Coudet and Cvitanich Revel in Racing Glory

New Superliga Argentina champions Racing Club have a couple of South Florida links. La Academia are managed by former Fort Lauderdale Striker Eduardo “Chacho” Coudet while the playing roster includes Dario Cvitanich, formerly of Miami FC.

Coudet at work in Estadio Juan Domingo Perón. Photo courtesy Golazo Argentino.

The club raced to the title with one game to spare having been in first place since week four of the competition and are on a six match unbeaten run. They have one game remaining on Saturday against second placed Defensa y Justicia. Coudet has been in charge at the Estadio Juan Domingo Perón since 2017 and the championship is his first as a coach.

“A title is not going to make me a better coach, a better person, or a better father. We all play to win, that’s all… I’m more happy for the guys who have not already experienced a feeling like this, because football has already given me so much joy,” said Coudet in recognition of his team.

Coudet in action for the Strikers. Photo by Jon van Woerden, courtesy Boca Tribune.

Coudet certainly did always play to win and actually received a six game ban for confronting a referee in a game against Puerto Rico Islanders. The Strikers were the final team the Argentine played for. Coudet banged in six goals from 18 games operating in midfield.

The original Super Dario, Cvitanich was a popular figure among the Miami FC faithful and famously scored the club’s first ever goal from the penalty spot in their inaugural game against none other than the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Lockhart Stadium. Dario’s clever forward play was a highlight of Miami FC’s 2016 season.

His brand new Superliga medal joins an Apertura title won with Boca Juniors in 2011 when he also lifted the Copa Argentina, a Dutch Eredivisie title and Concacaf Champions League honors in his trophy cabinet.

This vital match winner by Cvitanich against Estudiantes was one of the reasons La Academia could pop open the champagne early. Dario scored 3 times in 11 games for Racing Club after signing up with the team in January 2019.