the friday fantasista five...

Five fantasista who starred for River Plate...

Staying with the major news from Argentina earlier this week which saw the country’s most successful domestic club side River Plate relegated, Fantasista10 thought it would be the perfect opportunity to remember some of the more famous number 10’s to have represented Los Millonarios.

The club seemed to have built a fantasista factory at one stage - complete with conveyor belt, producing some of the most exciting, creative players Argentina has seen. Many gained the tag (and whisper it in these parts) ‘the new Maradona’. Still, these number 10’s were simply adored by the River faithful and were a pleasure to watch during their time at the Monumental.

Fantasista10 brings you...five fantasista who starred for River Plate...

5. Andres D’ Alessandro: 1998 – 2003: 70 apps 19 gls

El Cabezón
the big head

'big head' celebrates scoring in the superclasico

Born and bred in Buenos Aires D’ Alessandro came through the club’s famed youth system and shot to prominence during the late 90’s.
Thought to be too small to make it as a professional at one point, he was given his nickname due to his head looking rather large on his wiry frame.

He starred in various international youth competitions for Argentina, before cementing his place in River’s first team as the team’s chief creator. His inventive dribbling ability and tricks were a joy to watch, coupled with his passing and long range shooting - all done with his glorious left-foot. Captaining the side at such a young age, he led Los Millonarios to three Cluasura titles before leaving for Europe.

Returning to South America in 2008 and now playing in Brazil where he lifted the Copa Libertadores in 2010 with Internacional, the lifelong River fan spoke about his dismay at the recent relegation: ‘I can't imagine what it must be like in Argentina, in Buenos Aires. We are in mourning. Nobody could imagine this scenario, that River would have to go through this. I am devastated, I have spent my life with the club’.


4. Pablo Aimar: 1997 – 2000: 82 apps 21 gls

El Payoso
the clown

Aimar supplying the ammunition for his fellow Angels

Aimar rejected a place at medical school to pursue his career in football when he rose through the River Plate youth ranks. The fantasista quickly established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in Argentina with his close control dribbling and defence splitting passes.

He spent three seasons at the club, forming one of the most devastating attacking trios, alongside Javier Saviola and Juan Pablo Angel, the country had seen. The three were dubbed the ‘Angels with Dirty Faces’ (after the famed trio of the 1950’s, which included River Plate legend Omar Sivori, as well as Antonio Angelillo and Humberto Maschio).

Unfortunately for River fans, the trio was broken up before having the chance to try and dominate the continent, Aimar the first to leave for Europe in 2000.

3. Marcelo Gallardo: ’92 – ‘99, ’03 – ’06, ’08 – ‘10: 214 apps 50 gls

El Muñeco
the doll

The 'doll'  and captain of River

Gallardo spent three periods at his beloved club, developing something of a Yo-Yo career. But it was during his first period with Los Millonarios that he was most successful.

Yet another who was developed in the famed youth system, Gallardo made his first team debut in 1992 and was a fixture until 1999 when he left for Europe. During an amazing 7-year period with River, he won 6 major titles including the 1996 Copa Libertadores. In those 7 years, the fantasista was voted Player (or Young Player) of the Year an incredible 7 times.

Upon his return to the club in 2003, he captained the side and led them to yet another title in 2004, before leaving for France again in 2007, then returning for his final spell in 2009.

The River Plate legend who given his nickname due to his small frame and baby-face, was most famous for his dead ball expertise and passing – dictating matches from his central midfield role.

2. Ariel Ortega: ’91 – ‘96, ’00 – ’02, ’06 – present: 272 apps 65 gls

El Burrito
the little donkey

Ortega weaves his way through the Boca defence

Not to be outdone, this River Plate number 10 also spent three periods at the club, and is still technically on their books (albeit away on-loan).
This temperamental fantasista was famed for his close dribbling skills and clever body swerves, used to scurry past his opponents. He was the first, post-Maradona, to be tagged as the ‘new Maradona’.

Debuting in 1991, he was part of the all-conquering River side that won the 1996 Copa Libertadores and won three other titles during his first period. He moved to Spain later in 1996 then ended up in Italy. An unsuccessful spell in the peninsula culminated in him being made a make-weight, as part of the deal that saw Hernan Crespo leave River Plate for Parma – Ortega making the return trip. He won the 2002 Clausura before leaving, this time for Turkey.

He returned to River in 2006 (after serving a worldwide ban and paying a massive fine for not fulfilling his contract in Turkey) but he was not the same player. He was now being treated for alcoholism and has been involved in various scandals and subject of various rumours. Due to his many personal issues, River have loaned him out on a number of occasions.

1. Enzo Francescoli: 1983 – 1986, 1994 - 1997: 197 apps 115 gls

El Principe
the prince

The prince, Francescoli torments his fiercest rivals from Boca

Uruguayan, Enzo Francescoli is quite simply a River Plate legend. His glorious legacy at the club covered part of the early 80’s (near the beginning of his career) and the mid 90’s (when he ended his career) which saw him win 5 league titles as well as the 1996 Copa Libertadores.

More than titles however, Francescoli brought enchantment to the watching masses. So elegant was he on the pitch, that it led to his nickname; the prince. He was also an expert dribbler and has an excellent passing game, creating many goals. However, it was his outstanding goalscoring record at River that really stood out, finishing top scorer in the Argentine league on no fewer than four occasions and finishing his Los Millonarios career with a better than goal-every-other-game average.

Although he made the number 9 shirt famous at River Plate, the Uruguayan number 10 was definitely one of River’s greatest, if not their greatest, fantasista.