Alberto Spencer
Alberto Spencer (1966)
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alberto Pedro Spencer Herrera | ||
| Date of birth | December 6, 1937 | ||
| Place of birth | Ancón, Santa Elena, Ecuador | ||
| Date of death | November 3, 2006 (aged 68) | ||
| Place of death | Cleveland, Ohio, United States | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1953–1959 | Everest | 90 | (101) |
| 1960–1970 | Peñarol | 519 | (326) |
| 1971–1972 | Barcelona | 37 | (19) |
| Total | 646 | (446) | |
| National team | |||
| 1959–1972 | Ecuador | 11 | (4) |
| 1964–1967 | Uruguay | 5 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Alberto Pedro Spencer Herrera (December 6, 1937 – November 3, 2006) was an Uruguayan-Ecuadorian football player, regarded as the best Ecuadorian footballer. He is probably best known for his still-standing record for scoring the most goals in the Copa Libertadores, the most important club tournament in South America. He was elected the 20th best South American footballer of the 20th century in a poll by the IFFHS in 2004. He was known as "Cabeza Mágica" (Spanish for magic head).
Born in Ancón, Guayas, Ecuador, Spencer was the son of a Jamaican of British origin.
He was an ambidextrous striker with lethal pace, off-the-ball movement, heading and balance skills, and excellent finishing, that tore defences to shreds for over a decade. After his retirement in 1973, he lived in Montevideo, Uruguay. In 1982, he was appointed consul of Ecuador in Uruguay.
Spencer suffered a heart attack on September 14, 2006 during a routine checkup with his cardiologist. He died on November 3, 2006 in the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. His line survives through his Chilean wife María Teresa, his children Alberto, Walter, Jacqueline and his grandchildren.
Alberto Spencer began his career at age 15 playing for Everest. He jumped to fame when he was scouted while playing on loan for Barcelona SC against Peñarol in July 1959. Peñarol's manager, Hugo Bagnulo, asked his scout 'Pibe' Ortega to attempt to sign him after the game was over. He was soon transferred to Peñarol where he amassed three Libertadores Cups and two Intercontinental Cups, as well as several Uruguayan league titles. After his second Intercontinental Cup, he was twice sought by Inter, but ultimately Peñarol's board would not sell him.
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