Alberto Suppici

2.1. Birth and Background

Alberto Horacio Suppici was born on November 20, 1898, in Colonia del Sacramento, Colonia Department, Uruguay. His cousin was Héctor Suppici Sedes, a professional racing driver. On April 22, 1917, Suppici demonstrated his early passion for football by founding the Plaza Colonia football club in his native Colonia del Sacramento. The club's home ground, Estadio Profesor Alberto Suppici, was later named in his honor and has a capacity for 12,000 spectators.

2.2. Playing Career

Suppici's active years as a footballer spanned from 1915 to 1923, during which he played for Club Nacional de Football, one of Uruguay's most storied clubs. During his tenure at Nacional, he made 143 appearances and scored 6 goals. He primarily played as a midfielder, specifically a left midfielder (LMF), and stood at 66 in ^{(167 cm)}.

3.1. Early Coaching Roles

Suppici began his coaching career by taking on the role of head coach for the Uruguay national football team in 1928. His initial ventures into national team coaching included leading Uruguay to a third-place finish in the 1929 South American Championship, a precursor to the modern Copa América. Beyond the national team, Suppici also had coaching stints with club teams such as Central Español F.C. in 1935 and Montevideo Wanderers F.C. in 1938.

3.2. 1930 FIFA World Cup Triumph

Suppici achieved historic fame by leading Uruguay to victory in the inaugural 1930 FIFA World Cup, which was hosted in his home nation. A notable and controversial decision he made prior to the tournament was the exclusion of Andrés Mazali, the goalkeeper who had won a gold medal in the 1928 Olympic final. Mazali was dropped from the national team after breaking curfew and failing to return to the team hotel in Montevideo on time. Despite this disciplinary action, Suppici guided his team through the tournament, culminating in the final match against Argentina at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. Uruguay staged a remarkable second-half comeback, overturning a 1-2 deficit to secure a 4-2 victory in front of 93,000 spectators. At the time of this triumph, Suppici was only 31 years old, making him the youngest coach ever to win a World Cup, a record that remains unbroken. His technical staff during the tournament included Pedro Arispe, Ernesto Figoli, Luis Greco, and Pedro Olivieri.

3.3. Later Coaching Stints

Following his World Cup triumph, Suppici continued his managerial career with both the Uruguayan national team and various club teams. He had a second tenure as manager of the Uruguayan national team from 1935 to 1941. In addition to his national team duties, Suppici also managed club teams, notably leading Peñarol to the Uruguayan Primera División title in 1945.

3.4. Managerial Statistics

During his two periods as manager of the Uruguay national football team, Alberto Suppici oversaw numerous matches, including international friendlies and competitive tournaments. His record is summarized in the following table:

3.5. Other Notable Tournament Records

Beyond the major titles, Suppici's managerial stints with the Uruguayan national team also saw participation and success in various other tournaments:

• During 1928-1932:
  • Copa Lipton: Runners-up (1928), Champions (1929)
  • Copa Newton: Champions (1929)
  • Taça Rio Branco: Runners-up (1931, 1932)
• During 1935-1941:
  • Copa Juan Mignaburu: Runners-up (1935, 1936, 1938)
  • Copa Héctor Gómez: Champions (1936, 1940), Runners-up (1938)
  • Copa Newton: Runners-up (1937)
  • Copa Lipton: Runners-up (1937)
  • Taça Rio Branco: Champions (1940)

4.1. Club Honours

As a club manager, Alberto Suppici achieved notable success with Club Atlético Peñarol:

• Uruguayan Primera División: 1945

4.2. International Honours

Suppici's most significant achievements came while managing the Uruguay national football team:

• FIFA World Cup: 1930 (Champions)
• Copa América:
  • Runner-up: 1941
  • Third place: 1929, 1937

5.1. The 'Profesor' Nickname

Alberto Suppici was widely known by his nickname, 'El Profesor' (El Profesor_{The Professor}^Spanish). This moniker reflected his meticulous and intellectual approach to the game, highlighting his strategic depth and ability to educate and guide his players. The nickname underscored his reputation as a thoughtful and knowledgeable figure in football.

5.2. Memorials and Enduring Influence

Suppici's contributions are permanently recognized through memorials and institutions named in his honor. The most prominent example is the Estadio Profesor Alberto Suppici, a football stadium located in his hometown of Colonia del Sacramento. This stadium serves as the home ground for the Plaza Colonia football club, a team that Suppici himself founded. His enduring influence is seen in his status as a pioneering figure in coaching, particularly for his innovative leadership that led Uruguay to the first-ever World Cup title, inspiring future generations of coaches and players in Uruguayan and international football.