The Magic of Magico

I’ve been grounded in full flow too many times by the question; ‘Who is the greatest player ever to have lived?’ Having done some research and watched the video listed below I am no longer flummoxed. One man won the acclaim Diego Maradona in such a profound manner the great Argentine admitted that he was a better play than either Pele or himself. This man never played for a big club or won big trophies. Nor was he from one of the world’s great footballing nations. On the contrary it is the Central American country El Salvador which produced the world’s most entertaining, enigmatic and truly unique of all talents. In El Salvador’s humiliating World Cup campaign of 1982 despite losing every game including one 10-1 loss against Hungary, their number 11 somehow made the team of the tournament among the likes of Zico and Rummenigge.

Jorge Gonzalez became known as Magico during his time at Cadiz, a second string Spanish side for a very good reason. The man was truly and simply a magician with a football. The greats have emulated Magico left, right and centre since his retirement without even knowing he had influenced them. If you thought Henry was the leading light of cutting in from the left, opening up and passing the ball in with his right, think again! If you’d never seen the Rooney chip with no backlift whatsoever – Magico used to score free kicks like that if the keeper was a yard or so off his line! Ever seen the famous ‘Elastico’ faint most notably used by Ronaldinho in a Nike advert some years ago? Magico invented it!

Unfortunately there is a reason why Jorge Gonzalez never got his chance to show the world what a special talent he was alongside team mates who would have complimented his insane skills. If you thought George Best and Paul Gascoigne were prime examples of footballer’s with a lack of social discipline and drink problems – again Magico gives them both a good run for their money. Being from El Salvador when Magico got his move to Spain he had never seen anything quite like it. He had been given a sniff of foreign night life in Mexico during his nation’s world cup campaign and his behaviour there had warned off interest from Barcelona or Real for the enigma’s services. Whilst Athletico Madrid competed desperately, he plumped for Cadiz where he would proceed to seduce as many women as he scored goals, and go out a hell of a lot more than he ever trained.

It is one of the accepted opinions among many footballers including the likes of Pele and Diego that had Magico been Argentine or Brazilian he would have been the undisputed best. The life of a footballer unfortunately overwhelmed Magico a little more than even he could overwhelm us with his skills. However much he lost his way, and however much he wasted his talent – he gave it a bloody good go. Watch this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMemVOhSLRw