Argentina hero Bilardo in serious condition after brain surgery

Argentina’s 1986 World Cup winning coach Carlos Bilardo is in a serious condition in hospital following brain surgery, the center treating him has confirmed.

The 81-year-old was taken into intensive care at the Argentine Institute of Diagnosis in Buenos Aires, on July 4 due to a “deterioration in his underlying disease,” the center said in a report, on Wednesday (July 17).

He is suffering from Hakim-Adams syndrome, a neurodegenerative disease common in men over 60, for which he was twice hospitalized in 2018.

“He is currently in the intensive care unit while his prognosis is reserved,” the report said.

He underwent a procedure to drain blood and puss from around his brain. It was the second intervention in a little more than a month, according to the Argentine press and those close to Bilardo.

He was the coach when a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina lifted the World Cup for the second time with a 3-2 victory over West Germany in 1986 final in Mexico.

Earlier in the competition, Argentina had knocked out England thanks to Maradona’s infamous “hand of God” goal, and his iconic solo effort widely considered one of the greatest goals of all time.

“I want to thank Bilardo eternally for having inculcated in us respect for the Argentina jersey, what it meant to be an international player, the prestige of wearing this shirt,” said Sergio Goycochea, who was goalkeeper under Bilardo at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

A gynaecologist by profession, Bilardo took over as Argentina coach following the 1982 World Cup in Spain and stepped down after losing the Italia 90 final 1-0 to West Germany.

A midfielder during his playing days, notably with Estudiantes and San Lorenzo, he also coached Colombia, Argentine giant’s Boca Juniors and Sevilla in Spain during a coaching career that lasted more than 30 years.