Libertadores top scorer Spencer dies at 68
QUITO, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Alberto Spencer, the top scorer in the Libertadores Cup with 54 goals, died on Friday at the age of 68.
Spencer, who played for Ecuador and Uruguay in a way unthinkable today, died in the United States due to a heart problem, said his son Walter.
His body will be flown to Uruguay, where he spent most of his life after retiring from football, for the funeral.
Spencer, born of a Jamaican father and Ecuadorean mother and one of 13 children, was one of South America's most famous players even though he never played at the World Cup.
He scored 48 goals for Uruguayan team Penarol in the Libertadores, the region's equivalent of the Champions League, between 1960 and 1970, and another six for Barcelona of Ecuador in the next two seasons.
"He was a key figure in the days when South American football came of age," said Nicolas Leoz, president of the South American Football Confederation (CSF).
Spencer began his career with Everest in Ecuador before moving in 1960 to Penarol, at the time one of the world's most prestigious clubs.
MODERN RULES
He won three Libertadores titles with Penarol, in 1960, 1961 and 1966, and was the competition's leading scorer in 1960 and 1962.
Spencer's international career would not have been possible under modern rules, which effectively prevent players from switching allegiances.
After playing for Ecuador in the 1959 Copa America and the qualifiers for the 1962 World Cup, he then turned out for Uruguay.
In 1964, he became the first Uruguayan player to score against England at Wembley when he was on target in a 2-1 friendly defeat.
The following year he played for Ecuador in the qualifying competition for the 1966 World Cup. A year later he again switched back to Uruguay.
According to the CSF Web site, Spencer played 11 times for Ecuador, scoring four goals, and five times for Uruguay, scoring once.
QUITO, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Alberto Spencer, the top scorer in the Libertadores Cup with 54 goals, died on Friday at the age of 68.
Spencer, who played for Ecuador and Uruguay in a way unthinkable today, died in the United States due to a heart problem, said his son Walter.
His body will be flown to Uruguay, where he spent most of his life after retiring from football, for the funeral.
Spencer, born of a Jamaican father and Ecuadorean mother and one of 13 children, was one of South America's most famous players even though he never played at the World Cup.
He scored 48 goals for Uruguayan team Penarol in the Libertadores, the region's equivalent of the Champions League, between 1960 and 1970, and another six for Barcelona of Ecuador in the next two seasons.
"He was a key figure in the days when South American football came of age," said Nicolas Leoz, president of the South American Football Confederation (CSF).
Spencer began his career with Everest in Ecuador before moving in 1960 to Penarol, at the time one of the world's most prestigious clubs.
MODERN RULES
He won three Libertadores titles with Penarol, in 1960, 1961 and 1966, and was the competition's leading scorer in 1960 and 1962.
Spencer's international career would not have been possible under modern rules, which effectively prevent players from switching allegiances.
After playing for Ecuador in the 1959 Copa America and the qualifiers for the 1962 World Cup, he then turned out for Uruguay.
In 1964, he became the first Uruguayan player to score against England at Wembley when he was on target in a 2-1 friendly defeat.
The following year he played for Ecuador in the qualifying competition for the 1966 World Cup. A year later he again switched back to Uruguay.
According to the CSF Web site, Spencer played 11 times for Ecuador, scoring four goals, and five times for Uruguay, scoring once.
