Facundo Sava
A cult hero who swapped his football boots for a manager's suit, known as much for his celebratory goal mask as for his tactical mind on the sidelines.
Born 1974 (age 52)·Argentine footballer and manager·Birthday: March 7·Generation X
Biography
Facundo Sava's story is one of two distinct acts. As a player, the Argentine striker was a journeyman forward with a nose for goal, most notably helping Fulham FC secure promotion to the English Premier League in 2001. But it was a single, whimsical gesture that etched him into football folklore: after scoring, he would celebrate by pulling a Zorro-style mask from his sock, a tribute to his university dentistry degree. That playful intelligence translated seamlessly into his second career. Hanging up his boots, Sava immersed himself in coaching, earning his credentials and working his way up through Argentina's competitive league system. He has since built a reputation as a thoughtful, studious manager, known for developing young talent and implementing structured, attacking football at clubs like Arsenal de Sarandí, Racing Club, and now Sarmiento.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Facundo was born in 1974, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Facundo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Facundo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1992Could vote
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 40
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 50
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 52 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored the winning goal for Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata in the 1993 Copa Centenario, a major early career highlight.
- Played a key role in Fulham FC's 2000-01 First Division championship-winning campaign that secured Premier League promotion.
- Earned a degree in dentistry from the University of Buenos Aires while playing professional football.
- Led Arsenal de Sarandí to a respectable runner-up finish in the 2019 Superliga Argentina as manager.
Did You Know?
His celebratory goal mask is now part of the National Football Museum's collection in Manchester, England.
He is a licensed dentist, a profession he qualified for before fully committing to football management.
He played for eight different clubs in four countries (Argentina, Uruguay, England, and Greece) during his playing career.
His nickname is 'El Doctor,' a reference to his dentistry background.
“I wore the mask to bring joy, but the real work is on the training ground.”
