Lionel Messi’s first coach passes away in Argentina

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Ernesto Vecchio, Messi’s first coach has passed away in Rosario. Image Source: twitter

Internet Desk: The man who first discovered the genius of Argentine legend Lionel messi, has breathed his last today. Ernesto Vecchio, can take more credit for the extraordinary career of Lionel Messi than most in fact.

Ernesto Vecchio worked with Leo Messi at his first club, Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, as well as then other future professional footballers.

Newell’s Old Boys were among those to pay tribute to Vecchio, who passed away at 65. They tweeted: ‘We regret that Ernesto Vecchio has passed away, one of Leo Messi’s first coaches at Newell’s Old Boys, we send our condolences to his family’.

Vecchio was the coach at Newell’s Old Boys in 1995, when worked with the club’s under-8s side, including the young Messi.

He coached the same group of players for three years, during which time he helped mould the future Ballon D’Or and Champions League winner.

Messi left Newell’s in 2000 as a 13-year-old to join Barcelona’s La Masia academy, where he caught the eye of the first team.

He made his debut on October 16, 2004, in the derby against Catalan neighbours Espanyol, and has since gone from strength to strength.

Messi, now 29, has won the Ballon D’Or five times – four in a row between 2009 and 2012, and again in 2015 – along with eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues, scoring 485 goals in 560 games.

Vecchio stayed at Newell’s until 2012, before working with Argentinian side Sarmiento and Colombian team Leones FC.