Hugo Orlando Gatti, an idol of Boca and an exclusive figure in the first Copa Libertadores won by the club in 1977, will receive an emotional tribute this Thursday when a statue in his honor is unveiled in the entrance hall of La Bombonera.
The recognition of “Loco” will take place from 6:30 p.m. in the main hall of the Alberto J. Armando Stadium, at the entrance of Brandsen 805 in La Boca, in the presence of members with free entry, etc. Non-members, including those about to reserve their seat, have reserved a link whose reservations have already been exhausted.
The date chosen is historical, as September 7th marks the 46th anniversary of Boca’s first Copa Libertadores win in 1977, when they defeated Cruzeiro of Brazil at Centenario Stadium in Montevideo.
In this definition, Gatti became the hero by deflecting Vanderley’s shot at the penalty mark, an action that dictated the course of the continental tournament on a cold and foggy night.
Gatti, 79 years old and who divides his days between Buenos Aires and Madrid, played for Boca Juniors between 1976 and 1988 and won six titles during that time: the Metropolitan Tournament 1976 and 1977, the National Tournament 1976, the Copa Libertadores 1977 and 1978, the Intercontinental Cup in 1977, and finally the Metropolitan Cup in 1981, in the team that had Diego Maradona as a genius and figure.
With the inauguration of his statue, Gatti becomes the 12th idol of Boca, immortalized in La Bombonera. The others are: Diego Armando Maradona, Toto Lorenzo, Antonio Rattin, Carlos Bianchi, Silvio Marzolini, Rubén Sué, ngel Clemente Rojas, Juan Román Riquelme, Martn Palermo, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, and Roberto Mouzo.
Gatti, born in the city of Carlos Tejedor in Buenos Aires, played 417 games in Boca after playing in Atlanta, River, Gimnasia, and Unión de Santa Fe.
