Roque Alberto Avallay

Roque Alberto Avallay was born on 14 December 1945 in San Rafael, Mendoza Province, Argentina, into humble origins that would shape the quiet dignity he carried throughout his life. As a boy, he worked alongside his family in the vineyards and at Bodega Giol, the great winery of his province. The same fierce resolve that got him through those early mornings in the fields would later make him one of the most feared strikers in Argentine football history. Avallay began his professional career at Deportivo Maipú in 1964, scoring 20 goals in 22 matches during the provincial championship and drawing the attention of the country's biggest clubs. He signed with Club Atlético Independiente in March 1965 and, almost immediately, became part of history — contributing to their Copa Libertadores triumph that year, including scoring a decisive goal in the final. He then moved to Newell's Old Boys, where across four seasons and 145 matches he netted 51 goals and cemented his standing as one of Argentina's most reliable finishers. His greatest chapter began in January 1970, when he joined Club Atlético Huracán. Under the visionary coaching of César Luis Menotti, Avallay became the spearhead of a revolutionary attacking side. He operated with the natural speed and agility of a thoroughbred — capable of striking as a traditional center-forward or dropping deeper to orchestrate play. The Parque Patricios terraces sang his name week after week: "Globo toque, Globo toque, que los goles los hace el Roque." In the 1973 Metropolitano championship, the most celebrated title in Huracán's history, he scored 11 crucial goals alongside René Houseman, Miguel Brindisi, Carlos Babington, and Omar Larrosa. After stints at Atlanta, Chacarita Juniors, and Racing Club de Avellaneda — where he scored 30 goals in 60 matches and inspired yet another terrace anthem — he returned to Huracán to close his playing days. He retired in November 1980 with 184 goals in 522 Argentine Primera División appearances, ranking 14th on the all-time goal-scoring list. Off the pitch, those who knew him described the same man every time: quiet, composed, and gentle — "apacible, de reposados modales." Known affectionately as El Roque and el flaco, he channelled that same humility into youth development work at Huracán's academy after retiring, mentoring the next generation with characteristic patience and dedication. Roque Alberto Avallay passed away on 2 June 2026, at the age of 80. He leaves behind a legacy measured not only in goals, but in the way he lived: with grace, integrity, and an enduring love for the game.