Every January 1, in addition to welcoming a new year, in Colo Colo we celebrate a new year in the life of Marcelo Pablo Barticciotto Cicaré. The idol of the Cacique, who was impregnated with what this club means, He is 56 years old and at Dale Albo we want to review his history in the institution that saw him raise glasses a lot.
Your arrival in Colo Colo
Marcelo Barticciotto’s arrival in Chile could have been at the University of Chile. The story goes that Manuel Pellegrini, when he was managing the blues, considered the option of signing a young striker from Huracán, however, he opted for the Globo goalkeeper and Barti ended up in the Albos directed by Arturo Salah.
The coach at that time was vital in the player’s permanence in the team. Three months after his arrival, The footballer did not want to continue in Macul and told the coach that he would return to Argentina. Salah could not believe it and began to do everything possible because the young promise remains on the campus, in fact, He convinced the leadership to bring his brother to train as one of the team and, with that, Marcelo Barticciotto continued his story in the Eternal Champion.
Colo Colo’s first goal at the Monumental Stadium
Barticciotto’s story with Popular, from the beginning, seemed to be a dream. It is that in 1989, when the Monumental Stadium was inaugurated definitively, the 7 scored Colo Colo’s first goal at La Ruca in the 2-1 victory against Peñarol from Uruguay. After that, the tale is known: He won seven national titles, two Copa Digider and one Copa Chile, in addition to three international championships, including the 1991 Copa Libertadores, where he registered with the remembered goal against Boca Juniors in the semifinal played in Macul.
The sad goal of Marcelo Barticciotto
Product of his good performances, In 1993, he made the leap to América de México, a club that did not have a good time during those years and the footballer returned to Chiland. However, the return was not to Colo Colo, but to the Catholic University.
His passage through the cross store would not go unnoticed by anyone. In a duel played by Universitarios and Caciques, Marcelo Barticciotto scored a great goal for the team that hosted him in our country. After the ball touched the goal net, Barti’s attitude surprised everyone, since the striker lowered his head, lowered his arms and, in a posture of someone grieving an excessive penalty, received the hugs of his teammates. The goal was dubbed the ‘Sad Goal’ and the idolatry and affection of the Popular fans towards his figure increased.
The championship in bankruptcy and retirement
In 1996 he consummated his return to Colo Colo, andn 1998 he was granted Chilean nationality by grace and, after continuing to win titles, came the most remembered of all. With an institution plunged into a major financial crisis that ended with the bankruptcy of the club, Barticciotto, despite his retirement plans, continued one more season and together with Marcelo Espina, he commanded the team that was titled in 2002 by the hand of Jaime Pizarro, a cup that would eventually be the last in his time as a footballer.
With the new trophy, he decided to hang up his boots permanently in the year 2023. In a packed Monumental Stadium, more than 50,000 fans said goodbye to the player who arrived as a complete stranger and became one of the greatest idols in the history of Colo Colo. The legacy did not stop and in 2008 he returned to La Ruca as the coach of a team that won that year’s title, leaving Marcelo Pablo Barticciotto as one of the few champions as a player and coach at Los Albos.
Currently, Marcelo Barticciotto has been characterized by always being on the side of the fans, he has fought for the club to return to its members, he has become an authorized voice and, furthermore, It is still the 7 del Pueblo that gave so much to our beloved Colo Colo. Happy birthday, Marcelo Pablo Barticciotto.
