God. Another one gone. The world of Argentinian football is in mourning today after losing Luis Galvan just two weeks after Hugo Gatti's passing. It's like watching the heroes of my childhood disappear one by one.

Galvan, that rock-solid centre-back who helped Argentina lift their first World Cup trophy on home soil in 1978, died around midday in Cordoba. He was 77. I remember watching those matches with my dad back then – we'd crowd around this tiny TV set with terrible reception, but somehow the magic still came through. Dad would point at Galvan and say, "Watch him, son. That's how you defend."

From Hospital Bed to Eternal Rest

The news didn't come as a complete shock to those following his health situation. About three weeks ago, word got out that Galvan was hospitalized with pneumonia affecting both lungs. His family had actually shared back in March that he was dealing with kidney problems too.

One of his relatives mentioned he'd caught some virus while being treated, but insisted he was improving. "His desire to live remains intact," they'd said. Guess sometimes desire isn't enough.

Why Does 1978 Still Matter?

For those who don't understand what teh 1978 World Cup meant to Argentina... I can't even begin to explain. It was our first. Galvan played EVERY SINGLE MATCH alongside captain Daniel Passarella, including that glorious final against the Netherlands that ended 3-1.

He earned 34 caps for Argentina before retiring from international duty after the disappointing 1982 World Cup campaign. I remember that tournament too – such high hopes, such bitter disappointment when we crashed out in the second group phase.

Talleres de Cordoba was practically his home. 503 appearances over 17 years! That's the kind of loyalty you just don't see anymore in football. He did have a brief stint in Bolivia with La Paz-based Bolivar before returning to Talleres in 1986.

The Club's Heartfelt Goodbye

His beloved Talleres (officially Club Atletico Talleres) posted a moving tribute on X: "We communicate with great sadness the passing of Luis Adolfo Galvan, emblem of the Club and World Champion with the Argentina National Team in 1978. We accompany your family and loved ones at this time, and we raise our prayers for the eternal rest of their soul."

They actually repeated that last line. Grief makes us do strange things.

Two Legends Gone in Two Weeks

It's eerie how Galvan's passing comes so soon after Hugo Gatti's death on April 20. I interviewed Gatti once back in 2013 for a piece I was writing. He showed up 45 minutes late, ordered coffee for both of us without asking what I wanted, and then talked non-stop for two hours. Classic Gatti.

Gatti (nicknamed "El Loco" for obvious reasons if you ever saw him play or heard him speak) died at 80 after contracting pneumonia following hip surgery. He'd fallen while walking his dog, poor guy.

The surgery itself went fine, but a virus he caught in the hospital led to complications and ultimately his death. Life can be so cruelly ironic sometimes.

The Madman Between the Posts

Gatti was... something else. Only earned 18 caps for Argentina, but was part of the squad that went to England for the 1966 World Cup. He's often described as the first goalkeeper to wear gloves and one of the first to regularly leave his penalty area. He'd take on opponents, venture upfield... basically everything modern coaches tell keepers NOT to do.

After retiring from Boca Juniors, where he spent 13 years, Gatti became this wildly controversial TV pundit. Back in 2019, he made this absolutely bonkers claim that Messi needed to quit Barcelona and join Real Madrid to prove he was truly the greatest.

I remember spitting out my mate when I heard that. Join MADRID? Was he serious?

His son Lucas followed in his footsteps as a footballer, playing for Argentinos Juniors, Dundee, and Badajoz before eventually becoming the U23 manager at Bromley Football Club after retiring.

Another Piece of Football History... Gone

These passings hit differently when you've grown up watching these players. I spent $120 on a vintage Talleres jersey with Galvan's number last year – my wife thought I was crazy, but now I'm glad I did.

Two legends in two weeks. The golden generation that gave Argentina its first World Cup is slowly fading away.

And we're left with memories, grainy YouTube videos, and stories to tell our kids about men like Galvan and Gatti who played when football was... different. Not better or worse. Just different.