Juan Ramón “La Bruja” Verón, a legendary figure in Argentine football and a celebrated player for Estudiantes de La Plata, has passed away at the age of 81, the club announced on Tuesday.
Verón played a pivotal role in Estudiantes’ golden era in the late 1960s, leading the team to three consecutive Copa Libertadores titles in 1968, 1969, and 1970. He also helped secure the 1967 domestic league championship and the 1969 Inter-American Cup.
He is especially remembered for scoring a crucial goal against Manchester United that clinched the 1968 Intercontinental Cup for Estudiantes on aggregate, following the second leg at Old Trafford.
“Estudiantes announces with deep sorrow the passing of Juan Ramón Verón, an undisputed icon in our history, a guiding figure of our identity, and an everlasting symbol of commitment, humility, and belonging,” the club stated in a tribute posted on X (formerly Twitter).
In addition to his successful career in Argentina, Verón also played internationally with stints at Panathinaikos in Greece, as well as Junior and Cúcuta in Colombia.
Following his retirement from professional football, Verón remained dedicated to the sport, working with Estudiantes’ youth teams. He was also the father of Juan Sebastián Verón, the current president of Estudiantes.
