Soccer memories-Part 66 (Argentine Players in the French League-Part 1 (1970 to 1972))

 There has been a tradition of Argentine players joining the French League for decades. Most notably in the decade of the 1970s, many players crossed the Atlantic to make France their home. These included the likes of Oswaldo Piazza, Carlos Bianchi and Delio Onnis, who became legends in the French League.

I will take a closer look at these arrivals into the following decades and analyze their impact.

We start off with the 1970/71 through 1972/73 seasons.

Héctor Eugenio Toublanc

Héctor Eugenio Toublanc was the first Argentine signed in the decade. The 23-year-old midfielder joined Stade Rennais from Argentinos Juniors in 1970. He would remain at the club until 1973. He made only 28 appearances in three seasons. He left to join Estudiantes following his spell at Rennes.

Photo From: https://rougememoire.com/player/hector-toublanc

(Héctor Eugenio Toublanc)

For the following season 1971/72, there would be more arrivals.

Raúl Osvaldo Castronovo Zanón 

22-year-old striker Raúl Osvaldo Castronovo Zanón joined Nancy after a successful stint at Peñarol Montevideo following his debut with Rosario Central in the late 1960s.

He was at Nancy for three seasons, scoring 30 goals in 79 appearances. After that he joined the Spanish League, playing for the likes of Malaga (1974-77). Hercules Alicante (1977-78), Salamanca (1978-79) and Algeciras (1979-80).

He retired in 1980 after a match fixing scandal involving Malaga and Salamanca.

Photo From: Miroir du Football Nº 162, February 7, 1972

(Raúl Osvaldo Castronovo Zanón)

Ángel Marcos 

28-year-old International striker Ángel Marcos joined Nantes in 1971. He had spells at Ferro Carril Oeste, Nueva Chicago and Chacarita Juniors. 

He remained at Nantes until 1975, winning the League title for the 1972/73 season.

He scored 34 goals in 82 appearances. He remained in France and joined Toulouse in 1975 and retired there in 1978.

He managed Toulouse and other French clubs (Niort and Lorient among others). He returned to manage Nantes in 2001.

Photo From: AGE 74-75

(Ángel Marcos)

Delio Onnis

The most successful arrival of the 1971 batch was 23-year-old striker Delio Onnis. Onnis was actually born in Italy but grew up in Argentina from a very young age.

He started his career at Club Almagro and then moved to Gimnasia La Plata.

He joined Stade Reims in 1971 and did not stop scoring into the next decade.

He became the record goalscorer in the history of the French League with 299 goals.

He joined Monaco in 1973 and in his seven seasons there, he won the Second Division and First Division titles in successive seasons (1976/77 and 1977/78). He also won the French Cup with the club (1979/80).

He joined Tours in 1980 and after three seasons joined Toulon in 1983. He retired in 1986 at the end of his spell with Toulon.

He was Top Goalscorer in 1974/75, 1979/80 (with Monaco), 1980-81, 1981-82 (with Tours) and 1983/84 (with Toulon).

He was also Second Division’s Top Goalscorer with Monaco (1976/77).

It’s a great injustice that such a prolific striker was never capped by Argentina.

Photo From: AGE 74-75

(Delio Onnis)

Roberto Zywica 

24-year-old International midfielder Roberto Zywica was a club-mate of Delio Onnis at Gimnasia La Plata. He joined Reims along with Onnis in 1971. 

Though less successful than Onnis, he nevertheless spent six seasons in France with various teams. He left Reims in 1974 to join Troyes. After a single season (and only 11 appearances), he joined Toulouse in 1975. 

After a single season at Toulouse, he joined GFCO Ajaccio. He returned home in 1977 and saw out his career with local clubs.

Photo From: AGE 73-74

(Roberto Zywica)

For the following season 1972/73, the arrivals would not have much of a significant impact.

Antonio García Ameijenda 

24-year-old midfielder Antonio García Ameijenda was born in Spain before returning to Argentina. He made his debut at San Lorenzo in the 1960s.

He joined Parisian side Red Star in 1972/73. He would return to San Lorenzo after his solitary season in France.

He would have other spells in Argentina and Spain with the likes of Estudiantes, Salamanca and Huracan among others. 

Photo From: AGE 72-73

(Antonio García Ameijenda)

César-Auguste Laraignée 

23-year-old defender César-Auguste Laraignée made his debut with River Plate in 1970 and was capped by his Nation. He joined his compatriots Onnis and Zywica at Stade Reims.

He would remain in France until 1981 before retiring.

He spent five seasons at Reims before joining Stade Lavallois for one season (1977/78).

He left and spent one season at Olympique Avignonais (1978/79). He saw out his career with two seasons at Rouen (1979/80 to 1980/81).

Photo From: AGE 74-75

(César-Auguste Laraignée)

Ricardo Daniel Cherini 

22-year-old-striker Ricardo Daniel Cherini represented Talleres de Córdoba and Instituto Córdoba.

He joined Stade Rennais in 1972 and spent two seasons there. Afterwards he re-joined Talleres de Córdoba and saw out his career.

He passed away on March 16, 2008, aged just 57.

Photo From: AGE 73-74

(Ricardo Daniel Cherini)

Eduardo Raúl Flores 

28-year-old striker Eduardo Raúl Flores started out for Estudiantes in the 1960s. He was a teammate of Carlos Bilardo and won the Copa Libertadores three times (1968, 1969, 1970).

After a decade he joined Nancy in 1972. He spent two seasons before retiring in 1974.

He passed away on January 20, 2022, aged 77 from cancer.

From this early 1970s group, Delio Onnis and Angel Marcos were the most successful ones and spent many years (decades) in France.

As stated earlier, Onnis was perhaps the most successful Argentine import in France.

It’s important to mention for the most part, the players were no capped (or no longer capped) by their Nation. 

In some cases (most notably Onnis), the move to Europe ended any chance of representing Argentina at International level.