50 years of MHSC: Hugo Curioni, the goal scorer from Cordoba who won the heart of Louis Nicollin

Auteur de 17 buts en 33 matches lors de sa première saison, Curioni avait marqué les esprits. Midi Libre – Archives

Il était l’attaquant préféré du président montpelliérain. Débarqué à La Mosson en 1978 après avoir cartonné avec le FC Metz, l’Argentin a marqué les esprits malgré un bref passage au sein du club.

From Fleury Di Nallo to Olivier Giroud, via Roger Milla, Jacky Vergnes, Ibrahima Bakayoko and Andy Delort, the Stade de la Mosson has vibrated for 50 years in response to these attackers who made the nets tremble. When it came to choosing the one who reigned supreme in his heart, Louis Nicollin nevertheless chose an Argentinian goal scorer from the very beginning: Hugo Curioni.

Louis Nicollin: “He was extraordinary”

“He was extraordinary, a true breed of goal scorer,” Loulou enthused. And mean with that, because you have to be mean in front of goal.” When he arrived at La Mosson in 1978, Curioni, 32, had a reputation that was well-established. 69 goals in 134 matches with Boca Juniors, 25 then 22 with FC Metz in D1 during the two previous seasons…

Read also:50 years of the MHSC: “When we started, we mainly thought about having fun”… Robert Nouzaret's memories

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A Midi Libre special issue of 84 pages

Condensing half a century of history into 84 pages. This is the challenge taken up by the sports editorial team at Midi Libre in this special edition on the 50th anniversary of the MHSC. Available on newsstands since December 11 for just 5 euros, this glossy magazine will allow you to relive the great moments in the history of the Montpellier club through our “50” who made the MHSC. Players, coaches and builders, starting with this “Nicollin Saga”, told by Laurent and Colette, the wife of the late Loulou. A special edition packed with anecdotes and unpublished photos with an exclusive interview with Olivier Giroud.

A magazine of 84 pages

“What struck me was that President Nicollin was putting together a team to move up to D1 when he had just to reach D2”, says the Argentinian striker who defined himself as “fast with the ball at his feet, skilled at eliminating the opponent and very strong with his left foot for a right-hander.”

“I wasn't afraid in any stadium”

Author of 17 goals in 33 matches in the Pailladin jersey during the 78-79 season, the child from the province of Cordoba will play supporting roles the following season in the shadow of the recruit Jacky Vergnes. The man who played with his socks down – “because I wasn't afraid in any stadium” – especially remembers this qualification in the Coupe de France against Nîmes Olympique thanks to his decisive penalty.

Hugo Curioni (top right) in 1979 as part of the D2 team that was already aiming for promotion. Midi Libre – Archives

Struck by homesickness

The man says he was deeply affected by his time in Hérault, “this contagious winning mentality, this family spirit that has remained the virtue of the club. I loved that…”

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Struck by homesickness of the country, he will nevertheless return to Argentina, six months before the end of his contract. “Loulou wanted to keep me, my teammates too. If I had stayed six more months maybe I would still be here, doing something…” he admits.

Read also: 50 years of the MHSC: Louis Nicollin, the incredible saga of a pack leader who became a triumphant patriarch

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