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AFA Mourns Omar Souto, Longtime National Teams Manager, Dead at 73

The behind-the-scenes steward of Argentina’s national teams was instrumental in initiating Lionel Messi’s path to the Albiceleste.

Overview

  • The Argentine Football Association confirmed Souto’s death on November 23 and declared three days of institutional mourning.
  • AFA ordered a minute of silence before all matches in the current round, with flags at half-mast at headquarters and the Ezeiza training base.
  • Lionel Messi posted a tribute, calling Souto the person who “opened the path” for the AFA to notice him and saying his “mark remains forever.”
  • Souto joined the AFA in 1996 and coordinated logistics across youth, senior, futsal and beach soccer programs over nearly three decades.
  • He had battled illness in recent years, received an AFA homage in October, and was warmly welcomed at a practice last year when he arrived in a wheelchair.