Arsenio Erico

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Erico and the second or maternal family name is Martínez.

Arsenio Erico

Erico covered on El Gráfico in 1934.
Personal information
Full name	Arsenio Pastor Erico Martínez
Date of birth	(1915-03-30)30 March 1915
Place of birth	Asunción, Paraguay
Date of death	23 July 1977(1977-07-23) (aged 62)
Place of death	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1930–1933	Nacional	14	(17)
1933–1946	Independiente	325	(295)
1942	Nacional	1	(2)
1946–1947	Huracán	7	(0)
1947–1949	Nacional	9	(5)
Total		356	(319)
International career
1933–1934	Paraguay	?	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Arsenio Pastor Erico Martínez (30 March 1915 – 23 July 1977) was a Paraguayan football striker. He is the all-time highest goalscorer in the Argentine first division with 295 goals. Previously it had been affirmed that Erico's record was 293 goals, sharing the record with Ángel Labruna. All the goals in Erico's career in Primera División were scored playing for Independiente. Erico is also considered the best Paraguayan footballer of all time and for some is the best player in history, including Alfredo Di Stéfano. A striker noted for his technique, finishing and aerial ability, Erico was regarded one of the finest players of the 1930s and one of greatest players to have played in the Argentinean league.

Career

As a player

Erico heading the ball in a match against River Plate, 1935

Erico, born in Asunción, Paraguay, began his career in Club Nacional of Paraguay and made his debut in the club's first-team squad at the age of 15. During the early 1930s, Erico was part of the Paraguayan Red Cross football team that was on tour in Argentina in order to gather funds for the Chaco War. Because of his good performances during the friendly matches in the mentioned tour, Club Atlético Independiente of Argentina signed him. He made his debut for Independiente on 5 May 1936 and began to demonstrate why he had acquired the nickname 'red jumper'. Before the 1938 FIFA World Cup Erico was offered an extravagant amount of money to play for the Argentina national football team but he rejected it, gaining the praise in the general Argentine public for remaining loyal to his country of origin. Soon after this, however, Erico caught an infection which led to a long period out on the sidelines. Then, in 1937, he broke his leg. After he recovered, however, he reminded everyone of his talent by taking Independiente to the league title in 1938 and 1939. Later, he joined Huracán where he only played 7 games in 1947 before retiring.

After retirement

An elderly Erico (right) with then Argentine league topscorer Héctor Scotta in 1975

After retiring from football, Erico decided to live in Argentina, although he often visited his country of origin. He had a brief career as a coach, managing the club where he started his career as a footballer, Nacional and also had a brief stint in Club Sol de América where he led the team to a second-place finish in the 1957 Paraguayan Primera División. In 1960, he got married with Aurelia Blanco. They had no children.

In 1970 Erico was honored in Asunción, Paraguay during a friendly match between Argentina and Paraguay national sides in the Estadio Defensores del Chaco that was at its full capacity.

In 1977 his left leg had to be cut off, and he finally died of a heart attack on 23 July 1977. While the match between River and Independiente (played the day following his death at Tomas Adolfo Duco Palace) was being played, the crowd acclaimed Erico singing "Se siente, se siente, Erico está presente (We feel it, we feel it, Erico is with us)".

Erico was buried in the Cemetery of Morón in Greater Buenos Aires. Independiente paid the costs of burial expenses and funeral.

Legacy

Erico was an inspiration to Argentine player Alfredo Di Stéfano, who considered him one of the greatest players ever. Other figures like Brazilian striker Leônidas da Silva and Paraguayan Delfín Benítez Cáceres also consider Erico as one of the best players in history. Argentine striker Francisco Varallo remembers Erico as a "phenomenon" that would excel in scoring headers due to his high jumps.

Club Nacional stadium is named after him, and sections of the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Paraguay and the Libertadores de América stadium in Avellaneda also carry Arsenio Erico's name. He died on 23 July 1977.

Career statistics

Erico during his last years in Independiente

Club performance			League		Cup		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Argentina			League		Cup		Total
1934	Independiente	Primera División	21	12
1935			18	22
1936			26	21
1937			29	47
1938			30	43
1939			32	41
1940			30	29
1941			27	26
1942			3	0
1943			29	17
1944			26	12
1945			30	20
1946			19	4
1947	Huracán	Primera División	7	0
Career total			334	295

Titles

Club

Independiente

• Primera División (2): 1938, 1939
• Copa Dr. Ibarguren (2): 1938, 1939
• Copa Adrián Escobar (1): 1939
• Copa Aldao (2): 1938, 1939

Nacional

• Paraguayan Primera División (1): 1942