The day a former Atleti coach 'kicked' the future Pope out of the locker room
Alfio ’el Coco’ Basile, after his time at Atlético de Madrid, starred in a curious anecdote in his debut as coach of San Lorenzo. The Argentine coach, known for his superstitions, did not hesitate to expel from the locker room a priest who used to greet the players before each game.
This priest was none other than Jorge Bergoglio, the future Pope Francis. Basile, newly arrived at the club, sought to change the negative dynamics of the team and considered that the presence of the priest was ‘mufa’ or bad luck.
He asked the president of the club to remove him from the locker room immediately before the match against Platense. The decision, although controversial, seemed to pay off. San Lorenzo won emphatically 4-1 in Basile’s debut, with a stellar performance by Alberto ‘Beto’ Acosta, who scored a hat-trick.
The victory was celebrated by ’el Coco’, who saw his superstitions confirmed. Years later, Basile would learn the identity of the priest he had expelled. The former president of the club revealed that the priest was none other than Bergoglio, who would later become Pope Francis. An anecdote that Basile himself recounted with laughter, demonstrating that even in the world of football, beliefs and superstitions can lead to unexpected situations.
