Ramón Ángel Díaz is a name that resonates strongly on the pitches of South American football and beyond. Born on August 29, 1959, in the province of La Rioja, Argentina, this 1.72-meter-tall man with a sharp left foot built a career blending grit, titles, and controversies. Known as “El Pelado” or “Don Ramón,” he transitioned from a speedy forward in the 1970s and 1980s to a shrewd coach capable of rescuing teams in crisis and lifting trophies across different continents. His journey is not just about victories: it’s about overcoming adversity, uniting families in the locker room, and legendary phrases like the “No va a bajar!” shouted at Vasco da Gama to avoid relegation.
Díaz embodies classic Argentine football: passion, attacking tactics, and a dash of drama. As a player, he shone at Inter Milan, River Plate, and even in Japan, scoring over 250 goals in more than 500 matches. But it was as a coach that he immortalized himself, with 17 titles to his name—the highest for an Argentine coach, surpassing legends like Helenio Herrera and Carlos Bianchi. From 1995 to the present, in November 2025, he has managed teams like River Plate, Al-Hilal, Corinthians, and now Internacional, always with his son Emiliano by his side as assistant. His philosophy is simple: develop young talent, motivate the group, and play forward. In Brazil, where he arrived in 2020, he became a luxury “firefighter,” extinguishing crises at clubs like Botafogo, Vasco, and Corinthians. But not everything is rosy: controversies, like a recent sexist remark at Inter, show that Don Ramón doesn’t shy away from a good verbal fight.
This story dives into Ramón Díaz’s life, from the dusty streets of La Rioja to the spotlight of Beira-Rio. We’ll explore his upbringing, the goals that immortalized him as a player, the trophies he lifted as a commander, and the challenges he faces at 66. It’s a narrative of a man who, more than winning, inspires loyalty and emotion in the sport he loves.
The First Steps: Childhood and Formation in La Rioja
Ramón Díaz was born into a humble family in the province of La Rioja, an arid region with strong traditions in northwestern Argentina. The son of laborers, he grew up kicking a ball on dirt streets, where football was more than fun: it was escape and dream. At age 10, he already showed natural talent, with short dribbles and precise shots that left older boys behind. “I played barefoot, with a rag ball,” he recalls in old interviews, highlighting how poverty forged his resilience.
At 14, Ramón went to Buenos Aires alone to try his luck at River Plate, the club of his idols like Enzo Francescoli. The River youth academy was a cauldron of talents, and Díaz stood out quickly. Coaches like Juan Carlos Lorenzo saw in him a versatile forward: fast on the wings, lethal in the box. In 1978, at 19, he debuted for the first team, scoring his first goal against Racing Club. That initial phase at River was tough learning: minor injuries, fierce competition, and the pressure of an Argentine giant. But Ramón established himself, playing 135 matches and scoring 64 times until 1981. It was there he earned the nickname “El Pelado,” for his thinning hair and simple demeanor, contrasting with the grandeur of big-time football.
This formation wasn’t just technical: it was emotional. Díaz learned to handle defeats, like the final lost to Boca Juniors in 1979, and to celebrate collective victories. La Rioja was always his safe harbor; he returned to visit his mother, who passed away early, and his siblings, keeping his feet on the ground. This humble root would differentiate him years later as a coach: he always prioritizes the locker room, treating players like sons. At 22, when he left for Europe, he carried in his luggage not just skill, but a hunger to prove that boys from the interior could conquer the world.
From Argentina to Europe: The Brilliant Career as a Player
Ramón Díaz’s playing career was a mosaic of global adventures, full of goals, trophies, and cultural adaptations. Revealed at River Plate, he was the prototype of the Argentine forward: fast, skillful, and with a nose for goal. His first major transfer came in 1982 to Napoli in Italy, where football was tactical and physical. In 38 games, he scored 8 goals, helping the team solidify in Serie A. Napoli was a vibrant city, and Díaz fell in love with the pizza and human warmth, but the defensive Italian style challenged him.
From there, he went to Avellino (1983-1986), a smaller club in southern Italy. It was 92 matches and 24 goals, proving he performed in any context. “I ran like a madman because I had to,” he said, laughing about the long bus trips. In 1986, he signed with Fiorentina, where he shone brighter: 67 games, 22 goals, and memorable performances against Juventus. His speed in counter-attacks was lethal, and he became an idol for the viola fans.
The European peak came at Inter Milan from 1988 to 1989. Ramón played 43 times, scored 15 goals, and lifted the 1988-89 Serie A alongside legends like Lothar Matthäus. That title was epic: Inter dominated Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan in the final. “It was the moment I felt invincible,” Díaz confided. Then, at Monaco (1989-1991), he won the French Cup in 1990-91, with 78 games and 30 goals. France welcomed him with its elegant style, and he adapted French football, blending Argentine technique with European discipline.
In 1991, the call of the heart: return to River Plate. Top scorer in the Apertura with 30 goals in 67 games until 1993, he led the team in an era of reconstruction. It was emotional, playing with childhood friends. Finally, at 34, he ventured to Japan with Yokohama F. Marinos (1993-1995). There, he exploded: 90 games, 59 goals, becoming the top scorer in the derby against Yokohama Flügels. Japanese football, disciplined and fast, matched his style. He retired in 1995 at 36, with over 500 matches and 250 goals. For the Argentine national team, he shone in the 1979 U-20 (world title, 8 goals) and the senior team (22 games, 10 goals), including the 1982 World Cup. His player trajectory was that of a globetrotter: from Argentine dust to Italian stadiums, always with the smile of someone who knows the goal is collective.
The Turn: From Player to Coach and the First Challenges
At 36, Ramón Díaz hung up his boots, but football wouldn’t let him go. In 1995, he took over River Plate’s youth setup, where his tactical intuition flourished. “I saw the mistakes I made as a player and wanted to correct them from the bench,” he explained. His debut as head coach came in July 1995 at the same River, and there began a golden era. Díaz brought a clear philosophy: fluid attack, valuing youth, and psychological motivation. He wasn’t the shouting coach; he was the locker room father who talked individually with each athlete.
The early years were about learning. At River, he faced pressure from a demanding fanbase, but his calm saved him. He built squads mixing veterans and prospects like Hernán Crespo and Ariel Ortega. This transition marked Díaz as a born leader, ready for the world.
The Golden Era at River Plate: Titles and Hegemony
Ramón Díaz’s first stint at River Plate from 1995 to 2000 is legendary. In 252 games, he racked up 126 wins, a 58.7% rate. The highlight was the 1996 Libertadores: River, with Francescoli as captain, Ortega dancing in midfield, and Crespo in the box, crushed rivals. In the final against América de Cali, 2-0 win in the first leg and 0-0 in the return. “It was a team of poets,” Díaz describes. In 1997, the Argentine tricampeonato and Apertura came, consolidating the “Machine of 1996-99.” He left in 2000, leaving a legacy of 5 local and continental titles.
The second stint in 2001-2002 was shorter: 52 games, 64.7% success rate. No major trophies, but kept River alive in the Libertadores. The third, from 2012 to 2014, had 66 games and 54% wins, focusing on reconstruction after financial crises.
Adventures Around the World: From Europe to Asia
Díaz didn’t stop in Argentina. In 2004, he took Oxford United in England for 25 games (49.3% wins). It was an immersion in English football, with waterlogged pitches and noisy crowds. At San Lorenzo in two stints (2006-2008 and 2010-2011), he lifted local titles, with 61.3% success in the first. In Mexico with América (2008-2009), he introduced his fast attack in 24 games.
In Saudi Arabia, he exploded: at Al-Hilal (2016-2018 and 2022-2023), 125 games and 72.3% wins, with multiple Saudi and Asian championships. “The money is good, but the passion is the same,” he said. Brief stints at Al-Ittihad (2018) and Al-Nasr (2021-2022) showed his adaptability.
In Africa with Egypt’s Pyramids (2019), 71.8% wins in 13 games. In Paraguay with the national team (2014-2016) and Libertad (2019-2020), he led to Copa América and national titles.
The Brazilian Challenge: Firefighter in Times of Crisis
Brazil entered Díaz’s life in 2020 with Botafogo, but surgery prevented his debut. In 2023 at Vasco da Gama, the hurricane arrived: hired to avoid relegation, in 41 games (50.4% wins), he turned the tide. Wins over Fluminense and América-MG, and the shout “No va a bajar!” after a draw with Bahia. Saved the team on the last matchday against Bragantino (2-1), renewing until 2025. But in April 2024, after a 4-0 thrashing by Criciúma, he was fired, along with son Emiliano. He sued for payout at FIFA, becoming persona non grata at Vasco.
At Corinthians from July 2024 to April 2025, 60 games and 62.2% wins. Escaped the relegation zone and won the 2025 Paulista (1-0 in the first leg and 0-0 in the return against Palmeiras). Fired for a poor Brasileirão start, but left fans.
In July 2025 at Paraguay’s Olimpia, 7 games (42.9%), leaving after loss to General Caballero. In September, he signed with Internacional until 2026.
Conquests That Immortalize: Don Ramón’s 17 Titles
With 17 trophies, Díaz is the most successful Argentine. Highlights: 1996 Libertadores (River), 1988/89 Serie A (Inter), 1990/91 French Cup (Monaco), multiple Argentine, Saudi, and the 2025 Paulista. His overall record: 864 games, 426 wins (54%), +457 goal difference. He turns crises into glories.
The Díaz Family: Personal Life and Intimate Bonds
Married, father to Emiliano—his inseparable assistant—Ramón is a family man. At Vasco and Corinthians, the “Díaz family” united locker rooms. Humble, he avoids luxuries, preferring simple barbecues. His faith and Riojan roots guide him.
2025 Updates: From Olimpia to Inter and the Recent Controversy
In 2025, Díaz experienced ups and downs. After Corinthians, he took Olimpia in July, winning his debut (3-1 over Atlético Tembetary), but left after 7 games. On September 24, he was announced at Internacional with a contract until 2026. At 66, he promised to “fight to the end.”
On November 8, 2025, after a 2-2 draw with Bahia at Beira-Rio—a controversial goal disallowance—Díaz criticized the refereeing: “Football is for men, not for girls.” The phrase, said in a press conference, caused backlash: CazéTV called it sexist, and he promised to talk with president Alessandro Barcellos. Emiliano, beside him, mocked internal blames. Despite this, executive José Olavo Bisol praised the progress and confirmed Díaz in the role. Inter, fighting relegation, sees him as the Argentine “firefighter.” Ramón reaffirmed: “Obviously, we can secure survival.” As of November 9, the focus is the next game, with Díaz sticking to the same tactical setup.
Don Ramón’s Legacy: Inspiration for Generations
Ramón Díaz leaves a trail of resilience. His teams play with soul, and he with heart. From La Rioja to Brazilian pitches, he proves football belongs to those who fight. At 66, at Inter, he continues writing history.
