Estudiantes. An extensive track record.

However, during the time he was coach (precisely at the start of the battle with Menotti), the titles were fewer. He won the Argentine national championship in 1982 with the Pincharrata. Of course, the second title perhaps makes up for the lack of additional cups, by having one that many would prefer over other very prestigious ones: the World Cup won in 1986.

Franz Beckenbauer is a true football legend all over the world. The late ex-libero added 21 titles with Bayern Munich as a player; Then, as a coach, he won three more competitions. Two with the Bavarian club and one with the German national team: the 1990 World Cup. Obviously, this is a much larger case than Bilardo’s.

They both knew each other. They met in two World Cup finals as strategists, with a victory for each.. When Bilardo beat him in the World Cup final, the teutonic He came to congratulate the Argentinian. Four years later, the Doctor would return the gesture. There was mutual respect between them. But Bilardo never likes to lose.

The one born in Buenos Aires has not only dedicated his life to football. In his youth, he never gave up his ambition to become a doctor. When I played for San Lorenzo, I trained in the morning and in the evening I studied at the University of Buenos Aires. This is how he obtained his professional title. This is why he was later nicknamed “Doctor” when he was a footballer and then a coach. More than a nickname, that’s what it was. This is the case of Manuel Pellegrini, the engineer.

In this way, when Bilardo learned one day that Beckenbauer He had more headlines than him, his witty response quickly went viral. This happened in April 2017, in an interview with Mauro Viale on the A24 channel. The Argentine coach discussed how many trophies he had and bragged about being a winner.

“If a guy comes to tell you, I have more titles than you,” emphasizes the journalist. “Yes?”, replied a doubtful Bilardo to the announcer. “ Beckenbauer must have more titles than You “, replied Viale. “No!”, replied the former footballer; to which the presenter asked “Why?” “You are missing a doctor… And what do you want me to do to you?” was the Doctor’s ingenious reply.

Despite this, Bilardo admitted to admiring the German and even at the time used his proximity to him as a hobby horse in his eternal fight with Menotti. “I only chat with Beckenbauer , who won a World Cup away from home and finished second on another occasion. With the rest, no,” he said. And the Bayern reference did not hide the sympathy he felt towards his colleague. “I really like talking with Bilardo because he is a great coach, very enthusiastic and special,” he emphasized.