Arsenio Erico

Arsenio Erico

Erico covered on El Gráfico in 1934.
Personal information
Full name	Arsenio Pastor Erico Martínez
Date of birth	(1915-03-30)30 March 1915
Place of birth	Asunción, Paraguay
Date of death	23 July 1977(1977-07-23) (aged 62)
Place of death	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Playing position	Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1930–1933	Nacional	?	(?)
1933–1946	Independiente	325	(295)
1946–1947	Huracán	7	(0)
1947–1949	Nacional	?	(?)
National team
	Paraguay (unofficial)	26	(56)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Arsenio Pastor Erico Martínez (30 March 1915 – 23 July 1977) was a Paraguayan football striker. He is the all-time highest goalscorer in the Argentine first division, with 295 goals according to Argentine Football Association. Previously it had been affirmed that Erico's record was 293 goals, sharing the first place with Angel Labruna All the goals in Erico's career in Primera División were scored playing for Independiente. Erico is also considered the best Paraguayan footballer of all time and for some people is the best player of history, including Alfredo Di Stefano. A striker noted for his technique, finishing and aerial ability, Erico was one of the finest players of the 1930s and one of greatest players to have played in the Argentinean league.

Erico, born in Asunción, Paraguay, started his career in Club Nacional of Paraguay and made his debut in the club's first team squad at the age of 15. During the early 1930s, Erico was part of the Paraguayan Red Cross football team that was on tour in Argentina in order to gather funds for the Chaco War. Because of his good performances during the friendly matches in the mentioned tour, Club Atlético Independiente of Argentina signed him. He made his debut for Independiente on 5 May 1936 and began to demonstrate why he had acquired the nickname 'red jumper'. Before the 1938 FIFA World Cup Erico was offered an extravagant amount of money to play for the Argentine national football team but he rejected it, gaining the praise in the general Argentine public for remaining loyal to his country of origin.[2] Soon after this, however, Erico caught an infection which led to a long period out on the sidelines. Then, in 1935, he broke his leg. After he recovered, however, he reminded everyone of his talent by taking Independiente to the league title in 1938 and 1939. Later, he joined Huracán where he only played 7 games in 1947 before retiring.