Norberto Madurga

Norberto Rubén Madurga (born 29 December 1944), nicknamed ''Muñeco'', is an Argentine former footballer who played as midfielder. He spent most of his career at Boca Juniors where he won three championships. He is considered one of the club's most notable players during the 1960s.

Biography

Madurga's first club was Racing, where he had been brought by coach Ernesto Duchini. Former Boca Juniors player Bernardo Gandulla (who was working in the search of young talented footballers in Atlanta) convinced Madurga to play for the ''Bohemio''. In Atlanta, Madurga played in the youth divisions with no matches in the Primera División.

After a friendly match between Boca Juniors and the Atlanta's third division in 1965, Boca Juniors showed its interest in hiring Madurga. Therefore, he was traded to the ''Xeneize'' in January 1966, with Néstor "Pipo" Rossi as coach. His debut with Boca Juniors was in the 1966 Copa Libertadores v. River Plate. The match ended 2–2 with Madurga scoring a goal. The following year, Madurga played as attacking midfielder ("n° 10")

In 1969, long-time legend Antonio Rattín was injured and coach Alfredo Di Stéfano decided Madurga to play as central midfielder, the same position as Rattín. That same year Boca won 3 titles, the Torneo de Verano (friendly preseason tournament), the 1969 Copa Argentina and the 1969 Nacional.

Madurga's skilled style of playing allowed him to serve as playmaker some times, due to his precise passes. He was also known for his attacking runs, often scoring goals.

Madurga's most memorable performance came in December 1969 when he scored two goals v. River Plate in the last fixture of the 1969 Nacional tournament. His two goals made Boca to win the championship that same day (with the match having ended in a 2–2 tie).

The game was held in the Monumental stadium and when the match ended, some River Plate's employees opened the irrigation sprinklers to avoid any kind of celebration by Boca Juniors players, nevertheless the players stayed on the field without further incidents.Cuando Boca dio la vuelta en el Monumental y River quiso evitarlo tirando agua
by Pablo Lisotto ''La Nación'', 19 October 2012

At the end of 1971 he was traded to Brazilian club Palmeiras, where he would win two championships else playing for the Paulista team.

After his tenure on Palmeiras, Madurga returned to Argentina where he finished his professional career in Primera División playing for Banfield in 1975 with former teammate Nicolás Novello."Muñeco" Madurga, un volante de lujo
TN.com, 13 November 2009

Nevertheless, in 1977 Madurga made a brief return to football, playing for Estudiantes de Río Cuarto, where was coached by Antonio Rattín.Madurga, un gran muñeco
by Oscar A. Wehbe on Puntal.com, 27 December 2012 In 1980 Madurga made a new return to the sport, playing in a regional league of Buenos Aires Province, the "Liga Chivilcoense" based in the city of Chivilcoy. Madurga played for the local team Gimnasia y Esgrima de Chivilcoy.

In 2009, Madurga returned to Boca Juniors to work for the club's reserves and academy department in search of talented young players.Norberto "El Muñeco" Madurga: De ídolo a descubridor de ídolos
by Marina Zucchi, ''Clarín, 23 August 2015

With the Argentina national team, Madurga played 11 matches (1970–71), scoring 3 goals.

Titles

;Boca Juniors
* Primera División: 1969 Nacional, 1970 Metropolitano
* Copa Argentina: 1969
;Palmeiras
* Campeonato Paulista: 1972
* Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1972

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Madurga, Norberto
1944 births
Living people
Argentine men's footballers
Argentina men's international footballers
Boca Juniors footballers
Argentine Primera División players
Footballers from Buenos Aires
Men's association football midfielders