Alberto Spencer: magic head

Last update 20 December, 2023 por Alberto Llopis

Some players fall into absolute oblivion despite the feats performed or simply are not known outside their country. Alberto Spencer es el top scorer in the history of the Copa Libertadores and one of the best South American players of the 20th century. Did you know him?, if not so, we present it.

Who was Alberto Spencer?

Alberto Pedro Spencer Herrera was born on 6 from December to 1937, in Ecuador. He played center forward and was nicknamed under the moniker “Magic head”. He was the son of a Jamaican of British origin and started playing in his homeland, debuting in 1955 League of Ecuador.

He scored his first goal just eight days after his debut, beginning and, a successful career that drilling rival networks. En 1959, was hired by Club Atlético Peñarol de Montevideo where he was going to become a true legend. Framework 326 goals and won an enviable palmar.

Three Libertadores Cups, two Intercontinental Cups and seven championships baggage Uruguayans were achieved during his stay in Montevideo. Además, He was the top scorer four times in the Uruguayan League and still holds the record of being the top scorer in the history of the Copa Libertadores with 54 many. In the Intercontinental Cup, Only Pele has scored more goals than him, Spencer surpassing the record only by one goal.

He was a legend in Peñarol de Montevideo

After a decade in Montevideo, He returned to Ecuador, his native country, to play in the Barcelona of Guayaquil with whom he won the league in that country. curiosity given that since spent a decade in Uruguay, he was offered naturalized Uruguayan. Spencer could have played a couple of World if he had but decided to keep their Ecuadorian nationality, of which he was very proud.

Aun así, Because the old legislation did not like the present, played a friendly with Uruguay, though his selection was always to Ecuador. He finished his career with a total of 451 goals and is located at the position 20 of the best players in the history of South American football. After hanging up his boots, he moved to Montevideo, Where, in 1982 the Ecuadorian government appointed vice consul in that city.

All who knew him noted his human quality and personal. He 3 de noviembre de 2006 He died of heart problems at a clinic in Cleveland, EEUU. He Model Stadium of the city of Guayaquil uno de lThe largest stadiums in Ecuador, changed his name to Alberto Spencer Herrera Model Stadium in his honor. Undoubtedly one of the greats of his era and the history of football, perhaps not recognized as it should.