Miguel Ángel López (footballer)

Miguel Ángel López Elhall (1 March 1942 – 7 July 2025), nicknamed Zurdo, was an Argentine football player and manager.^[2][3] As a player, he had his most successful tenure on Independiente, where he won eight titles.

López started playing in Unión Central of Villa María, Córdoba, then moving to Club Universitario. In 1963, he was traded to Sarmiento de Junín, then to Estudiantes de La Plata to make his debut in 1964. Three years later, he signed for Ferro Carril Oeste in exchange for Felipe Ribaudo.

His good performances in Ferro led López to be capped for the Argentina national team. At club level, he then moved to River Plate, then to Independiente, where he spent his most successful years as a player. With the Avellaneda team López won four Copa Libertadores (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975), three Copa Interamericana (1972, 1974, 1975) and one Intercontinental Cup in 1973 v Italian Juventus FC.^[4]

After winning eight titles with Independiente, López emigrated to Colombia to play for Atlético Nacional, where he won the National championship in 1976.

After retiring from football, López became a manager, starting to coach the youth divisions of Atlético Nacional in 1977. Two years later, he returned to Argentina as Argentinos Juniors manager, where he coached rising star Diego Maradona. In 1980, he signed for Independiente, winning his first title, the friendly tournament "Torneo Villa de Madrid".

López returned to Colombia in 1982 to coach Atlético Nacional, where he spent a brief time before becoming manager of Boca Juniors but he only spent one season with the team. In 1984, López signed for Mexican Club América, where he won the 1984–85 championship. After a season with Ferro Carril Oeste in 1988, López made his third return to Colombia to manage Atlético Junior. His next team was C.D. Guadalajara in 1990.

Lopez died on 7 July 2025, at the age of 83.^[5]