The facts, then. José Manuel Ramos Delgado was born on August 25, 1935, in Quilmes, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. His father was from São Vicente, Cape Verde, making him part of Argentina’s historic Cape Verdean community. He would go on to represent Argentina in two World Cups and become a key figure in Santos’ golden era.
Club Career: From Lanús to Santos
Ramos Delgado began his playing career in 1956 with Lanús. His impressive performances earned him a move to River Plate, one of Argentina’s biggest clubs. Between 1959 and 1965, he played 172 matches for River Plate. In 1966, he joined Banfield for a short spell.
In 1967, Ramos Delgado moved to Brazil to join Santos, the club of Pelé. He played 324 matches for Santos and scored one goal. He won the Campeonato Paulista four times: 1967, 1968, 1969, and 1973. He also won the Campeonato Brasileiro in 1968 and the Recopa Intercontinental in 1968. He played alongside Pelé, Coutinho, and José Macia in the club’s golden years. He also served as club captain.
National Team: Argentina’s Defensive Mainstay
Between 1958 and 1965, Ramos Delgado played 25 times for the Argentina national team. He was included in the squads for the 1958 and 1962 FIFA World Cups. He also played in the qualifiers for the 1966 World Cup. Argentina did not win the tournament during this period, but Ramos Delgado was a regular in defense.
Coaching Career: From Santos to River Plate to Robinho
After retiring as a player at age 38, Ramos Delgado became a manager. He coached Santos in 1977 and 1978. He also managed River Plate in 1982. In Peru, he managed Universitario. He later returned to Santos to work as a youth team coach, helping develop young players such as Robinho and Diego.
Death and Legacy
José Ramos Delgado died on December 3, 2010, in Villa Elisa, Buenos Aires, from Alzheimer’s disease. He was 75 years old. He is remembered as a tough defender, a captain who led by example, and a player of Cape Verdean heritage who represented Argentina on the world stage. His journey from Quilmes to Santos remains one of the great stories of Argentine football.
Sources:
- Wikipedia – José Ramos Delgado (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Ramos_Delgado)
- National-Football-Teams.com – José Ramos Delgado (https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/45503/Jose_Ramos_Delgado.html)
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