 Download this press release as a PDF document.
Bristol, CT--(HISPANIC PR WIRE - BUSINESS WIRE)--January 31, 2006--World Cup legend Mario "Matador" Kempes, has signed with ESPN to continue on as lead commentator for ESPN Deportes and ESPN Latin American's soccer coverage, it was announced today. Kempes will begin his second consecutive season with ESPN on Tuesday, Feb., 21 when the UEFA Champions League resumes play with the start of the first knockout stage.
"We are thrilled that Mario will continue to work within the ESPN family," said Chris Calcinari, vice president, Production and Operations, ESPN International and ESPN Deportes. "Mario is one of the most successful and respected men in all of professional soccer and his depth of soccer knowledge, insight and perspective as a player bring value and credibility to our telecasts."
"It is especially exciting for me to continue my association with ESPN," said Kempes. "I have had the opportunity to work with a great staff - both on-air and behind-the-scenes - and I look forward to beginning my second season of UEFA Champions League with the group."
Under the terms of the agreement, Kempes will serve as the lead soccer analyst of ESPN Deportes and ESPN Latin America's season-long, exclusive Spanish-language coverage of the UEFA Champions League. Kempes will also co-host studio shows Fuera de Juego and Goles de Espana, and will conduct weekly chats on ESPNdeportes.com.
More than ten years after his retirement, Kempes is one of the most legendary footballers in the world and is widely recognized as one of the greatest strikers in Argentina's history. The high point in his career was the 1978 FIFA World Cup, hosted in his native country, Argentina, where he led the Argentine National Team to its first World Cup title. Kempes won the Golden Boot as the leading scorer in that tournament with six goals netted. His career records include, winning 43 caps, 20 goals netted with the Argentine National Team and three World Cup appearances (1974, 1978, and 1982).
On the club level, Kempes had a distinguished career in Spain with Valencia in the Spanish League, where he won two Spanish Cups, two European Cup-Winners Cups, one European Super Cup and, and twice leading goalscorer in the Spanish League, first in 1976/1976 with 24 goals and again in 1977/1978, with 28.
Kempes was born on July 15, 1954 in Cordoba, Argentina. He began his professional football career in 1971 at the age of 17 with Instituto de Cordoba. Kempes retired from his playing career in 1992 and made a brief come-back to competitive football in Chile, before becoming player-manager of the Indonesian League Champions Pelita Hyatt. His first title as a coach came in 1999 with The Strongest (Bolivia).
|
CONTACT
ESPN Deportes
Media:
Santa Brito
212-456-0252 |
|
