José Antonio Yudica (February 26, 1936 – August 23, 2021) was an Argentine football player and manager.[1]
Yudica had limited success as a player, winning only two titles during his brief spell at Deportivo Cali. After retirement as a player he took up management, this is where he achieved his most notable successes, leading Quilmes to their first championship after 66 years, winning three Argentine league titles with three clubs[2] (the first manager ever to achieve this), and leading Argentinos Juniors to success in the Copa Libertadores.
Yudica made his return to the big time by leading Argentinos Juniors to victory in Nacional. The Copa Libertadores campaign of 1985 was one of the most remarkable in the history of the tournament. Argentinos found themselves in the same 1st round group as fellow Argentinian team Ferro Carril Oeste, at the end of the group the two teams were tied for first place on nine points, this required a playoff, which Argentinos won 3–1.
Argentinos won the 2nd group stage outright, to claim a place in the final against Colombian side América de Cali (fierce rivals of Yudica's former club, Deportivo Cali).
The final was a two legged affair, but both games finished 1–0 to the home team, requiring a cup final playoff but this game ended 1–1, Argentinos Juniors finally triumphed after a 5–4 victory in a penalty shootout.
After his successes with Argentinos Yudica returned to Newell's Old Boys, the club at which he began his playing career over 30 years before.
He led them to the Primera division title in 1987–88, winning him the unique distinction of becoming the first manager ever to lead three different teams to the Argentine league title.
Later in his career Yudica returned to manage Deportivo Cali, and also had a spell in charge of C.F. Pachuca in Mexico.
