Mario Kempes

Early Life

Mario Alberto Kempes was born on July 15, 1954. He was born in Bell Ville, a small city in Argentina. As a young boy, he loved football very much. He played football every day after school. His father was also a football player, but not professional. His father taught him how to play football.

Starting His Football Career

Young Mario started playing real football when he was very young. He joined a team called Instituto de Córdoba in 1970. He was only 16 years old when he started playing for them. He was very tall and strong. He could run fast and score many goals. Everyone could see that he would be a special player.

First Big Team

In 1973, Kempes moved to a bigger team called Rosario Central. This was a very important team in Argentina. At Rosario Central, he became famous very quickly. He scored many goals. He was very good at shooting with both feet. Other teams wanted him to play for them. He scored 85 goals in 105 games for Rosario Central.

Moving to Spain

In 1976, Kempes moved to Spain. He went to play for Valencia CF. This was a very big change in his life. Spain was very different from Argentina. But Kempes played very well in Spain. He became one of the best players in Spanish football. The fans loved him very much. They called him "El Matador" because he was so good at scoring goals.

At Valencia, Kempes won many things:
- Top scorer in Spain two times
- Spanish Cup winner
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
- UEFA Super Cup

The 1978 World Cup

The 1978 World Cup was in Argentina. This was very special for Kempes. He played for Argentina in this World Cup. He was the best player in the tournament. He scored six goals. Two of these goals were in the final game against the Netherlands. Argentina won the World Cup! This made Kempes a national hero in Argentina.

How He Played Football

Kempes was a special kind of player. He could:
- Run very fast
- Score goals with both feet
- Head the ball very well
- Pass the ball well to other players
- Shoot from far away
- Play in different positions

He was very strong and tall. He had long hair that would fly when he ran. He was different from other players. He was very brave on the football field.

Playing Style

When Kempes played football, he was very exciting to watch. He would:
- Run past many players
- Score beautiful goals
- Help his team win
- Fight for every ball
- Make the fans happy
- Never give up

He was known for his long hair and his mustache. He looked different from other players. People could always see him on the football field.

Back to Valencia

After the World Cup, Kempes went back to Valencia. He played even better than before. He scored many more goals. The fans loved him even more. He helped Valencia win more games. He became one of the most important players in the team's history.

Later Career

After Valencia, Kempes played for other teams:
- River Plate in Argentina
- Hercules in Spain
- First Vienna in Austria
- St Pölten in Austria
- Kremser SC in Austria
- Fernández Vial in Chile

He played football until he was 42 years old! This was very unusual. Most players stop playing much younger.

Facts About Kempes

Here are some interesting facts about Mario Kempes:
- His nickname was "El Matador"
- He was very tall for a football player
- He had very long hair when he played
- He could score goals with both feet
- He played football for 26 years
- He was very good at penalty kicks
- He never played for Boca Juniors or River Plate in Argentina

What Other People Said

Many people in football talked about Kempes. They said:
- He was one of Argentina's best players ever
- He was very strong and fast
- He could change games by himself
- He was a good person off the field
- He helped make Valencia a better team
- He was a true football hero

After Football

When Kempes stopped playing football, he did many things:
- He became a football coach
- He talked about football on TV
- He wrote books about football
- He helped young players
- He worked for ESPN
- He stayed connected to football

His Impact on Football

Kempes was very important for football because:
- He helped Argentina win their first World Cup
- He showed that Argentine players could be very good in Europe
- He made Valencia a better team
- He inspired many young players
- He played football for a very long time
- He scored many beautiful goals

What We Can Learn from Kempes

Kempes's life teaches us many things:
- Work hard for what you want
- Never give up
- Be brave
- Help your team
- Stay humble even when you are famous
- Keep playing if you love something
- Be kind to others

His Legacy

Today, people remember Kempes because:
- He was a World Cup hero
- He scored many beautiful goals
- He played football for many years
- He was different from other players
- He was very strong and brave
- He helped make football more popular

Important Dates

Here are important dates in Kempes's life:
- 1954: Born in Bell Ville, Argentina
- 1970: Started playing professional football
- 1973: Joined Rosario Central
- 1976: Moved to Valencia
- 1978: Won the World Cup with Argentina
- 1996: Stopped playing football

Famous Goals

Some of Kempes's most famous goals were:
- Two goals in the 1978 World Cup final
- Many goals for Valencia
- Goals from very far away
- Goals with both feet
- Goals with his head
- Important goals in big games

His Character

Kempes was known for being:
- Very brave
- Kind to others
- Hard working
- Humble
- Good to his teammates
- Proud of Argentina
- A good person

Why People Loved Him

Fans around the world loved Kempes because:
- He played football with passion
- He scored many goals
- He was good to fans
- He helped his teams win
- He was very strong and brave
- He looked different from other players
- He was humble even when he was famous

His Place in Football History

Mario Kempes has a special place in football history. He helped Argentina win their first World Cup. He was one of the first Argentine players to be very successful in Europe. He showed that you could play football for many years if you worked hard.

Young players can learn a lot from Kempes. He showed that it's important to:
- Work hard
- Be brave
- Help your team
- Stay humble
- Never give up
- Be kind to others
- Love what you do

His Influence Today

Today, Kempes still helps football. He:
- Talks about football on TV
- Helps young players
- Writes about football
- Shares his experience
- Teaches others about football
- Stays connected to the sport he loves

Mario Kempes shows us that football is more than just a game. It is about working hard, helping others, and never giving up. His story continues to inspire people around the world. He is a true hero of football, both in Argentina and around the world.

Reading Comprehension Questions: Mario Kempes Biography

True or False Questions
1. Mario Kempes was born in Spain.
2. His father was a professional football player.
3. He started playing professional football at age 16.
4. He won the World Cup with Argentina in 1978.
5. His nickname was "El Matador".
6. He only played football for 10 years.
7. He could only score goals with his right foot.
8. He worked for ESPN after playing football.
9. He was born in 1954.
10. He played for Valencia in Spain.


Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where was Kempes born?
a) Valencia
b) Bell Ville
c) Madrid
d) Buenos Aires

2. What was his first professional team?
a) Valencia
b) River Plate
c) Instituto de Córdoba
d) Rosario Central

3. How many goals did he score in the 1978 World Cup final?
a) One
b) Two
c) Three
d) Four

4. How old was he when he stopped playing football?
a) 32
b) 36
c) 42
d) 46

5. How many goals did he score for Rosario Central?
a) 65
b) 75
c) 85
d) 95


Fill in the Blanks
1. Kempes was born in _______, 1954.
2. His nickname was "_______".
3. He won the World Cup with _______ in 1978.
4. He played football for _______ years.
5. After football, he worked as a _______ and talked about football on _______.


Short Answer Questions
1. Name three teams that Kempes played for.
2. What important trophy did he win with Argentina?
3. What was special about his appearance when he played?
4. What did he do after he stopped playing football?
5. What was he famous for on the football field?


Discussion Questions (For Speaking Practice)
1. Why do you think Kempes was such a special player?
2. What can young football players learn from Kempes's life?
3. Do you think football was different in Kempes's time? How?
4. What do you think made him a good leader on the field?
5. Why do you think he could play football for so many years?

Writing Tasks
1. Write three sentences about Kempes's early life.
2. Write a paragraph about why he was important for Argentine football.
3. Write five important facts about his career at Valencia.
4. Imagine you are a journalist in 1978. Write about his World Cup performance.
5. Write a short paragraph about what made him different from other players.

Vocabulary Matching
Match these words from the text with their meanings:
1. Professional
2. Brave
3. Famous
4. Inspire
5. Humble
6. Passion
7. Strong
8. Legacy

a) Not afraid
b) Having great power
c) What someone leaves behind
d) Doing something as a job
e) Known by many people
f) Not proud
g) Strong feeling or emotion
h) To make others want to do something


Timeline Activity
Put these events in the correct order:
- Won the World Cup
- Born in Bell Ville
- Moved to Valencia
- Started playing professional football
- Joined Rosario Central
- Stopped playing football


Team Activity
In groups, discuss and write down:
1. Three things that made Kempes special
2. Three lessons we can learn from his life
3. Three reasons why he was successful
4. Three ways football has changed since his time


Extension Activities
1. Compare Kempes with a modern football player
2. Create a poster about his life
3. Role-play an interview with Kempes
4. Write a newspaper article about his World Cup victory
5. Research more about Argentine football history