Guillermo Stabile was born on the 17th January 1905 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1920 he joined CA Huracan and would go onto to win two league titles in 1925 and 1928. His 1928 league title was accompanied by 28 league goals.
In 1930 he was selected for the Argentinian squad for the first World Cup in Uruguay but was not expected to play. He got his opportunity in Argentina's second match against Mexico when Roberto Cherro had been ruled out due to a nervous disposition after their controversial opening match against France and when Cherro's replacement as striker, Manuel Ferreira, the Argentinian captain, had to return to Buenos Aires to sit a law exam. And thus history was made.
He scored a hat-trick against the Mexicans, twice against Chile and the United States and once in the final against Uruguay. He would finish the tournament as the leading scorer with eight goals. His four matches in the World Cup represented his entire international career for his country as a player.
After the World Cup, he went to play in Italy for Genoa and briefly for Napoli. In 1936 he moved to Paris to act as player-coach for Red Star Olympique. He would return to Argentina to coach several clubs as well as the national team where he won six Copa America titles for his country in 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955 and 1957.
In 1948, he made a cameo role in the successful Argentinian football film Pelota de Trapo. Below you can watch the film its entirety.
His appearance comes around the 54:10 mark and is on the right of the scene of the two characters in conversation.
The video below shows the Argentinian team arriving back to Argentina in 1951 after playing in England and Stabile exits the plane around the 33-second mark.
In 1930 he was selected for the Argentinian squad for the first World Cup in Uruguay but was not expected to play. He got his opportunity in Argentina's second match against Mexico when Roberto Cherro had been ruled out due to a nervous disposition after their controversial opening match against France and when Cherro's replacement as striker, Manuel Ferreira, the Argentinian captain, had to return to Buenos Aires to sit a law exam. And thus history was made.
He scored a hat-trick against the Mexicans, twice against Chile and the United States and once in the final against Uruguay. He would finish the tournament as the leading scorer with eight goals. His four matches in the World Cup represented his entire international career for his country as a player.
After the World Cup, he went to play in Italy for Genoa and briefly for Napoli. In 1936 he moved to Paris to act as player-coach for Red Star Olympique. He would return to Argentina to coach several clubs as well as the national team where he won six Copa America titles for his country in 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955 and 1957.
In 1948, he made a cameo role in the successful Argentinian football film Pelota de Trapo. Below you can watch the film its entirety.
His appearance comes around the 54:10 mark and is on the right of the scene of the two characters in conversation.
The video below shows the Argentinian team arriving back to Argentina in 1951 after playing in England and Stabile exits the plane around the 33-second mark.
On the 26th December 1966, the Argentinian legend passed away. He was 61 years old. Below is footage of his funeral.
Suggested further reading:
These Football Times (English)
Storie di Calcio (Italian)
El Grafico (Spanish)