Pedro Monzón

Pedro Damián Monzón (born February 23, 1962 in Goya, Corrientes) is an Argentine football coach and former footballer.

Biography

Moncho Monzón played in different clubs, but most importantly in Independiente, with which he obtained 4 titles, including the Intercontinental Cup in 1984.

Monzón was famously the first player to be sent off in a World Cup final, during the Italy 1990 competition.

International career

With the Argentina national team he scored one goal against Romania in the 1990 World Cup.

Monzón became the first player to be sent off in a World Cup final, when referee Edgardo Codesal gave him a straight red card for a high tackle on Jürgen Klinsmann of Germany 65 minutes into the game, 20 minutes after he replaced fellow defender Oscar Ruggeri. Argentina lost the game 1–0. Many critics called the incident a prime example of Klinsmann's diving, a claim he contradicted. In an interview in 2004, Klinsmann noted that the foul left a 15-cm gash on his shin. Monzón requested an apology for making him experience the saddest moment in his career and for making him the first player to be sent off in a world cup final, but Klinsmann rejected doing so, angering Monzón and many Argentine supporters.

Managerial career

After retirement, Monzón overcame drugs problems to establish himself as a coach and manager. He has coached different clubs in Mexico and Ecuador, as well as youth divisions of clubs in Mexico and Argentina. He had a short spell as interim manager of Independiente,.

In Ecuador, he was suspended for 2 months while coaching club Olmedo for aggression towards a referee.

He then became youth team manager at CD Veracruz before taking over as first team manager in the Primera División de México, he was replaced in 2007.

In 2008 he returned to Argentina to take over as manager of Chacarita Juniors.

Monzón still dreams of returning to his beloved Independiente as manager.

International goals

Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first.

Titles as a player