Carlos Salvador Bilardo was born in 1938 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bilardo played for Estudiantes de La Plata and Deportivo Español in the 1960s. He was a promising prospect in the youth divisions of major Buenos Aires club San Lorenzo de Almagro. After retiring as a player, Bilardo accepted the job as a coach in 1971. As manager of Argentina, he was renowned for successfully employing the 3–5–2 formation at the highest level.