Jacobo Urso
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 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 17 April 1899 | ||
| Place of birth | Dolores, Argentina | ||
| Date of death | 6 August 1922 (aged 23) | ||
| Place of death | Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1915 | San Lorenzo | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1916–1922 | San Lorenzo | 136 | (8) |
| International career | |||
| 1919 | Argentina | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Jacobo Urso (17 April 1899 – 6 August 1922) was an Argentine footballer who played as left midfielder. He died from an injury suffered in a match with San Lorenzo de Almagro, the only club where he played during his short career.[1][2]
Despite his short career and not having won any titles with his club,[3] Urso is regarded by San Lorenzo supporters as one of the greatest players in the history of the club.[1] He was also the first San Lorenzo player to be called up for the Argentina national team.[4]
Son (out of 12) of Italian immigrants, Urso was born in Dolores, a town in Buenos Aires Province in 1899. He moved to the capital city at an early age. He joined club Alba at 12 years old,[3] and joined San Lorenzo (that had promoted to Primera División one year before) in 1915 to play in the third division,[1] debuting in the upper division one year later, on 7 May 1916 in a match against Estudiantes de La Plata. That day was also the first match held in Estadio Gasómetro on Avenida La Plata.[2]
Some of Urso's teammates were also founders of the club (such as Federico Monti[5] and Luis Gianella[6][7]) during his first years in San Lorenzo, and other players that would become key footballers such as Luis Monti and Alfredo Carricaberry.[2]
On Sunday 30 July 1922 in the 13th round of the 1922 Argentine Primera División organised by dissident Asociación Amateurs, San Lorenzo played against Estudiantes de Buenos Aires in Palermo. In the 55th. minute, Urso and Estudiantes player Comolli went for the ball in the midfield zone, where Comolli poked Urso on his side. The collision caused Urso to lay on the field with visible signs of pain.[2]
Nevertheless, Urso refused to leave the field, since substitutions were not allowed at that time, and keep playing. Despite the situation he did not want to abandon the match, playing the rest of the game until the referee ended the match. After the match, Urso was hospitalized in Hospital Ramos Mejía. The doctors diagnosed he had two broken ribs and a kidney drilled by one of the ribs. The kidney was so damaged that it had to be removed via surgery.[2] Urso was operated on twice during his stay at the hospital.[3]
Despite the seriousness of the injury, Urso did not blame Comolli, stating that "the injuries were accidental and unintentional as ill-intentioned people want to make out", words during an interview with local newspepers conducted on 4 August.[8]
After a brief improvement in his health, on Sunday 6 Urso's condition worsened, and he died at 18:05.[2]
International career
Urso was the first San Lorenzo player to be called for the Argentina national team (represented by players from Asociación Amateurs) in 1919.[1]
