Name: José Miguel Marín Acotto
Nickname: "Superman", "El Gato"
Country:
ArgentinaClub: Vélez Sarsfield / Cruz Azul
Shirt Number: 1
Position: ★GK
Side: LF/BS
Age: 26-29 years (15/05/1945 † 30/12/1991)
Height: 184 cm
Weight: 84 kg
Attack: 30
Defence: 87
Balance: 84
Stamina: 60
Top Speed: 66
Acceleration: 72
Response: 92
Agility: 73
Dribble Accuracy: 53
Dribble Speed: 55
Short Pass Accuracy: 57
Short Pass Speed: 58
Long Pass Accuracy: 66
Long Pass Speed: 62
Shot Accuracy: 44
Shot Power: 78
Shot Technique: 44
Free Kick Accuracy: 44
Swerve: 48
Heading: 45
Jump: 85
Technique: 53
Aggression: 63
Mentality: 75
Goalkeeper Skills: 85
Team work: 76
Injury Tolerance: B
Condition/Fitness: 6
Weak Foot Accuracy: 4
Weak Foot Frequency: 4
Consistency: 6
Growth type:
CARDS:
S12 - 1-On-1 Keeper
SPECIAL ABILITIES: 1-On-1 Keeper
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Balanced
INFO:
Miguel Marín was an Argentine footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Born in Río Tercero, Córdoba (15/05/1945), he made his professional debut for Vélez Sarsfield in 1964 at the age of 19. An injury to Rogelio Domínguez opened the door for Juan José Ferraro, the head coach at the time, to give him the starting position. It was on August 9, 1964, in a 3-2 victory over Huracán, with an outstanding performance by "El Gato" (The Cat). Despite his youth, he quickly established himself as an undisputed starter for the team. In 1968, the year Vélez wrote the glorious history of their first major title, he was one of the standout players and a key protagonist. That Torneo Nacional had a thrilling climax. Racing, River, and Vélez finished tied at the top of the table with 22 points, and the title was decided through a triangular tournament. The Estadio Gasómetro in Buenos Aires, San Lorenzo's old stadium, was the setting for Vélez, with Marín in top form, to clinch the championship on that unforgettable December 29. Between 1967 and 1971, he played his only 5 matches for the National Team, conceding 3 goals. Argentina's surprising elimination in the qualifiers prevented him from traveling to the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. Previously, in 1964, he had been part of the squad that competed in the Tokyo Olympics. The biggest disappointment of his career came in 1971 when he was a cornerstone of an extraordinary Vélez team that, inexplicably, couldn't win the Torneo Metropolitano. On November 3, 1971, he played his last match for Vélez, a 1-1 draw against Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza at the José Amalfitani stadium. His unforgettable tenure as Vélez's goalkeeper totaled 225 appearances, 222 in regular tournaments, and 3 in the Copa Argentina. Transferred to Mexican side Cruz Azul for $30,000, he was part of the club's golden era in the 1970s, winning 7 championships throughout the decade. He was named the best goalkeeper of the season six times and was also honored with the "Citlalli" award for the "best player in Mexico" in 1980, becoming the first goalkeeper to receive this accolade. A beloved and unparalleled legend of the Cruz Azul institution, he transitioned from being "El Gato" to "Superman" after a famous commentator, Ángel Fernández Rugama, was amazed by his incredible saves and dubbed him so. In the early 1980s, he began to show signs of a heart condition, leading to surgery in the United States. By mid-1981, he was forced to end his brilliant career, having played over 300 matches in the Mexican league, earning unanimous admiration from the fans.
According to most experts, former players, and figures in the football world, he is considered the "best goalkeeper ever to grace Mexican football" and one of the best foreign players in the history of Mexican soccer. He became a legendary figure at Cruz Azul, undoubtedly the greatest idol and the most important player in the club's history. He was a pioneer in Mexico, innovating techniques and strategies for his position, such as coming out of his area to participate in the defense, initiating attacks by launching the ball, diving at the feet of an opponent to steal the ball, and using goal kicks to start counterattacks. The goal defended by Marín was synonymous with security for his teammates, although the "Superman" did feel the impact of the shots. During an interview with Mexican sports media, he revealed the consequences of saving so many shots by removing his gloves to show his deformed hands, stating: "These are life's shots." Miguel Marín marked a before and after in Mexican football, not only individually, demonstrating advanced goalkeeper skills, but also collectively. He became the guide, standard-bearer, captain, and leader of a team that emerged in the 1970s to challenge the dominance that C.D. Guadalajara had enjoyed for decades and, at that time, the powerful team that had regained popularity at the Estadio Azteca, which was Club América. From his first appearance in Mexico in late 1971, he made an impact on the scene, garnering a large following regardless of which team they supported. He was a goalkeeper ahead of his time, a man with personality and confidence who stood in the goal and automatically instilled confidence in the team. Since its inauguration in 2005, he has been part of the "Cruz Azul Hall of Fame", positioned among the team's legends as recognition of his unmatched tenure at the institution. In 2011, he was inducted into the International Football Hall of Fame, alongside world football legends like Pelé, Diego Maradona, Alfredo Di Stéfano, and Johan Cruyff.
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Vélez Sarsfield (1964 - 1971) - 225 games, 206 goals received, 74 clean sheets.
Cruz Azul (1971 - 1981) - 309 games, 298 goals received, 122 clean sheets.