Argentina’s World Cup winning coach Bilardo in serious condition after brain surgery

Carlos Bilardo is suffering from Hakim-Adams syndrome, a neurodegenerative disease common in men over 60, for which he was twice hospitalized in 2018.

Argentina’s 1986 World Cup winning coach Carlos Bilardo is in a serious condition in hospital following brain surgery, the center treating him has confirmed. The 81-year-old was taken into intensive care at the Argentine Institute of Diagnosis in Buenos Aires on July 4 due to a “deterioration in his underlying disease,” the center said in a report on Wednesday.

File photo of Carlos Bilardo and Maradona (Twitter)

He is suffering from Hakim-Adams syndrome, a neurodegenerative disease common in men over 60, for which he was twice hospitalized in 2018.

“He is currently in the intensive care unit while his prognosis is reserved,” the report said.

He underwent a procedure to drain blood and puss from around his brain. It was the second intervention in a little more than a month, according to Argentine press and those close to Bilardo.

He was the coach when a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina lifted the World Cup for the second time with a 3-2 victory over West Germany in the 1986 final in Mexico.

Earlier in the competition, Argentina had knocked out England thanks to Maradona’s infamous “hand of God” goal, and his iconic solo effort widely considered one of the greatest goals of all time.

A gynaecologist by profession, Bilardo took over as Argentina coach following the 1982 World Cup in Spain and stepped down after losing the Italia 90 final 1-0 to West Germany.

A midfielder during his playing days, notably with Estudiantes and San Lorenzo, he also coached Colombia, Argentine giants Boca Juniors and Sevilla in Spain during a coaching career that lasted more than 30 years.