Julio Arca has set his sights on emulating the remarkable achievements of an Argentinian national hero as he takes his first steps in management with an emotional return to South Shields.
The former Sunderland and Middlesbrough star became a firm favourite with the Mariners when he brought down the curtain on his playing career with a highly successful spell in non-league football.
After coming out of retirement to join the then-Northern League Division Two club in September 2015, Arca had helped the club to three promotions and six trophies by the time he departed in the aftermath of promotion into the Northern Premier League Premier Division in 2018.
