- published: 09 Jun 2016
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Carlos Salvador Bilardo, MD (born 16 March 1939 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine former football player and manager, who is currently the General Manager of the Argentina national football team.
Bilardo achieved worldwide renown as a player with Estudiantes de La Plata in the 1960s, and as the manager of the Argentina side that won the 1986 FIFA World Cup and came close to retaining the title in 1990, where they reached the final. As manager of Argentina, he was renowned for successfully employing the 3-5-2 formation at the highest level; this formation has been in use for decades, but has never achieved mainstream status.
He is known by fans and the media as el narigón (big nose).
Bilardo was born in the Buenos Aires La Paternal neighbourhood to Sicilian immigrants from Mazzarino. He was drawn to football from his childhood, but did not neglect study or work. On school vacations, he would get up before dawn to haul produce to the Abasto market in Buenos Aires.