Seven-time champion, captain and emblem of Velezand also established as a youth in José Pekerman’s Under 20 National Team that won the 1997 World Cup in Malaysia: Fabián “Poroto” Cubero returns to its natural habitat, a soccer field. At 46 years old, almost five years after his retirement as a player, the man from Mar del Plata debuts as coach in Italian sportsmana traditional Ascenso team that plays in the First B. In the middle, the showbiz.
The former Veleza defender went down in history for being the second player with the longest time to win titles with the same team. A symbol of his love and loyalty to Fortín, Fabián lifted the trophy for the 1998 Clausura and fifteen years later he returned to celebrate with the 2012/2013 Championship, one year shy of the 16 recorded by a legend like Angel Labruna in River Plate, between 1941 and 1957,
Beyond a brief passage through Tigers of MexicoIn 2007, Poroto’s career was dedicated entirely to Vélez, although at a certain point his name also began to appear in so-called “heart” magazines.
That parallel world was born when he fell in love and formed a couple with Nicole Neumannone of the most famous and recognized models in the country.
At a time when the Argentine catwalks were divided almost like a Superclásico between Pampita and Nicole, the blonde went to Fortín to perform a transgressive photographic campaign in the run-up to the 2006 World Cup with a small group of footballers and there he fell in love with Cubero, which later included marriage, three daughters and 11 years together, until their separation in 2017.
In a sexist and prejudiced environment like football, Cubero He was always able to surf his “double life” with a smile, on the one hand as Nicole’s husband and on the other as captain of one of the most powerful teams in Argentine soccer.
However, the breaking of that love bond It brought with it some conflicts typical of so-called media divorces, which become even more intense when there are children involved.
It was the twilight of Cubero’s career in football, which ended at the age of 41, and coincided with his increasingly frequent presence in cycles such as Intruders or the Dancing. The reason? The ex-footballer got married with Little Viscountwith an even more explosive profile and closer to the universe of social networks.
In this time of hanging booties, and at the same time as the conflicts with Nicole, Cubero saw his love prosper with Mica, with whom he had her first son, Luca, which will be two years old this week. Very little football, just a position linked to Vélez’s “international relations”, which ended last December.
This week Cubero appeared on TV again but not to talk about his ex or comment on any of his wife’s recipes on Masterchef, nor to watch the grand finale of Vélez against Estudiantes in Santiago del Estero: Poroto returns to his great love, the Argentine soccer fields.
This afternoon, Cubero will debut as coach in First B Metropolitana when your brand new team visits Liniers. The club sky blue needs to score points to avoid the only relegation that the category will have. Bean He grabbed him in 19th place, with 14 points in 14 gamesand he has already made clear the mark he plans to give to those he directs.
“I like to play football well. I want an intense team, but my main idea is to win. My style of play? The eleven have to finish with yellow, haha,” he joked in dialogue with TyC Sports. The former Vélez does not deny another key fact about his career as a footballer: He was expelled 22 timesreceiving a red card every 24 games.
“I would like to play like Bielsa, but also have the order of Gareca… I have a dunk on the head among so many good things that I can get from all the good coaches I had,” Cubero was sincere.
Emerged in Cadets of Mar del Platawith steps through Almagro Florida y Kimberley from that city, and captured by Vélez when he was very young, Cubero also dedicated part of his life to the training of youth, with the idea of giving back so much learning received. That is why he opened several locations of a soccer school for boys and girls from 7 to 18 years old, with locations in Mar del Plata, San Isidro and San Pedro.
“The directing bug bit me“he explains today, with that characteristic voice that never deprived him of becoming a boss and leader of teams with heavyweights of all ages.
And he has already warned that he is not afraid of the fans’ disapproval: “I’m prepared for anything. I don’t answer people… But don’t forget that I am the most expelled in Argentine football, ha.”
Cubero returns to football, a true character who should never have left. Let’s enjoy it.