In time witch

First day of November, the feast of All Saints or Halloween, each year American custom rooted in our country. Pumpkins, black cats, haunted houses dark trees and feed the imagination of the date that pays homage to all that we fear or do not understand. At a date so designated, the witches have their particular holiday and free rein to practice witchcraft. However, in a part of La Plata in Argentina, the Witches they are not burning at the stake, they are revered. First to Juan Ramon "La Bruja" Veron. Four decades later it was the turn of her eldest son, Juan Sebastian "La Brujita" Veron. Both know how to win the Libertadores with Estudiantes de La Plata. I say more: Students do not know how to win the Libertadores without Veron in their ranks.

One was forward to 1981, the other hook although it has already announced the end of the year will end his playing days. At 36 years, injuries advised to do so. The chronicles relate that Juan Ramon left bewitched the opponent each time the ball came with his boots, and thus was born the nickname of La Bruja. However, the gossips say that someone found him like a witch and so stuck. The nickname, as albiceleste that culture, was as a family heirloom and John Sebastian was called La Brujita. Estudiantes de La Plata is the shield of the family, which both debuted and where boots hang Brujita like his father did thirty years ago.

However, Juan Sebastian triumphed in Europe, which could not reach his father. However, Juan Ramón rose more titles in South America and is remembered as one of the best players who have worn the shirt of Students, and was able to appear in some of the highlights of the club's history. That was in 1968, when he scored in each of the three parties that lasted the end of that year against Palmeiras, as there was replay the witch forever secured a place in the heart after being the artítifice student's first freedom in the history of the club.

Months later came another great moment of glory for Veron when one student raised his Intercontinental Cup, achieved against Manchester United by Sir Bobby Charlton, Dennis Law and George Best. The Red Devils looked like an evil greater than that of La Bruja Veron, despite a win in Argentina so close to zero in the first leg, the impression was that the team led by Sir Matt Busby achieved to turn the tie in the Theatre of Dreams. So it seemed when ahead on the scoreboard, but with seven minutes after the game came Veron figure head to mark the tie and give the title to Bugs. The world was at the foot of Estudiantes de La Plata.

No there would be over the accomplishments of this legendary team, then returned to win the Libertadores in 1969 and 1970 National Peñarol before. Two years later, the European adventure began Veron in the ranks of Panathinaikos, but luck eluded him. After three seasons in Greece where he returned to students before playing one season in the league three years in Colombia, but returned to retire in the club of his life in his last year as a professional. Juan Ramon was a fast forward, skilful and destabilizing, Unlike anything John Sebastian, who always stood out for his vision, his virtue in the pass and hit pieces.

The Brujita pincharatas debuted with in 1993, and only two years long in joining Boca which coincide with Diego Armando Maradona. A season spent at La Bombonera before making the leap to European football in the ranks of Sampdoria. The next five years would be the best in his career, which wore the shirt of three different clubs. Parma and Lazio, big in the nineties to hit book, told with Veron in midfield. With the team won a cup parmesan in his only season at the Ennio Tardini. There did not shine as brightly as on the computer Laziale, where he won league, cup and Super Cup in two seasons with his fellow Almeyda, Crespo and Simeone.

Emigrated to England from Italy to the ranks of Manchester, one day out defeated by a team led by his father, who paid 45 million for his transfer. His signing was compared with that of Zidane for Real Madrid, held that year. It was said that United had signed better, cheaper and younger. However, Veron did not succeed in a fast football where its virtues are not the same effect. In a Manchester made the transition speed his greatest weapon, Ferguson wanted to give a change of course that never quite gel. After two years irregular, Veron signed for Chelsea, who paid him 22 million for the arrival of Abramovich at the London club, but neither did fortune at Stamford Bridge and returned to Italy to the ranks of Inter, where he recovered the good feelings.

Injuries prevented him from maintaining the regularity needed and returned to Argentina to wear the shirt of Students and attempt to return the glory days of the Bugs. Under the direction of Alejandro Sabella, now coach of Argentina, and with the leadership of Juan Sebastian Veron, Estudiantes recovered the scepter South America in 2009 after beating Cruzeiro in the final. 39 years later, a Witch flying over the sky red and white to return the club to the top. Only the best Barcelona in history, in the 88th minute of the game, could prevent the victory in the FIFA Club World Cup.

The reviews have always been diverse Veron: for some overrated, for others one of the great and the rest never got to give what they could. For this writer, Veron was a very good footballer too inflated by the media, with great qualities but incomplete, with gaps as relevant enough to stay one step behind the other big time like Zidane or Rui Costa. If he never expected what was expected because he was out of reach. Still has been a great player and a leader on and off the field.

Two different generations, father and son united by the colors of a club, Estudiantes, who reached the glory always a Witch on the pitch.

Photos | Marcelo Otaño | Argentine football history