JOSÉ ANDRADE

José Andrade was one of the stars of the great Uruguayan team that dominated international football throughout the 1920s, and was one of the first black players to achieve worldwide fame and success. He enjoyed a long club career at the highest level in Uruguay, but it was on the international stage that his greatest successes would come.

Andrade's club career in Uruguay started in 1920 with Bella Vista, and by 1923 he was a member of the Uruguayan team that won the Copa America. This victory was followed a year later by a gold medal in the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, effectively a world title in the days before the World Cup. In 1924, Andrade moved on to play for Nacional, one of Uruguay's biggest clubs, for whom who would make over 100 league appearances.

More international success would come in 1926 with another Copa America title, and runners-up position a year later. Andrade won his second Olympic gold medal in 1928 in Amsterdam, with a victory over fierce rivals Argentina, and Uruguay's dominance of world football led to them being awarded the rights to host the inaugural World Cup in 1930.

The 1930 World Cup would be the final crowning achievement of Andrade's international career, as Uruguay came from behind in the final to once again defeat Argentina, this time by four goals to two. It was Andrade's last appearance for his country. Following his international retirement, he left Nacional to play for Uruguay's other big club, Peñarol. It was there that he won his only Uruguayan League Championship in 1932. After four years with Peñarol, José Andrade finished his playing career with short spells at Wanderers and Argentinian side Argentinos Juniors, finally retiring from playing in 1936. He died in 1957, aged just 55.