Cubilla, Louis

Player Career

Cubilla is the leader of the 1960s Uruguayan national team. He began his journey in the team of his hometown Paysandu - “Colon”. In 1958, El Negro (nickname of Cubilla) made a sharp leap in his career - moved to Peñarol, immediately becoming the pillar of the team. With Peñarol, Cubilla won 4 national championships, 2 Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup. His achievements helped him get to the 1962 World Cup in Chile, where he played 2 matches and scored one goal (in the first game with Colombia).

After the world championship, Cubilla tried his hand at Barcelona, ​​where in two seasons he won the Spanish Cup. In 1964 he moved to the Argentine River Plate, and after the River he returned to his homeland in another Uruguayan grand - Nacional, with whom he won the championship.

In 1970, he was drafted under the banner of the national team by Juan Hochberg to the world championship in Mexico. There Uruguay reached the semifinals, and Cubilla played in all five matches, scoring one goal. In subsequent years, Cubilla, along with Nacional, won 3 more titles: the Uruguayan Championship, the Libertadores Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. In 1974, Cubilla went to the 1974 World Cup in Germany, but the expectations of the Uruguayans did not materialize, they flew out at the group stage, and Cubilla left without goals both times. After the world forum, El Negro decided to end his international career.

He left for Chile to finish playing at the Santiago Morning club, but a year later he returned and completed his performances in Defensor club in Uruguay, with which, unexpectedly for everyone, he won another national championship. So Cubilla became the first footballer to win the Uruguay championship with three different teams. At the end of the 1976 season, Cubilla hung his boots on a nail and became a coach.

Coach Career

The career of a coach at Cubilla began in 1979 in the Paraguayan Olympia, where in two years he won the Libertadores Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, the Inter-American Cup and the Paraguayan Championship. After not very successful actions in the Newells Old Boys, Cubilla becomes the Peñarola coach, with whom he won the national championship. In 1982, the return to Olimpia was marked by a victory in the championship. In 1983, Cubillas conquered the Colombian championship (with the club Atletico Nacional). In 1984, he coached River Plate, but then he took a break. In 1988, he again became the coach of Olympia, with whom he won the national championship three times, the Super Cup Libertadores, the Libertadores Cup and the South American Recop. In 1990, he was recognized as the coach of the year in South America.

In 1990, the Cubillas put at the disposal of the Uruguayan national team to play at the America's Cup in Chile, but it ends in failure - Uruguay lost. In 1993, Cubilla again leads Uruguay to conquer the American Cup, Uruguay reached the quarter finals, but lost on a penalty spot to the Colombians.

In 1993, Cubilla left both the Uruguayan national team and Olimpia, leaving for Argentina. A year later, he returned to Paraguay and continued to lead the club from Asuncion for another 7 years, winning 4 first places in the Paraguayan championship and winning the Recope in 2003. After he worked in Argentina, Guatemala and Ecuador.

Personal life

Luis’s elder brother, Pedro Cubilla (1933–2007), also played for Peñarol, Nacional, the Argentine River Plate and the Uruguayan national team (1961-1962), in 1991 led Celeste as head coach , and also worked in the coaching staff of the national team, led by Louis.

As a player

As a trainer

Personal

• South American Trainer of the Year: 1990