Ochoa, Pedro

Ochoa became a player in Racing in 1913 , but only in 1916 he made his debut for the first team. In the first years after the transfer, he often played as a right-handed midfielder, although at the youth level he established himself as a talented striker. The reason for this is the very high competition in the line of attack, where Juan Perinetti and Alberto Oako shone in those years. Until the early 1920s, Pedro Ochoa remained in the background in the team and had only an indirect relation to the conquest of her many trophies at the national and international level. Only at the turn of the decade, Ochoa was able to get out of the shadow of senior teammates, gain the confidence of the team leaders and win the favor of fans. Quite soon, Ochoa himself became the leader of Racing, who parted with most of his veterans and embarked on the path of renewal. To some extent, Ochoa can be considered the heir to Perinetti , who completed his career in 1920 : like Juan, Pedro was distinguished by first-class dribbling and high speed, and just like his senior contemporary, he made the path to attacking from midfield in Racing. Ochoa's technicality made him the new favorite of the public. Exquisite game, impressive ball control, a certain share of mischief in dealing with unlucky rivals, fury and “killer instinct” - all this brought Ochoa's popularity far beyond the scope of sports. His playing skills delighted people of art; Carlos Gardel sang about Pedro Ochoa in the Tango Patadura , and Osvaldo Freset dedicated to him a similar work Ochoíta , nicknamed Ochoa, given to him by the same Gardel. The wit of Pedro Ochoa is marked by the fact that his remarks got into the famous collection “100 best phrases from Argentine football” ^[1] .

In the AAm era, Racing wins the championship three times and each victory falls on a unique period in Ochoa's career. So, the 1919 season is the first for Pedro as a base player; 1921 - a transitional period in the history of the club, when the leaders of the past have already left, and the leaders of the future, and Ochoa, among others, still only identify themselves in this capacity; 1925 - the heyday of the football player Ochoa: he is at the forefront of Argentinean football, the recognized leader and symbol of his club and his main star.

The first professional football championship in the history of Argentina was the last in the career of Pedro Ochoa: having spent only 5 matches in the 1931 season (out of 34 played in the tournament) and scoring two goals in them, the King of the Dribbling hung up his boots.

Oddly enough, but the best football player of the Argentine top club and one of the best players in Argentina in general did not become any noticeable figure in the national team . And just something on the account of Pedro Ochoa - two matches for the national team, one official and one friendly. He made his debut for Argentina in adulthood, October 30, 1927 , leaving the starting lineup for the first match of the South American Championship 1927 against the team of Bolivia (7: 1). In the first and last official game at the international level, Ochoa received a serious injury, which in many respects predetermined the episodic nature of his presence in the national team and, obviously, brought closer the end of his playing career. A consolation for Ochoa could be a gold medal and the title of champion of the continent, won by his comrades in the decisive match against Uruguay (3: 2). On April 1, 1928, Ochoa was called up to the national team again. He has a historic match against Portugal in Lisbon (0: 0), the first football match for Argentines outside of South America .

Pedro Ochoa entered the application ^{[2] of} the Argentine national team for the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam , however, as a result, he never appeared on the field. Which, of course, did not stop the football player from becoming the silver medalist of the main tournament at that time in the football world.

The result of Ochoa's international career: two matches and two medals.

  Racing (Avellaneda)

• Champion of Argentina : (6) 1916 , 1917 , 1918 , 1919 AAm , 1921 AAm , 1925 AAm
• Carlos Ibarguren Cup Winner: (3) 1916 , 1917 , 1918
• Buenos Aires Municipality Glory Cup Winner: (1) 1917
• Rio de La Plata Cup Winner: (2) 1917 , 1918
• Argentina Championship silver medalist: 1920 AAm
• Finalist of the Cup of Fame Cup of Fame : 1917
• Finalist of the Rio de La Plata Cup : 1916

  Argentina national team

• Champion of South America : (1) 1927
• Olympic silver medalist: 1928

Pedro Ochoa is mentioned in the tango of Carlos Gardel Patadura ^[3] , recorded in Paris on December 15, 1928.

Piantáte de la cancha, dejále el puesto a otro
de puro patadura estás siempre en orsay;
jamás cachás pelota, la vas de figurita
y no servís siquiera para patear un hands.
Querés jugar de forward y ser como Seoane
y hacer como Tarasca de media cancha gol.
Burlar a la defensa con pases y gambetas
y ser como Ochoíta el crack de la afición.

The expression ser como Ochoíta el crack de la afición has become a household word in Argentina ^[4] .

Tango Patadura appeared at the end of Ochoa’s career and was seen by contemporaries as a tribute to the legend of Argentinean football.

In a broader perspective, an emotionally strong piece of the work with the mention of Ochoa, who is elevated here to the rank of a semi-mythological hero, should be considered a farewell to the romantic era of football.

• Pedro Ochoa was the first football player to have a photograph posted on the front page of El Grafico, the most popular sports publication in Argentina and Latin America (in the issue of October 24, 1925 ; photo taken on October 3 ).

• Puro talento
• Biography at todoracing.8k.com