Historic justice: Sabella to get his statue at UNO after huge fan vote | OneFootball

The figure of Alejandro Sabella will forever be etched in the heart of Estudiantes de La Plata. The club from La Plata has confirmed that the former player and coach, whose legacy goes beyond the strictly sporting, will be honored with his own statue at the UNO stadium. This tribute seeks to immortalize one of the greatest icons in the history of the “Pincharrata,” a man who represented the club’s values both on and off the pitch.

The decision to bestow this recognition arose from an initiative led by the board headed by Juan Sebastián Verón, who organized an open vote so that members and fans could choose the next figure to be honored at the stadium. The result was decisive: “Pachorra” won with 67.8% of the votes, surpassing other illustrious names in the club’s history such as Manuel Pelegrina, Mariano Mangano, and Juan Ramón Verón.

The monument will be placed in the Paseo de los Profesores, a privileged area of the Jorge Luis Hirschi stadium where the statue of Osvaldo Zubeldía already stands. In this way, the trio of Estudiantes’ great masters will be complete on the grounds, as the image of Carlos Salvador Bilardo also guards one of the sides of the pitch.

Sabella’s bond with Estudiantes is a story of success and belonging that began in the 1980s. As a footballer, he was a key piece in the midfield of the championship-winning teams of the 1982 Metropolitano and the 1983 Nacional under Bilardo’s guidance, recording 171 matches and 34 goals. However, his ultimate crowning achievement came from the bench: as head coach, he led the conquest of the 2009 Copa Libertadores, leaving a record of over 65% effectiveness in his 97 matches in charge—an indelible mark that will now receive its well-deserved tribute in bronze.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.