Tomás Carlovich

Tomás Felipe Carlovich (19 April 1946 – 8 May 2020), nicknamed ''El Trinche'', was an Argentine professional football player and coach. His position on the field was central midfielder, playing in several clubs although he is mostly associated with Central Córdoba, where he became an idolMurió el Trinche Carlovich, un mito del fútbol argentino
by Facundo Martínez, Pagina/12, 8 May 2020 and the most representative player of the club along with Gabino Sosa'', although he had played only a few matches in the top division of Argentine football.Murió Tomás "El Trinche" Carlovich, el mito del fútbol argentino: el talento rosarino de las historias imposibles
by Diego Morini on ''La Nación'', 8 May 2020 Carlovich was even compared with Diego Maradona when some referred to him as "the Maradona that never was" because of his bohemian style of life and his refusal to play in clubs outside Argentina.Carlovich: el mito viviente
El Gráfico, 21 Jan 2018
''Clarín'', 8 May 2020 AC Milan and some French clubs tried to sign him, but Carlovich declined the offers. At the end of his career, Brazilian star Pelé tried to convince him to play for the New York Cosmos but he also refused.Así era el Trinche: el mito que no quiso ser Maradona
by Aritz Gabilondo, As, 8 May 2020

Carlovich also had a brief stint as coach in Central Córdoba, although he stated that he was not interested in taking over the senior squad again after resigning.

Career

Carlovich grew up in Belgrano neighborhood, Rosario. Carlovich ( hr, Karlović) was of Croatian descent: his father, Mario Karlović, was an immigrant from Zagreb. Once settled in San Francisco de Santa Fe he met Carlovich's mother, Elvira Vega. At the end of the 1960s decade he began to play football in Rosario Central, but he received most recognition during his tenure in Central Córdoba. Playing for Central Córdoba, Carlovich won the promotions of 1973 and 1982.

He also played in Colón de Santa Fe and Independiente Rivadavia (team which defeated Internazionale in a friendly match, with Carlovich as part of the line-up), and Deportivo Maipú. Carlovich retired definitely in 1986.

The historical "forward and back nutmeg"

During a match between Central Córdoba and Talleres de Remedios de Escalada, a supporter encouraged Carlovich to make a double nutmeg, moving the ball first forward, then back. This request was immediately fulfilled by "El Trinche", causing a huge ovation from his fans in the grandstand. This nutmeg would be repeated many times by Carlovich during his career.

The 1974 consecration

The last match as a preparation for the 1974 World Cup found the Argentina national football team going to Rosario to play a friendly game against a squad formed exclusively by players born in that city. Some of the Rosarian players were prominent footballers, such as Mario Zanabria, Daniel Killer, Carlos Aimar and Carlovich as well."1977 – Tomás Carlovich"
on Colón con o sin Tiento website

At the end of the first half, the team from Rosario led 3-0. The supremacy of the local team was so big that the Argentina national team coach, Vladislao Cap, asked for his colleague to exclude Carlovich for the second half, and this is what finally happened. The final score was 3–1

Death

On 6 May 2020, Carlovich was assaulted and beaten by a young man who stole his bicycle. Carlovich fell and hit his head on the ground, and died two days later.

Recognition

Carlovich is considered one of the best Argentine football players ever. José Pekerman chose him as the best central midfielder he had ever seen; César Luis Menotti said, "Carlovich is one of those kids whose unique toy has been a ball since they were born. Watching him playing football was impressive". Diego Maradona, when arriving at Newell's Old Boys and after being defined by a journalist as "the best footballer", replied: "The best footballer has already played in Rosario, and his name is Carlovich". In February 2020, when Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata went to Rosario to play Rosario Central, Maradona met Carlovich and expressed his admiration again, saying to him "you were better than me".Las historias que transformaron en mito al Trinche Carlovich
Infobae, 8 May 2020

In his own words

References

External links

Dicen que fue mejor que Maradona
Interview to Carlovich on Revista Catalina, September 9, 2010 (archived)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carlovich, Tomas
1946 births
2020 deaths
Argentine men's footballers
Argentine people of Croatian descent
Footballers from Rosario, Santa Fe
Independiente Rivadavia footballers
Club Atlético Colón footballers
Central Córdoba de Rosario footballers
Rosario Central footballers
Men's association football midfielders
CSD Flandria footballers
Deportivo Maipú players
Deaths by beating