As a player, he was a defender who spent most of his career at Ferro Carril Oeste, where he played 463 games. His nickname was "Cabezón" ("Big head").[1]
Cúper's great-grandfather was an Englishman whose surname was Cooper, who migrated to Santa Fe Province in Argentina and married an indigenous woman. However, the majority of his heritage is Italian.[2]
He was born in Chábas,[3] a small settlement in Santa Fe. His mother died at the age of 20, months after the birth of his younger brother, and he was raised by his grandmother.[2]
Playing career
As with most aspiring footballers in Chábas in the 1960s, Cúper moved to Buenos Aires to pursue his career. He took leave from his job at a bank to search for a team in the capital city, eventually being signed by Ferro Carril Oeste. While at the club, he won the Argentine Primera División in 1982 and 1984.[2]
Managerial career
Early career
Cúper started his coaching career with Huracán, a year and a half after his retirement. He led the club to the 2nd place in the Clausura 1994 tournament, eventually losing the last match against the rivals for the title Independiente. In 1995 he moved to Lanús, where he won his first trophy as manager, the Copa CONMEBOL.[citation needed]
In March 1999, Valencia manager Claudio Ranieri stated that he wanted Cúper to be his successor when he left at the end of the season;[7] Cúper turned down a new contract at Mallorca and left in June.[8] At Valencia, he won another Supercopa de España but lost the final of the Champions League two consecutive times; in 2000 against Real Madrid, and in 2001 against Bayern Munich on penalty shoot-out.[9]
Internazionale
On 22 June 2001, Cúper was hired by Italian club Internazionale, replacing Marco Tardelli.[10] In his first season, the club started the final day on 5 May 2002 in pole position for a first Scudetto since 1989, but lost to Lazio and handed the title to rivals Juventus, retreating to the 3rd place.[11]
On 2 November 2004 Cúper returned to Mallorca after the sacking of Benito Floro, with the team 19th after 10 matches.[14] He saved the team from relegation on the last day, and made several signings, but resigned on 14 February 2006 with the team last following a nine-game winless run.[15]
On 16 July 2007, Cúper was revealed as the new manager of Real Betis on a one-year deal.[16] He was sacked on 2 December with the team 19th after losing at home to Atlético Madrid.[17]
On 11 March 2008, he was unveiled as the new boss of relegation-battling Serie A team Parma, replacing Domenico Di Carlo at the helm of the Gialloblù. He was then sacked two months later before the final game of the season after winning only two in 10 matches as manager, this eventually leading to Parma's relegation to Serie B.[18]
2008–2013
In August 2008, Cúper became the head coach of the Georgia national team. He agreed to step down in November 2009 before the expiration of his contract, having taken just three points and no wins in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification.[19]
On 3 November 2009, Cúper agreed to continue his managerial career with Greek club Aris Thessaloniki until the end of the 2009–10 season.[20] On 15 December, he extended his contract with Aris until June 2011. On 24 April Cúper lost another final, this time in the Greek Football Cup against Panathinaikos.[21]
In the 2010–11 season, Cúper lead Aris in its first participation in the Round of 32 of the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League, taking the club to second place in Group B with 10 points, after two surprise wins against Atlético Madrid. On 18 January 2011 after some bad results in Greece, Cúper decided to step down from his managerial position.[22]
On 29 June 2011, Cúper returned to La Liga with Racing Santander, signing for one season. However, after five months he left the last-placed team by mutual agreement with the board.[23]
Cúper signed a contract with Süper Lig side Orduspor on 19 December 2011,[24] but left by mutual consent on 13 April 2013.[25]
On 14 November 2013, Cúper was announced as new head coach of the UAE League side Al Wasl.[26] He was sacked on 4 March 2014 due to poor results.[27]
Return to international football
Egypt
Cúper (centre) managing Egypt at the 2018 World Cup
He led Egypt to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, their first appearance in the tournament since 1990, after defeating Congo by 2–1. His contract was due to expire at the end of the tournament, and negotiations were postponed until its conclusion.[30] Following defeats in Egypt's three group games at the tournament, it was announced that Cúper's contract would not be renewed.[31]
Uzbekistan
On 1 August 2018, Cúper became head coach of the Uzbekistan national team, signing a contract that would take him through to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[32] He was sacked in September 2019 after a shock 2–0 loss away to Palestine in the first qualifying game for that tournament.[33]
On 2 February 2023, Cúper became the head coach of the Syria national team on a contract of undisclosed length.[38] He managed to recruit three of his countrymen with Syrian descent, Ezequiel Ham, Ibrahim Hesar and Jalil Elías, ahead of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup held in Qatar. Under Cúper, Syria qualified to the knockout phase of the Asian tournament as one of the best third-placed teams following a 1–0 victory over India, the first time ever Syria managed to do so after six previous participations ended in the group stages.[39]
In February 2024, he extended his contract with the national team, committing to stay on board for the duration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.[40] However, following two away defeats, 1–0 to North Korea,[41] and 5–0 to Japan, during the 2026 World Cup qualification, resulting in Syria's failure to qualify for the World Cup, Cúper resigned from his position as head coach of Syria.[42]
^Túnez, Javier Martín (8 February 2017). "El hombre que no sabe ganar finales" [The man who doesn't know how to win finals]. Diario de Mallorca (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 December 2022.
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