Vicente Estavillo

NSL Career: Sydney Olympic 49 (8) / 1986 - 1987

One of the greatest South Americans to play in Australia, Vicente "Vince" Estavillo was a diminutive ball-playing wizard who commanded the Sydney Olympic midfield during his time at the club. Estavillo's brilliant ball-skills and vision saw him turn provider for many important goals and was dangerous from free-kicks.

Born and raised in Cerro Largo Department, Uruguay - Estavillo spent his junior career as a street and futsal player in Melo where he developed his touch and ball-skills. Estavillo joined one of South America's most successful clubs, Peñarol, at the age of 17 when the young footballer went to his nation's capital (Montevideo) to further his education.

Estavillo made his Uruguayan Primera División debut at the age of 20 and was selected in Uruguay's U-21 squad for the 1975 Pan American Games. Estavillo joined Montevideo Wanderers in 1977 and spent three seasons at the club before having stints at Bella Vista and Sud América.

Greek giants Olympiacos made a big offer for Estavillo and the Uruguayan playmaker joined the club for the 1981/82 Alpha Ethniki season, becoming a key player as he scored in the club's Championship play-off victory over rivals Panathinaikos after the two clubs finished the season on equal points.

As Greek champions, Olympiacos qualified for the 1982/83 European Cup where Estavillo played in all four matches against Sweden's Öster and Germany's Hamburg. Estavillo started the 1982/83 season as a regular before suffering a knee ligament injury which all but ended his Olympiacos career.

Estavillo moved to PAS Giannina the following season where injury and being unfavoured by manager Andreas Karamanolakis saw his game time limited. Following his time in Greece, Estavillo had a short stint in the US with New York based club AO Krete who he helped win the 1984 National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup).

The playmaker returned to Uruguay to join Primera División club Nacional late in the 1984 season and helped the side finish third in the league. With the league struggling financially, Estavillo moved to Australia and joined NSW Division One side Uruguay Auburn. Estavillo quickly established himself as a standout player before being signed by NSL club Sydney Olympic for the 1986 season.

Estavillo's class with the ball made him a instant fan favourite as Olympic continued to rank amongst the top sides in the NSL under coach Manfred Schaefer. During the season, Estavillo scored some goal of the season contenders including: a superb long range effort against Inter Monaro in round two, a brilliant curled free-kick against Sydney City in round seven and 35m shot that dipped and swerved in to the top corner in round 16.

Olympic lost just four games during the regular season before progressing to the Northern Conference Grand Final where Estavillo played a classy through ball to team mate Chris Kalantzis, who took the ball and scored to put Olympic in to their second grand final in three seasons. 

Estavillo put in a man of the match performance in the first leg against Adelaide City and created both of Olympic's goals in the two-legged tie but was unable to help the team get over the line. Milan Lukić replaced Schaefer following the grand final defeat and surprisingly dropped the Uruguayan star at the start of the 1987 season.

Lukić spent just one game in charge of Olympic before former Sydney City coach Eddie Thomson replaced caretaker coach David Ratcliffe in round four and brought Estavillo back in to the team. The experienced midfielder continued to prove his worth upon his return, chipping the keeper in games against South Melbourne and Sunshine and scoring a free-kick against Brunswick.

Olympic failed to qualify for the finals series before Estavillo decided to hang up his boots at the age of 32. Following his playing career, Estavillo became a coach and technical director in NSW and was Sydney Olympic head coach for the first half of the 1994/95 NSL season. Estavillo has since advanced his career as a coach and educator in both Australia and Uruguay.