Ricardo Villa

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Ricardo Julio "Ricky" Villa (pronounced Veeyah; born August 18, 1952 in Roque Pérez, Buenos Aires) is an Argentine football coach and former professional midfielder.

[edit] Career

He played successively for Quilmes, San Martín de Tucumán and Racing Club. Together with Ossie Ardiles, he was snapped up by Tottenham's Keith Burkinshaw after Argentina's success in the 1978 FIFA World Cup.

Arriving to a ticker tape welcome at White Hart Lane, Villa scored one goal against Nottingham Forest on his debut. Villa scored 18 goals in 133 Spurs appearances, none more spectacular than against Manchester City in the FA Cup Final replay in 1981 - for which he won the Wembley goal of the century award in 2001. Today, Spurs fans recall Ricky's unique contribution wearing t-shirts with his hirsute visage morphed into Che Guevara's.

Villa played on in the United States and Argentina before ending his career in Colombia. He dedicated himself to politics during the 1990s, but since July 2005 has been the technical secretary of Talleres de Córdoba. He resides in Villa Carlos Paz with his wife and four children.

[edit] Career chronology

Quilmes (Argentina)
San Martín de Tucumán (Argentina)
Atlético de Tucumán (Argentina)
Racing Club (Argentina)
1978/83 - Tottenham Hotspur F.C. (England) for a sum of £375,000
Fort Lauderdale Strikers (Miami, United States)
Deportivo Cali, (Colombia)
Defensa y Justica (Argentia) - retired
Played in a series of veteran and invitation matches

[edit] External links

	Argentina squad - 1978 FIFA World Cup Champions (1st Title)
1 Alonso \| 2 Ardiles \| 3 Baley \| 4 Bertoni \| 5 Fillol \| 6 Gallego \| 7 L. Galván \| 8 R. Galván \| 9 Houseman \| 10 Kempes \| 11 Killer \| 12 Larrosa \| 13 Lavolpe \| 14 Luque \| 15 Olguín \| 16 Ortiz \| 17 Oviedo \| 18 Pagnanini \| 19 Passarella \| 20 Tarantini \| 21 Valencia \| 22 Villa \| Coach: Menotti