Flaco Menotti Hospitalized in Argentina Due to Anemia; Hansi Flick Eager to Coach Barça

Former Barcelona and Argentina national team coach César Luis Menotti, affectionately known as “El Flaco,” is hospitalized in Buenos Aires for severe anemia, as reported by close sources to EFE on Wednesday. Menotti, the 1978 FIFA World Cup-winning coach with Argentina, is currently in stable condition undergoing medical tests.

According to the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Menotti, 85, is in a regular room accompanied by his children at a hospital in the Argentine capital, where he was admitted over the weekend. Reports from Clarín indicate that Menotti has received blood transfusions during his four-day hospitalization. Last August, Menotti suffered a fall at home, resulting in internal bleeding and hospitalization.

Menotti’s health issues previously prevented him from traveling to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where Argentina secured their third world title in December. Despite his health challenges, Menotti, currently serving as the Director of National Teams for the AFA, recently shared insights on football legends like Pelé and Diego Maradona in a radio interview with Radio Splendid.

Reflecting on football icons, Menotti remarked, “Pelé was incomparable. If he played today, he would win matches on his own.” His illustrious career spans coaching stints with clubs including FC Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Independiente, and Boca Juniors, as well as playing for teams like Rosario Central, Racing, and Boca Juniors, and a spell with Santos alongside Pelé in Brazil.