Carlos Babington

Carlos Alberto Babington (born 20 September 1949) is an Argentine former football attacking midfielder. He represented the Argentina national team at the 1974 World Cup.

Carlos Babington

Carlos Babington at the Argentine training camp during the 1974 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name	Carlos Alberto Babington
Date of birth	(1949-09-20) 20 September 1949 (age 75)
Place of birth	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Position(s)	Attacking Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1969–1974	Huracán	190	(81)
1974–1978	SG Wattenscheid 09	120	(46)
1979–1982	Huracán	115	(45)
1982	Tampa Bay Rowdies	20	(3)
1983	Atlético Junior	34	(26)
International career
1973–1974	Argentina	13	(2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Biography

Babington in Huracán, where he won the only title of his career

Babington (nicknamed "El Inglés" – The Englishman) was born in Buenos Aires. His grandfather was Colville Burroughs Babington, who moved to Argentina and married Laureana Carro in 1889. His great-grandfather, Benjamin, was the son of Benjamin Guy Babington and grandson of William Babington who has a statue in St. Paul's Cathedral.^[1]

He started his career as footballer at Club Atlético Huracán in 1969. With Huracán, Babington was part of the team that won the 1973 Metropolitano. Managed by César Menotti, that squad is widely regarded as one of the best Argentine teams ever, with Babington being a key player along with René Houseman, Miguel Brindisi and Omar Larrosa.^[2][3]

In 1974, he was transferred to the German team SG Wattenscheid 09,^[4] though he had also considered an offer from Stoke City due to his English ancestry.

Babington returned to Huracán in 1979 and played for the club until 1982, when he moved to Florida, United States, to play for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In 1983, he played for Atlético Junior of Barranquilla, Colombia where he ended his career due to personal matters. He retired from football later that year.^{[citation needed]}

Babington scored 126 goals for Huracán in his eight years with the club.^[5]

Managerial career

As manager, he coached Platense, Banfield, Racing, River Plate, León Fútbol Club (Mexico), Chacarita Juniors and Huracán. As Huracán manager, he won two Second Division champinsohips in 1990 and 2000, helping Huracán to return to Primera División.

In 2006 Babington was elected as Huracán's president. Under his administration, the team achieved another promotion to Primera División, remaining in the top division until the 2010–11 season when Huracán would be relegated again.

Babington and Daniel Passarella (of River Plate) are the only people to have been player, manager and president of a single football club in Argentina.^[6]

Honours

Player

Huracán

• Primera División (1): 1973 Metropolitano

Manager

Huracán

• Primera B Nacional (2): 1989–90, 1999–00