Gynaecologist turned manager, Carlos Bilardo was the unsung hero of 1986

Dr. Carlos Salvador Bilardo's story is something Indians can relate to. While pursuing his medical education (Became a gynecologist later on), he also found some time to play football and he was pretty good at it. Once great opportunities started coming thick and fast, Football was his first priority and his medical career didn't last long. 

A very crafty midfielder in his days, he spent six seasons with Estudiantes from 1965 to 1970, in what turned out to be one of the most successful spells of the club's history. From 65-70, Osvaldo Zubeldia managed the side and once he stepped down, Bilardo took charge for the first time in his career as a manager. 

He spent nearly six seasons as a manager with them in four different spells. But right after his third spell, which finished in 1983, he was named Argentina's head coach and what followed was perhaps the greatest 7-odd years in the country's football history. 

Bilardo's adaptation of the 3-5-2 formation was better than any other in history. The man was not just successful in implementing this pretty risky formation, he also took Argentina to the finals of the World Cup in 1986 and 1990, winning it in 1986. 

The risk associated with this formation is the defense "Can" get exposed very badly once the centre-back turns a sweeper and if both wing-backs aren't in the best of defensive positions. He marshaled the side quite amazingly and with five goals coming from the great man Diego Maradona, Bilardo became the second Argentine manager to lift the World Cup.

He continued in his position till 1990, where his side lost in the final to the same team against whom they won in the 86 final, West Germany. He then spent a season with Spanish club Sevilla and a 7th placed finish didn't see him continue further. 

His style of Football needed top-class Footballers, which he only found with the Argentine national side. When he got what he wanted, he produced something unforgettable.  

The man has been pretty ill lately and spends most of his time in the hospital. He also had a brain surgery last year and since then his condition remained just about stable.