In the late 60’s when Estudiantes de La Plata were winning everything, they used to get invited to play all over the world.
They were Argentinean Champions, Copa Libertadores Champions three years in a row, Interamerican Champions, Intercontinental Champions (they had beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford).
Their Manager was the great pragmatist Osvaldo Zubeldia, and one of his players then was the combative midfielder Carlos Salvador Bilardo.
On this occasion they had been invited to play against Valencia for the “Otero Cup” in the town of Pontevedra in Spain.
That Estudiantes team was famous for their on and off the field trickery in order to win at all costs.
Talking to their rivals before, during and after the games, not scared to leave their foot in when required, they were like the Muhamad Ali of football.
However, they must have possessed some class in order to win all those trophies.
In front of them, in that game was a Valencia side that was used to finishing 4th of 5th every year in La Liga which then qualified them to play in the old Inter-city Fairs Cup in Europe.
For the Galician town of Pontevedra (meaning Old Bridge in Galician dialect), and its 80000 inhabitants it was a pretty prestigious event.
The organisation was perfect, the stadium was full and ready to see two marvellous teams battle for that Cup.
The rules stated that if the score was tied after the 90 minutes, there will be two 15 minutes periods of extra time played. If the game was still even, they will toss a coin to decide the winner. No penalties were scheduled to take place.
There was no way that Estudiantes will take the game lightly. It was not in them to give less than 100% on every game.
The game was rough, very uneventful, but very competitive.
The final score after 90 minutes was 0-0. So the players went out again to play another 30 minutes.
Once again at the end of extra time the teams were tied, so the referee called both captains to toss the coin.
Estudinates captain was Oscar “Cacho” Malbernat. As the coin was about to be tossed, his teammate Bilardo approaches him and whispers something on his ear.
Nobody paid any attention to it, the coin lands and Estudiantes wins which started a huge celebration.
All players threw themselves on top of Malbernat and brought him down to the ground.
It was a friendly cup, but a trophy is a trophy.
Once they have returned to Argentina a reporter asked Malbernat what had Bilardo whispered to him just prior to the coin being tossed.
His answer was: Bilardo told me: “Cachito, follow the coin, and the second that it touches the grass, put your arms up and celebrate, we will all follow and throw you on top of the coin. Nobody will even check”
From that moment on, and for a few years, it was arranged that in case of a draw, any friendly cup played in Spain, is given to the visiting team
They were Argentinean Champions, Copa Libertadores Champions three years in a row, Interamerican Champions, Intercontinental Champions (they had beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford).
Their Manager was the great pragmatist Osvaldo Zubeldia, and one of his players then was the combative midfielder Carlos Salvador Bilardo.
On this occasion they had been invited to play against Valencia for the “Otero Cup” in the town of Pontevedra in Spain.
That Estudiantes team was famous for their on and off the field trickery in order to win at all costs.
Talking to their rivals before, during and after the games, not scared to leave their foot in when required, they were like the Muhamad Ali of football.
However, they must have possessed some class in order to win all those trophies.
In front of them, in that game was a Valencia side that was used to finishing 4th of 5th every year in La Liga which then qualified them to play in the old Inter-city Fairs Cup in Europe.
For the Galician town of Pontevedra (meaning Old Bridge in Galician dialect), and its 80000 inhabitants it was a pretty prestigious event.
The organisation was perfect, the stadium was full and ready to see two marvellous teams battle for that Cup.
The rules stated that if the score was tied after the 90 minutes, there will be two 15 minutes periods of extra time played. If the game was still even, they will toss a coin to decide the winner. No penalties were scheduled to take place.
There was no way that Estudiantes will take the game lightly. It was not in them to give less than 100% on every game.
The game was rough, very uneventful, but very competitive.
The final score after 90 minutes was 0-0. So the players went out again to play another 30 minutes.
Once again at the end of extra time the teams were tied, so the referee called both captains to toss the coin.
Estudinates captain was Oscar “Cacho” Malbernat. As the coin was about to be tossed, his teammate Bilardo approaches him and whispers something on his ear.
Nobody paid any attention to it, the coin lands and Estudiantes wins which started a huge celebration.
All players threw themselves on top of Malbernat and brought him down to the ground.
It was a friendly cup, but a trophy is a trophy.
Once they have returned to Argentina a reporter asked Malbernat what had Bilardo whispered to him just prior to the coin being tossed.
His answer was: Bilardo told me: “Cachito, follow the coin, and the second that it touches the grass, put your arms up and celebrate, we will all follow and throw you on top of the coin. Nobody will even check”
From that moment on, and for a few years, it was arranged that in case of a draw, any friendly cup played in Spain, is given to the visiting team