Mario Kempes

Mario Alberto Kempes Chiodi (Bell Ville, July 15, 1954) is an Argentine former soccer player, former coach and current commentator. He played as a forward, being nicknamed the "Matador " for the ease he had for the goal. He is considered one of the best Argentine players in history.

He was the manager of the Argentine team that won the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina, being the top scorer and best player in the championship. That same year he would be considered the best player in the world by being simultaneously awarded as the best South American soccer player in the world by the newspaper El Mundo and as the best player in Europe upon receiving the Golden Eleven.

Kempes is considered, along with Alfredo Di Stéfano, Diego Armando Maradona and Lionel Messi, as one of the great players in history born in Argentina and entered the Valencia CF Hall of Fame, being chosen by the IFFHS as the 6th best Argentine player of the 20th century.

He currently works as a sportscaster for ESPN. Since 2012 Kempes has been, together with his radio partner Fernando Palomo, one of the narrators of the Latin American edition of the EA Sports FIFA video game saga.

Personal life

He was married to María Vicenta Moll, a woman outside the environment, with whom he had his daughter Arianne in 1979.

He is married to Julia Kempes, with whom he had children Nicole, Natasha, Mario and Magali.

Trajectory

The Killer in Rosario Central.

Start of his career

Mario Kempes (Rosario Central) in 1975.

He started playing soccer at Talleres de Bell Ville. While attending school, Mario worked in a carpentry shop. Its owner had contacts within the Instituto Atlético Central Córdoba club, so he got him a test there. At the age of 17, Mario went to the bus station, got a ticket and after three hours of travel he arrived in Alta Córdoba, where he met with other soccer players who were also waiting to be evaluated. The red-and-white coach was Armando Rodríguez, who brought the group together and asked each one to identify themselves by name and origin.

Carlos Aguilera, from Bell Ville, lied "the Matador" when his turn came.

- You don't know a Kempes who lives there and say he's very good? They ask for madness and they think it's a phenomenon.

- No, sir, I don't know him.

Mario had preferred to lie to gain an opportunity, aware of the warning that coach Juan Carlos Miret distrusted the recommendation he had been made. He scored two goals in the first 15 minutes and was hired.On March 10, 1972 he signed the pass to Instituto de Córdoba, paying the club 3 million of the old currency. "Mario will play in Institute, but he will stay to live in Bell Ville. He has to study and will travel on the day of the games & # 34;, was the condition imposed by Mario Sr. In December 1972, Kempes graduated as a commercial expert at the San José de Bell Ville College with which he won the UBES Cup and the following year he prepared to enter the Economic Sciences career at the National University of Córdoba, although he dropped out of university. after a while.

With his arrival at the Institute, the team became champion of the Cordovan League again after six years and achieved the objective of qualifying for Nacional 1973. There, Kempes was part of one of the best forwards in the history of Cordoba soccer along with José Luis Saldaño, Osvaldo Ardiles, Alberto Beltrán and José Luis Ceballos. Mario was a Glory scorer (because of his youth the fans nicknamed him Superkid) in all the competitions he played and he scored goals against all the rivals he faced, without exception of shirts: he scored a total of 78 goals in 81 games (in the Cordoba League).

His debut in the First Division was against Newell's Old Boys from Rosario (0-1), on October 5, 1973. Four days later he scored his first goal in the first division, scoring against River Plate at a few minutes into the match. That game was played on a Friday night for television and allowed Mario to gain national significance. He finished the tournament in third place in the scoring table. Still in 1973, he was called to defend the colors of the Argentine team in the Youth Tournament in Cannes, and scored 4 goals in 3 games. That year he debuted with the senior team in a match against Bolivia for the Qualifiers.

Central Rosario

Two great idols channel: Mario Kempes and Aldo Poy.

In 1974 Rosario Central bought it for 130 million pesos. Former soccer player rogue Luis Indaco officiated as overseer, and recommended the immediate hiring of the player. He arrived at the club with his high school classmate, Saldaño, and quickly joined the group called la Perrada, made up of the Killer brothers, Pío Cabral, Miguel Ángel Cornero, among others, who stood out for being pranksters. and very united. The friendship that began with Aldo Pedro Poy in the Argentine national team was also important for his arrival at the club. since he was strongly recommended by the idol scoundrel .

Coach Carlos Griguol made him play on the left of attack; Over time, a Kempes was seen not only as a scorer, but also as a generator of football, especially at home; as a visitor, Central bet on a counter-attacking game, in which Kempes was the offensive reference.

He made his debut on February 22 for the fourth date of the Metropolitan Tournament in a 1-1 draw against Gimnasia de La Plata. His first goal in Central was scored against Atlanta as a visitor on March 3 for the fourth date of the tournament, the Rosarios won that match 2-1. He scored a total of 4 goals in 9 games for the local tournament (his team was runner-up) and scored 3 goals for the Copa Libertadores where Central was eliminated in the first round. Mario did not play all the games since he was called up to play in the World Cup that year.

During the 1974 National Tournament, Kempes scored a total of 25 goals in 25 games and became the championship goalscorer. Once again his team finished second in the tournament and qualified to play the Argentine Tournament against the two champions of that year. Central was consecrated Argentine Champion 74 thus obtaining the classification to play the Copa Libertadores 1975. Kempes played the 2 games and scored a goal; the second against Newell's Old Boys in the final 2 to 0 in favor of the auriazules. He formed a great forward with Ramón Bóveda and Roberto Cabral.

Gol de Kempes ante Newell's por la Copa Libertadores 1975.

In the 1975 Metropolitan Tournament he would be the scorer for his team with 25 goals in 28 games. During the championship he scored 4 goals in the same game 4 times: against Banfield in a 5-0 win, against Ferro in a 5-1 win, against Temperley in a 5-1 win and against Estudiantes in a 4-win win. to 2. Central finished seventh in the local championship and reached the semifinals in the Copa Libertadores where Kempes scored 5 goals; one of them was against Newell's (1-0), on April 11, in a tiebreaker that qualified Rosario Central to the semifinal round of the cup. In the second half of the year he played in the National Tournament finishing fifth with 13 goals from the matador . In the match of the first date of the tournament against Newell's, Kempes scored the three goals of the centralist victory: one with his left foot, another with his right and the rest with his head.

The following year, the 1976 Metropolitan Tournament (the Rosario team would finish eighth in the championship). His last official match with Rosario Central was on August 1 against Newell's at Gigante de Arroyito. He played a total of 123 games and scored 97 goals during his time at the scoundrel , making him the highest scorer in the club's history.

The teams that suffered the most from their goals were: 8 goals, Estudiantes de La Plata; 7, Newell's and Banfield; 6, All Boys, Ferro Carril Oeste and Independiente; 5 Commercial Port of Ingeniero Withe and Temperley. He scored four goals in a match five times, and three goals seven times.

His transfer to Spanish soccer also marked a detail to be highlighted: with the dictatorial government in Argentina in force, the sale of the player was arranged at the decision of the partners of Central, winning the motion that supported the transfer (this was carried out by the amount of 500,000 dollars and constituted a record for Argentine soccer at that time). Thus Rosario Central made use of its democratic custom, since this procedure had been carried out on the occasion of deciding the sales of Enrique "Chueco" Garcia in the '30s, Benjamín Santos in the '40s and Oscar Alberto Massei in the '50s.

Tribute party of Rosario Central

In 1995, a tribute match was organized for Mario Kempes and Mario Zanabria, former players of Central and Newell's, Mario Zanabria did not show up for his tribute match, it was played at the Gigante de Arroyito stadium, from Central Rosario, Kempes was 41 years old, and despite that, he scored the goal for Central, with a header, Central winning 1-0. The game could not end, since a bottle was thrown from the Newell's stands that hit a Central player, and the referee had to suspend it.

Seven seasons in Valencia

Mario Alberto Kempes wearing the Valencia CF shirt.

In the middle of 1976, Valencia CF of the First Division of Spain bought him for 30 million pesetas (300,000 dollars), where he demonstrated his ability to score, obtaining the Pichichi Trophy for the top scorer in the Spanish Soccer League in twice (76-77 with 24 goals and 77-78 with 28).

In the middle of this came the 1978 World Cup held in Argentina, where Kempes was champion with his team, top scorer of the tournament and top figure in the competition. That same year he also married María Vicenta Moll, a Valencian with whom he had his first three children.

He won the Copa del Rey in 1979 by beating Real Madrid 2-0 in the final, scoring both goals, played at the Vicente Calderón Stadium. In this competition, Valencia had eliminated the previous champion, FC Barcelona, against whom they had lost in the first leg at the Camp Nou, 4-1, achieving a spectacular comeback in the second leg played at the Luis Casanova Stadium., 4-0. As well as the European Cup Winners' Cup on May 14, 1980 against English Arsenal in the penalty shootout, in which, curiously, he missed his, but this in no way tarnished his great performance throughout the entire competition, because he was his top scorer with 9 goals. In this competition, he also left behind, in the quarterfinals, his current champion, FC Barcelona, first leg 0-1, goal by Saura, in Barcelona, second leg. 4-3, the day of San José, the main festival of the Fallas in Valencia. And the European Super Cup in December of the same year against Nottingham Forest, 2-1 in Nottingham, 1-0 in Valencia, which was the best team in Europe at the time, champion of the European Cup two years in a row (1979, against Malmöe, 1980, against Kevin Keegan's Hamburger SV). Unfortunately, he could never win the Spanish League, despite counting, the Valencia of that time (1976 to 1981), with a great squad, in which players like Bonhoff, Solsona, Carrete, Pereira, Tendillo, Saura, Felmán, stood out. Diarte, Botubot, Arias, Castellanos, Manzanedo, Morena, Pablo, Subirats, Oscar Ruben Valdez, Cerveró... Mario Kempes is considered the best footballer in the history of Valencia CF.

Mario Kempes on his way through River Plate.

He returned to Argentina in March 1981, to River Plate for 300 million pesetas. With Núñez's club, he won the 1981 National Championship, where Kempes scored a decisive goal in the final, played against Ferro Carril Oeste.

Since the Argentine club was unable to comply with all the payments and only paid 130 million pesetas, he returned to Valencia CF in the 82-83 season where he remained until 83-84. His last game was against Real Murcia, he started and scored a goal in the 37th minute.

Last years

Then he went to Autocares Luz de Valencia, a team in the Futsal league, and after a few months to Hércules CF, playing 2 seasons, in which his great goals served to remain in the highest category of Spanish football, and thus beginning his journey through low-level Central European teams such as First Vienna FC, Sankt Polten and Krems.

In 1995, he signed for Arturo Fernández Vial, a team from the second division of Chilean soccer, following a request from his friend Pedro Lucio Oliveira, who was the club's coach. He scored 5 goals in just 11 games, being the figure of the club despite his mature age, and he had the pleasure of frustrating the promotion aspirations of Rangers de Talca, after beating them 2-1 on the last date, scoring the two goals for his team.

His last club was Indonesia's Pelita Jaya in 1996, where he served as manager.

After withdrawal

On February 8, 1995, at the age of over 40, he participated in a friendly summer Clásico between Rosario Central and Newell's playing for his former team. Two years earlier he had had the opportunity to join the club, but a disagreement with the then coach auriazul Carlos Aimar made a new stage at Central impossible. The game ended 1-0 in favor of the scoundrels and Kempes was the one who scored the winning goal 25 minutes into the first half, after a cross from Federico Lussenhoff that Sergio Fernández headed in, to for the Matador to also convert with a header. The match was suspended during the second half due to incidents caused by the red and black fans.

Zavagno and Kempes in 1975.

After his retirement, Kempes spent time coaching teams. In general, he had brief periods in charge of clubs in various countries. In Indonesia he directed Pelita Jaya along with playing a footballer; in 1997 he coached KS Lushnja of Albania -where he left by legs after the financial bankruptcy of the country-; in 1998 he led Venezuela's Mineros de Guayana; In 1999, he was champion leading the Bolivian first division team The Strongest. In 2000 he passed through Santa Bárbara de Costa Rica and returned to Bolivia to direct Blooming first, and Independiente Petrolero the following year. During 2001 he took charge of an Italian promotion team, S. S. D. Casarano; in 2002 he coached San Fernando of Spain's Second Division B. In 2006 he was offered the leadership of the Panamanian National Team, but he preferred to continue working as a commentator; In 2014 he was mentioned as a candidate to train the El Salvador National Team, but this possibility did not prosper.

The Olympic Stadium of Córdoba in Argentina (inaugurated in 1978 in a pre-World Cup preparation match between the Argentine National Team and a local team, where Kempes scored the first goal of the match that ended 3-1 in favor of Argentina), Since its reopening for the 2011 Copa América, it has been named after Mario Alberto Kempes. On July 11, 2011, before the start of the match between Argentina and Costa Rica, Mario entered the field of play and the stadium gave him an ovation as a tribute.

In 2008 he was appointed Itinerant Ambassador of Rosario Central by the then president of the institution Horacio Usandizaga. This position enabled him to carry out diplomatic efforts on behalf of the club, but he decided to leave it the following year to avoid being an economic burden for the club, which was going through a difficult financial situation.

On December 3, 2011, he received another tribute in Valencia, where he was given a shirt with his name prior to the match against Español.

Currently, Kempes works as a commentator on soccer matches for the American network ESPN in its version for Latin America. He has a little daughter, Natasha, the result of his relationship with his second wife, the Venezuelan Julia, as well as three children from his previous marriage: Magali, Arianne and Mario.

In 2012 it was announced that, together with his co-worker Fernando Palomo, Kempes would be the Latin American commentator for the video game FIFA 13. He is also a rapporteur for FIFA 14, FIFA 15, FIFA 16, FIFA 17, FIFA 18, FIFA 19, FIFA 20 FIFA 21 FIFA 22 and FIFA 23

On Tuesday, September 30, 2014, the former player underwent successful heart surgery due to arterial obstruction. This pathology was detected in a checkup prior to hip surgery. He underwent six by-passes, in a hospital in the state of Connecticut, United States, where he currently resides.

His biography has been published in the book "El Matador", written by journalist Federico Chaine with a foreword by trainer César Luis Menotti, and edited by Homo Sapiens Ediciones.

Clubs

As a player

Club	Country	Year
Instituto de Córdoba	Argentina	1972-1974
C. A. Central Rosary		1974-1976
Valencia C. F.	SpainSpain	1976-1981
River Plate	Argentina	1981-1982
Valencia C. F.	SpainSpain	1982-1984
Hercules C. F.		1984-1986
First Vienna 1894 F. C.	AustriaAustria	1986-1987
SKN St. Pölten		1987-1990
Kremser S. C.		1990-1992
Fernández Vial	ChileChile	1995
Pelita Jaya F. C.	IndonesiaIndonesia	1996

As a coach

Club	Country	Year
Pelita Jaya F. C.	IndonesiaIndonesia	1996
C. D. Miners of Guayana	Venezuela Venezuela	1997-1998
The Strongest	BoliviaBolivia	1999
AD Santa Barbara	Costa RicaCosta Rica	2000
Blooming	BoliviaBolivia	2000
Independent Petroleum	BoliviaBolivia	2001

National team

He was international with the Argentine soccer team between 1973 and 1982 with 43 appearances and 20 goals scored.

His first international experience was with the youth team, led by Miguel Ignomiriello, played in the Cannes Youth Tournament in 1973. There, Kempes played 3 games and scored 4 goals: one against Benfica, another against Brazil, and two against Standard Liège.

On September 23, 1973, he made his debut in the senior team, against Bolivia in the qualifiers for the World Cup in Germany; the Argentine coach Enrique Sívori put together a squad that moved several days before to Bolivian territory, with the aim of acclimatizing to the altitude. As they were isolated, the soccer players decided to attract the attention of the press by taking photos disguised with sheets and hoods, for which they were nicknamed the Ghost Team. The preparation paid off and Argentina won 1-0 with a goal from Fornari; In addition, Kempes met Aldo Pedro Poy there, who would be important for his subsequent landing in Rosario Central.

Kempes in Arroyito to Brazil, in match valid for the Copa América 1975.

During 1974 he played the preparatory matches for the national team with a view to the World Cup; He scored his first goal against Romania in Buenos Aires, scored the winning goal against France at the Parque de los Príncipes, and both equalizer goals against England at the mythical Wembley Stadium. In the World Cup he played the six games that Argentina played, failing to convert.

The following year he played in the Copa América, scoring 3 goals in four games; Argentina could not overcome Brazil and the hope of the title was cut short.

In 1976 he won the Lipton and Newton cups against Uruguay, and the Félix Bogado against Paraguay.

The Killer bankrupts the resistance of the archer Jan Jongbloed for the first time in the end.

Once transferred from Rosario Central to Valencia in Spain, Kempes officially donned the albiceleste jacket again at the same World Cup in 1978; He came to this one as the only footballer from the Argentine squad who played abroad. Coach César Menotti placed him a few meters back on the field, but with complete freedom to move along the attack front. Thus, he also recognized the value of Kempes as a playmaker, in addition to that of a scorer. During the first phase he had difficulties to impose his game, like his team, which relegated first place in their group. Thus, Argentina had to play the second group phase in Rosario. There, the team and Kempes in particular would receive great support which helped the footballing potential take off. In the match against Poland, Kempes scored both goals in the win, as well as avoiding one in his own goal; but he did it with his hand, and the penalty was saved by Ubaldo Fillol. After the equality against Brazil, Argentina needed to thrash Peru; He did it by defeating the Inca team 6-0, and Mario scored two goals. The final arrived at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires; Argentina took the lead with a goal from Kempes, who after a pass from Luque, touched the goal against two Dutch defenders and the goalkeeper left. The Netherlands equalized and the game went into extra time. There Kempes finished showing why he was the best player in the Cup, and with a huge play, he made it 2-1. Becoming the owner of the game, Kempes emulated the play of his second goal, but his teammate Daniel Bertoni took the opportunity to take the ball and kill the game Kempes was crowned top scorer in the 1978 World Cup with six goals; he along with Guillermo Stábile are the only Argentines to achieve this achievement.

Kempes' second goal cry to the Netherlands, which brings Argentina to the world title.

After the world title, Kempes returned to play for the national team starting in 1981; In those years, the fact of playing abroad limited the participation of Argentine soccer players in the national team. He played the friendlies prior to the 1982 World Cup, already playing more dedicated to the creation of the game and without so much responsibility for scoring goals; The experience in the World Cup was not entirely good for Argentina, being eliminated in the second group phase, being the match on July 2 against Brazil, the last one with the albiceleste jersey for Kempes.

After that year, the "Matador" he gave up his number 10 shirt to the rising Diego Maradona, who called Kempes the “great promoter of Argentine soccer” in his autobiography. The Cordovan player is not only remembered for his goals, but also for fair play: in his entire career in the National Team, he never received a red card.

Technique

He was a 9 boxer who stood out for his powerful left foot, ease in scoring, speed, courage and dexterity. He was always a second ahead of time than the rest of the players, his ability to react was incredible, which, accompanied by excellent physical condition and an enviable shot, made him a very complete striker. He was also the possessor of a lethal header.

Participations in Copa América

Tournament	Headquarters	Outcome	Parties	Goles
Copa America 1975	No fixed headquarters	First round	4	3

Participations in World Cups

World	Headquarters	Outcome	Parties	Goles
1974 World Cup Soccer	GermanyGermany	Second Phase	6	0
1978 Football World Cup	Argentina	Champion	7	6
1982 World Cup Soccer	SpainSpain	Second Phase	5	0

Details of matches

International parties (Selection Argentina)
N.o	Date	Stadium	Outcome	Goles	Competition
1	23 September 1973	Hernando Siles, La Paz, Bolivia	BOLBolivia 0 - ARGArgentina 1		1974 World Cup
2	22 April 1974	José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires, Argentina	ARG Argentina 2 - Romania 1		Friendly
3	18 May 1974	Princes Park, Paris, France	FRAFrance 0 - ARG Argentina 1		Friendly
4	22 May 1974	Wembley, London, England	ENGEngland 2 - ARGArgentina 2		Friendly
5	26 May 1974	Olympic, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Netherlands 4- ARGArgentina 1		Friendly
6	15 June 1974	Neckar, Stuttgart, Germany	ARGArgentina2 - POLPoland 3		1974 World Cup Soccer
7	19 June 1974	Neckar, Stuttgart, Germany	ARGArgentina 1 - ITAItaly 1		1974 World Cup Soccer
8	23 June 1974	Olympic, Munich, Germany	ARGArgentina 4 - HAIHaiti 1		1974 World Cup Soccer
9	26 June 1974	Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, Germany	ARGArgentina 0 - Netherlands 4		1974 World Cup Soccer
10	30 June 1974	Niedersachsen, Hanover, Germany	ARGArgentina 1- BRABrazil 2		1974 World Cup Soccer
11	3 July 1974	Parkstadion, Gelsenkirchen, Germany	ARGArgentina 1 - German Democratic Republic 1		1974 World Cup Soccer
12	3 August 1975	Olympic UCV, Caracas, Venezuela	VENVenezuela 1 - ARGArgentina 5		Copa America 1975
13	6 August 1975	Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, Brazil	BRABrazil 2 - ARGArgentina 1		Copa America 1975
14	10 August 1975	Rosario Central, Rosario, Argentina	ARGArgentina 11 - VENVenezuela 0		Copa America 1975
15	16 August 1975	Rosario Central, Rosario, Argentina	ARGArgentina 0 - BRABrazil 1		Copa America 1975
16	25 February 1976	Defenders of the Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay	PARParaguay 2 - ARGArgentina 3		Félix Bogado Cup
17	27 February 1976	Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina	ARGArgentina 1 - BRABrazil 2		Copa Roca
18	20 March 1976	Olympic, Kiev, Ukraine	USSRUSSR 0 - ARGArgentina 1		Friendly
19	24 March 1976	Silesia, Chorzów, Poland	POLPoland 1 - ARGArgentina 2		Friendly Party
20	27 March 1976	Ferenc Puskás, Budapest, Hungary	HUNHungary 2 - ARG Argentina 0		Friendly Party
21	8 April 1976	José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires, Argentina	ARGArgentina 4 - URUUruguay 1		Lipton Cup
22	28 April 1976	José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires, Argentina	ARGArgentina 2 - PARParaguay 2		Félix Bogado Cup
23	19 May 1976	Maracaná, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	BRABrazil 2 - ARGArgentina 0		Copa Roca
24	9 June 1976	Centenary, Montevideo, Uruguay	URUUruguay 0 - ARGArgentina 3		Newton Cup
25	2 June 1978	Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina	ARGArgentina 2 - HUNHungary 1		1978 Football World Cup
26	6 June 1978	Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina	ARGArgentina 2 - FRAFrance 1		1978 Football World Cup
27	10 June 1978	Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina	ARGArgentina 0 - ITAItaly 1		1978 Football World Cup
28	14 June 1978	Giant of Arroyito, Rosario, Argentina	ARGArgentina 2 - POLPoland 0		1978 Football World Cup
29	18 June 1978	Giant of Arroyito, Rosario, Argentina	ARGArgentina 0 - BRABrazil 0		1978 Football World Cup
30	21 June 1978	Giant of Arroyito, Rosario, Argentina	ARGArgentina 6 - PERPeru		1978 Football World Cup
31	25 June 1978	Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina	ARGArgentina 3 - Netherlands 1		1978-Finth World Cup
32	1 January 1981	Centenary, Montevideo, Uruguay	ARGArgentina 2 - Western Germany 1		World
33	28 October 1981	Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina	ARGArgentina 1 - POLPoland 2		Friendly
34	11 November 1981	Monumental stadium, Buenos Aires, Argentina	ARGArgentina 1 - Czechoslovakia 1		Friendly
35	24 March 1982	Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina	ARGArgentina 1 - Western Germany 1		Friendly
36	14 April 1982	Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina	ARGArgentina 1 - USSRUSSR 1		Friendly
37	5 May 1982	José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires, Argentina	ARGArgentina 2 - BULBulgaria 1		Friendly
38	12 May 1982	Giant of Arroyito, Rosario, Argentina	ARGArgentina 1 - Romania 0		Friendly
39	13 June 1982	Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain	ARGArgentina 0 - BELBelgium 1		1982 World Cup Soccer
40	18 June 1982	José Rico Pérez, Alicante, Spain	ARGArgentina 4 - HUNHungary 1		1982 World Cup Soccer
41	23 June 1982	José Rico Pérez, Alicante, Spain	ARGArgentina 2 - El Salvador 0		1982 World Cup Soccer
42	29 June 1982	Sarriá, Barcelona, Spain	ARGArgentina 1 - ITAItaly 2		1982 World Cup Soccer
43	2 July 1982	Sarriá, Barcelona, Spain	ARGArgentina 1 - BRABrazil 3		1982 World Cup Soccer

Statistics

Clubs

• Pre-temporary matches are not taken into account.
• No matches and goals are taken into account in the Cordobesa Football League (78 goals in 81 matches).

Club	Div.	Season	League		Cups National(1)		Tournaments International(2)		Total		Media Shotgun(3)
			Part.	Goles	Part.	Goles	Part.	Goles	Part.	Goles
Instituto de Córdoba Argentina	1. a	1973	13	11	-	-	-	-	13	11	0.79
	Total		13	11	-	-	-	-	13	11	0.79
Central Rosary Argentina	1. a	1974	36	30	-	-	7	3	43	33	0.77
		1975	49	48	-	-	9	5	58	53	0.91
		1976	22	21	-	-	-	-	22	21	0.95
	Total		107	99	-	-	16	8	123	107	0.87
Valencia CF SpainSpain	1. a	1976-77	34	24	-	-	-	-	34	24	0.71
		1977-78	34	28	12	11	-	-	46	39	0.85
		1978-79	30	12	10	3	6	3	46	18	0.39
		1979-80	32	22	3	2	9	9	44	33	0.77
		1980	11	9	1	0	5	2	17	11	0.65
		1982-83	27	13	3	0	8	0	38	13	0.34
		1983-84	15	8	6	3	-	-	21	11	0.52
	Total		183	116	35	19	28	14	246	149	0.61
River Plate Argentina	1. a	1981	29	15	-	-	4	1	33	16	0.48
		1982	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	0	0
	Total		29	15	-	-	4	1	33	16	0.48
Hercules de Alicante SpainSpain	1. a	1984-85	17	1	2	0	-	-	19	1	0.05
		1985-86	21	9	2	1	-	-	23	10	0.43
	Total		38	10	4	1	-	-	42	11	0.26
First Vienna AustriaAustria	1. a	1986-87	20	7	-	-	-	-	20	7	0.35
	Total		20	7	-	-	-	-	20	7	0.35
Sankt Pölten AustriaAustria	1. a	1987-88	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	0	0
		1988-89	29	9	-	-	-	-	29	9	0.31
		1989-90	35	15	-	-	-	-	35	15	0.43
	Total		64	24	-	-	-	-	64	24	0.37
Kremser SC AustriaAustria	1. a	1990-91	21	5	-	-	-	-	21	5	0.24
		1991-92	18	2	-	-	-	-	18	2	0.11
	Total		39	7	-	-	-	-	39	7	0.17
Arturo Fernández Vial ChileChile	2. a	1995	11	5	-	-	-	-	11	5	0.45
	Total		11	5	-	-	-	-	11	5	0.45
Little girl Jaya IndonesiaIndonesia	1. a	1995-96	15	10	-	-	-	-	15	10	0.66
	Total		15	10	-	-	-	-	15	10	0.66
Total in your career			519	304	39	20	48	23	606	347	0.57
(1) The national cups refer to the King's Cup. (2) The international cups refer to the Copa Libertadores and Europa League, Recopa de Europa. (3) Half of goals per encounter. It does not include goals in friendly matches.

National team

Statistical summary

Honours of Prizes

National Championships

Title	Club	Headquarters	Year
Copa del Rey	Valencia CF	Madrid	1978/79
National Championship	River Plate	Buenos Aires	1981

International Championships

Title	Equipment	Headquarters	Year
FIFA World Cup	Argentinean team	Buenos Aires	1978
Coup Europe	Valencia CF	Brussels	1979/80
European Super Cup		Valencia	1980

Honors

Stadium with his name in Córdoba

In the city of Córdoba, Argentina, the previously called "Chateau Carreras World Cup Stadium" (sub-venue of the 1978 World Cup) has been called Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes since 2011.

On October 21, 2010, the name change was approved, in homage to the former soccer player from Córdoba. The name change was promoted by the journalist Claudio Martín Menditto in his article "A tribute to El Matador" on January 26, 2008. With an approximate capacity of 57,000 spectators, it is one of the largest in the country.

Itinerant Ambassador of Rosario Central (2008-2009)

Kempes was appointed roving ambassador of Rosario Central in 2008. During the ceremony held in the VIP lounge of the Gigante de Arroyito, he stated:

I go back to a club that gave me everything, Central is the biggest. I have turned so many rounds around the world that now I have the possibility to give a hand to a club that gave me a great hand, because it gave me the possibility to make me known in Argentina and also on the other side of the puddle.

World Ambassador of Valencia C. F.

Kempes was declared in 2013 as World Ambassador of Valencia CF.

In the club statement it says:

The idol of Valencianism and reference for its social mass, becomes the new ambassador of the institution throughout the world” and “Mario will thus represent the entity in official events, in European competition parties.

Kempes said, regarding being named with that honor:

I take Valencia into my heart and transmit that feeling all over the world. Valencia is my house, it always was and will always be, but now with the title of the world ambassador of the club I will be lucky to be in the city, visit it with assiduousness.

Individual awards

Predecessor: Grzegorz Lato	FIFA World Cup Gold Boot 1978	Successor: Paolo Rossi
Predecessor: Zico	South American footballer of the year 1978	Successor: Diego Armando Maradona
Predecessor: Ubaldo Fillol	Argentine footballer of the Year 1978	Successor: Diego Armando Maradona

Filmography

• Documentary TVE (01-10-2015), «Conexion Vintage - Trilogía, Mario Alberto Kempes (I)» in rtve.es
• Documentary TVE (15-10-2015), « Vintage Connection - Trilogy, Mario Alberto Kempes (II)» in rtve.es
• Documentary TVE (29-10-2015), «Conexion Vintage - Trilogía, Mario Alberto Kempes (III)» in rtve.es