Showing posts with label Spanish Football History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spanish Football History. Show all posts

SPANISH FOOTBALL SPORTS FLASHBACK | MARCELINO LEGEND

Legendary Spanish International Football player Marcelino received today the "Sporting Legend Award" by a major Spanish Sports paper. The ex Real Zaragoza forward & 14 times Spanish International was remembered today after his most famous goal ever, the winner of the European Nations Cup Final 50 years ago against the powerful USSR.

Spanish Football History

It was June the 21st the year 1964 & Spain faced the USSR at the "Santiago Bernabeu stadium" in the city of Madrid in the final of the European Nations Cup Championship. In the Soviet team there was the impressive goalkeeper Lev Yashin , who months earlier had become the first goalkeeper to date to have won the Golden Ball,  & in front of Spain an impressive & fearful Soviet squad.

The game began with an early goal by Spaniard Chus Pereda in the 6th minute, however that was answered with an equalizer two minutes later by Soviet Kushainov in a deadly counter-attack. The match went to the 84th minute when Marcelino connected a pass from Pereda with a perfect header that beat the Soviet goalkeeper. Before passing the ball to Marcelino, Chus Pereda himself shook off a Russian defender with some magical dribbling.

Marcelino gave Spain the winner, the 2 - 1 final score line in the European Nations Cup Championships that finally gave Spain a mayor World Football title & a historical moment in Spanish Sport that would inspire later generations of Spanish Football players.
Check the video:




SPANISH FOOTBALL LEGEND LUIS ARAGONES DIES AT 75 YEARS OF AGE

Spanish Football 2014 RIP

Spain has woken up this morning with the news the mythical Spanish Football Coach Luis Aragones passed away during the morning at the age of 75 years of age. Victim of a leukaemia the news has shook the Spanish Football World.

Luis Aragones will always be remembered for this connection with Atletico de Madrid & the Spanish National Football Team breaking the Internationals "curse" to win the 2008 European Nations Cup & with beginning the reign of Spain in World Football. He is also credited as the Father of the so called "Tiki-Taka" way of Football, that is, domination of the ball with touch play until the opportunities arise & breaks up the opposition defence.


Luis Aragones Honours List:

Club:

Spain Atlético Madrid
La Liga: 1966, 1970, 1973
Copa del Generalísimo: 1965, 1972

Manager/Coach :
Spain Atlético Madrid
La Liga: 1977
Copa del Rey: 1976, 1985, 1992
Intercontinental Cup: 1974
Supercopa de España: 1985
Segunda División: 2002
Iberian Cup: 1991

Spain Barcelona
Copa del Rey: 1988

Spain National Team
UEFA European Football Championship: 2008

Individual
Pichichi Trophy: 1969–70

Don Balón Award for Best coach in La Liga : 1977

Sad day for Spanish Football. RIP Don.Luis Aragones, Aupa Atleti!


TOP 10 PLAYERS SHOWN RED CARDS IN SPANISH FOOTBALL - LIGA - HISTORY

Last week Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos was sent off with a Red Card, again. The media has been giving the Spanish International "heaps" with headlines that announce that its his 18th Red Card in his career.

For those who read these headlines one may be lead to think that Ramos is a "hardman" of Spanish Football, a rough & tough bloke that "eats up forwards & midfielders".  Just to clarify the 18 red cards figure, they include all competitions including European etc.

If we just examine the "Tough Men" of Liga historically, Sergio Ramos is "only" 9th on the list. This does not justify all his sending off & thus leaving his team in players disadvantage but it does dilute the "media campaign" locally of bring about a ruthless Sergio Ramos. 


Below are the Top 10 Red Card earners historically in Liga - Spanish Football. The Nº1 spot goes to Xavi Aguado player of Real Zaragoza with 18 red cards ( just in Liga ) during his 433 game career. 

There are some real tough defenders on the list.

REAL ZARAGOZA SPANISH FOOTBALL

Top 10 list to date:

.1. Xavi Aguado ( Real Zaragoza ) - 18 red Cards / 433 games
.2. Pablo Alfaro ( Sevilla ) - 18 red cards / 516 games
.3. Juanito Rodríguez (Las Palmas, Zaragoza, At.Madrid, Sevilla & Extremadura ) - 17 red cards/ 462 games
.4. Patxi Salinas ( At Club Bilbao & Celta ) - 15 red cards / 483 games
.5. Santi Denia ( Albacete & At Madrid ) - 15 red cards /363 games
.6. Fernando Hierro ( Real Madrid ) - 14 red cards /497 games
.7. Mauricio Pochettino (RCD Espanyol ) - 13 red Cards/ 272 games
.8. Carlos Marchena ( Sevilla, Valencia & Deportivo) - 13 red cards/281 games
.9. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid ) - 13 red cards /302 games
10. Albert Lopo ( Espanyol, Deportivo & Getafe ) - 13 red cards/389 games

SPANISH FOOTBALL FLASHBACK | HISTORIC PICTURE OF SPAIN 11 AGAINST MALTA 12 - 1 RESULT

Relatively quite on the Spanish Football News front today. All the media is either shouting for Cristiano Ronaldo to be given the FIFA Golden Ball, or updating on all the FC Barcelona injuries like Messi, Alves & Valdes, speculating on the substitute player for injured Real Madrid midfielder Khedira, commenting on the "horrific" Messi jacket at his European Golden Boot presentation or heating up the fierce City of Seville derby this weekend between Sevilla FC - Real Betis in Liga.

With all this presumably not fresh news to most World Soccer fans or regular Blog readers thought I take advantage & post up a Historic Spanish Football National Team starting 11 picture from 1983. A team that made themselves a space in the History of Spanish Football.


These 11 Spanish players
Camacho (Captain), Maceda, Goikoetxea, Gordillo, Señor, Buyo
Carrasco, Victor Muñoz, Santillana, Rincón, Sarabia

were the starting team that defeated Malta 12 - 1 the 21st of December 1983 ( Benito Villamarin Stadium, Seville SPAIN) in the last Group 7 qualifier for the 1984 European Nations Finals. Spain before this match was second to the Netherlands in the Group & needed to win by at least 11 goals to qualify. The match & result is history.

The goalscorers for Spain were:

16' Santillana
26' Santillana
29' Santillana
47' Poli Rincón
57' Poli Rincón
62' Antonio Maceda
63' Antonio Maceda
64' Poli Rincón
76' Santillana
78' Poli Rincón
80' Manu Sarabia
84' Juan Señor

The only goalscorer for Malta was Michael Digiorgio 24th min.

XAVI HERNANDEZ | THE MOST AWARDED PLAYER IN SPANISH FOOTBALL HISTORY

Who is the current - & active - Football Player with most Titles in Spanish Football History?

Until recently it was Real Madrid legendary winger Francisco Gento with 24 Titles, but the the recent Spanish Super Cup Title to FC Barcelona ( over Atletico de Madrid ) at the start of the season made midfielder Xavi Hernandez the most awarded player in Spanish Football. The FC Barcelona player has currently 25 Titles & the man still has margin to add more to that number.

FC BARCELONA
courtesy of "Sport"
Spanish Sports paper "Sport" dedicates a spot in today's news to let us all know about the amazing achievements of Xavi Hernandez so far:

  • 7 Spanish Liga Titles
  • 3 Champions League
  • 6 Spanish Super Cups
  • 2 Spanish Cups ( Copa del Rey )
  • 2 European Super Cups
  • 2 World Club Champions
  • 2 European Nations Cup
  • 1 FIFA World Cup
The only award missing,  & deserved may I add, is a FIFA Golden Ball which some say that due to his low media "profile" was not given in 2011 when he came second to team-mate Lionel Messi. 

As habitual in Life we all - Football fans - will finally realize the importance & magic of Xavi Hernandez once he leaves Football & the Football field. At that point we will all remember & miss perhaps one of World & Spanish Football Greatest midfield players.

SPANISH FOOTBALL | "EL PICHICHI"

The maximum Spanish Football - Liga - goalscorer each season is awarded the "Pichichi". A title invented & given by the Spanish Sports daily "Marca" since 1952-53. The Spanish Sports daily honoured a Spanish Football leyend & authentic goalscoring "machine" by calling their prize "Pichichi". But who is "Pichichi"?

Spain Soccer

Rafael Moreno Aranzadi "Pichichi"

Born: Bilbao (Bizkaia) , 23-05-1892
Death: Bilbao (Bizkaia), 01-03-1922 ( Typhus, 30 years of age )

Position: Forward


Debut: 17-03-1913 Match
Athletic Club 3 Real Madrid 0
Retired: 1921

Spanish Cup 17 games 10 goals  
Regional Championship 72 games 68 goals 

Total with Athletic Club

12 seasons
89 games     
78 goals
0,88 goal / game

Internationals:

Spain 5 games 1 goal 
Olympic Games 1920 Silver medal

Titles with Athletic Club Bilbao:

1913-14 Spanish Cup
1913-14 Regional Champion
1914-15 Regional Champion
1914-15 Spanish Cup
1915-16 Spanish Cup
1915-16 Regional Champion
1919-20 Regional Champion
1920-21 Regional Champion
1920-21 Spanish Cup

There is a statue of "Pichichi" ( trunk & head ) at the Bilbao "San Mames Stadium".

SFS FLASHBACKS | FC BARCELONA AC MILAN 2004 RONALDINHO WINNER

Here is a Spanish Football Sports Flashback, or should I say Champions League Flashback.

Situation Oct - Nov 2004, FC Barcelona had lost at AC Milan 1 - 0 in the Champions League Group match at "San Siro". Two weeks later they met again at the "Camp Nou" in Barcelona. Shevchenko had scored for Milan in the 17th min & Eto´o drew in the 37th min for Barcelona. Then in the 88th min this happened: 




Still much remembered turn around match, incredible game winning goal from Ronaldinho at his height & with it a chilling down the spine celebration of joy as Milan look on not believing what happened with just 2 minutes left of the game.

Could tomorrow be another cliff hanger? FC Barcelona needs to turn around a 2 - 0 aggregate 1º leg score in favour of Milan. Will the spirit of this match - as other historical Barça comebacks - fill the air of the "Camp Nou" tomorrow?

Don´t miss it!


SPANISH FOOTBALL FLASHBACKS | EUROPA LEAGUE 2010 FINAL

Here is a SPANISH FOOTBALL Flashback moment on video, the Europa League 2010 Final at Hamburg with finalist ATLETICO DE MADRID & English Club FULHAM. Historical night for Atletico & Spanish Football with a 2 - 1 victory for the Spaniards.

Great match by both teams that went into extra-time. Two goals from Diego Forlan ( 32 & 116 mins ) for At Madrid & Davies for Fulham ( 37 th min ). This game marked the take - off for Atletico that lifted them later into the European Football elite. The last IFHHS ranking puts Atletico in N º2 position behind FC Barcelona in European Club rankings.

Atletico de Madrid had back then two of the Best Forwards in World Football, Forlan & Aguero. Enjoy the highlights!





SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM | 100 CAPS CLUB

The match between SPAIN & URUGUAY yesterday was more than just a Friendly International for Spanish Football Player CARLES PUYOL. It was the night he joined an elite group of Spanish Football Players that have reached the 100th International Cap mark. The FC Barcelona Captain has already been showered with praises - & rightly so - for his personality, contribution & dedication to the Spanish National Football Team. The information piece is that he joins 6 more Spanish Football Players to become the 7th & to let you now who are all those other players.

Spain Football Team
Puyol : courtesy reuters


1 Iker Casillas 2000– 143 International Caps
2 Andoni Zubizarreta 1985–1998 126
3 Xavi Hernández 2000– 119
4 Xabi Alonso 2003– 106
5 Raúl González 1996–2006 102
6 Fernando Torres 2003– 101
7 Carles Puyol 2000– 100

Real Madrid goalkeeper IKER CASILLAS is the most Internationally Capped Spanish Player in the History of the National Football Team. He currently holds an amazing 143 Caps & will keep accumulating more in coming years. The others are household names & as we can see Puyol is the "new boy" of the list.

Just outside this elite group is Real Madrid defender SERGIO RAMOS who is currently sitting 8th place with 99 caps. He will soon the the 8th Spanish Football Player to join the 100 Club.

FIFA GOLDEN BALL | 10 th FOR FC BARCELONA

Here´s some interesting questions. How many FC BARCELONA players have won the GOLDEN BALL? How many times a Barça player? Tonight's FIFA GOLDEN BALL to LIONEL MESSI is the 10th for Barça & the 6th player.

FC BARECLONA

Past winners when at FC BARCELONA 

  • LIONEL MESSI - 4 times GOLDEN BALL ( 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012 )
  • RONALDINHO (2005)
  • RIVALDO ( 1999)
  • STOICHKOV ( 1994 )
  • CRUYFF ( 1973 & 1974 )
  • LUIS SUAREZ ( 1960 )

EURO 2012 FINAL | SPAIN 4 - ITALY 0 | SPAIN MAKES FOOTBALL HISTORY WINING EURO TITLE

SPAIN has made Football History after defending & winning ( retaining ) the 2012 EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP 4 - 0 against ITALY in the Final.Never before has a team (nation) won the "triple crown" : Euro 2008- Fifa World Cup 2010 & now Euro 2012. The below team pictured as the starting 11 has managed to shut many mouths - happily mine as well - throwing into the rubbish bin criticisms about internal disunity between Real Madrid & Barça players, the use of the "false forward" tactic, why Torres & that the team had lost its spark. 

Spain Football Team 2012
Starting 11 vs Italy : Euro 2012 Final

The Italian team will feel upset about two unlucky events that obviously influenced in the result in some way. The early injury to defender Chiellini in the first half cahnged the tactical set-up & the muscle injury to Motta that forced him off when Italy had done their 3 substitutes already & thus left Italy down to 10 men most of the second half. But these unfortunate events are part of Football & takes nothing away from the fact that Spain are deserved & worthy winners as they clearly dominated the match & controlled things well when Italy played well. Spain may claim that a penalty to their favour was´nt called but now with the title this all seems irrelevant.

Spain Euro Champions 2012
David Silva

Spain once again put in a repeat 11 as with Italy in the opener of the Group C game & with the now famous "false forward" in Cesc Fabregas. It was Cesc that made a fabulous run up to the line to find the head of DAVID SILVA in the 14th min for the opener.

Italy then attacked & gave Spain their hardest moments of hard work. It was 20 minutes of Italian pressure that thankfully for Spain had goalkeeper IKER CASILLAS who stopped everything & claimed without any doubt the "Best in the World Goalkeeper" status. Some even may claim, & rightly, the perhaps it is time that the FIFA World Player Award be given to a goalkeeper & Iker Casillas should be that player. 


Spanish Football 2012
Jordi Alba

Spain recomposed themselves & managed a psychological 40th min second goal when defender JORDI ALBA scored. The man has been a revelation & has claimed his place in European Football as possibly the best right-back at this moment. Spain finds a perfect substitute for many years to come after Capdevila left his spot.

The second half saw Italian make some changes with Di Natalie in for Cassano & Motta in for Monteolivo in an attempt to make a comeback. The big blow was the injury to Motta that forced him off & left Italy down to 10 men. It was basically all over at this point as Spain took over the ball totally & ran Italy into the ground. Spain brought on fresh feet in Pedro & FERNANDO TORRES who got the 3rd for Spain in the 84th min.
By the way, the heavily criticised Torres ( myself included as a critic ) wins the "Euro 2012 Top Goalscorer" over Barotteli with his 3 goals + assist of goal. Now that´s how one shuts the mouth of the critics...ouch!


Spain Football Team
Fernando Torres

Spanish Coach Del Bosque than gave JUAN MATA a run & in the 88th min Torres unselfishly passed to Mata in the goal square who scored the fourth goal.

Spanish football 2012 Euro final
Mata - Torres

Historical & a team of 23 players that now sit in the "Football Olympus" as National heroes. Unique as we may never see this again in our lifetime, although there is a high percentage that Spain & these players - with a new flow of players - may continue this glory run onto the FIFA Brazil 2014 World Cup. But that is far away for now & we must enjoy the here & now.

Lastly, as for Italy, they should go home with their heads high & proud. They have changed their Football philosophy from defending to wanting the ball & practising attacking Football. I have no doubt that they will be back soon to give teams a hard time &, why not, give Spain a run for their money again in the future.

Congratulations to the Spanish Football Team, thanks!


SPANISH CUP RESULT | MIRANDES 2 ESPANYOL 1

SPANISH CUP ( Copa de Rey ) action tonight with the return match between 2º B Division Club MIRANDES & Liga Club RCD ESPANYOL. The latter won in the 1º st leg 3-2 & this match was totally up for grabs. After an exciting game of Football the final 2 - 1 result served to qualify Mirandes ( 4-4 agg, away goal advantage) into the Spanish Cup semi-finals & keep the SPANISH FOOTBALL "fairytale" story alive for Mirandes.

SPANISH CUP
Mirandes-RCD Espanyol

MIRANDES put in a splendid & brave performance. The first half was basically Mirandes on top with more ball possession & they did not look at all as a lower Division team. There was definitely something in the air, the feeling that something special may occur tonight.

SPANISH CUP
Infante for Mirandes laments missed chance

RCD ESPANYOL started the 2º half more in tune/alert as they quickly scored a valuable away goal in the 46th min via RUI FONTE. Mirandes did not buckle at all & went looking for the equalizer that came via man of the moment PABLO INFANTE in the 57th min with a brilliant outside shot.

From here, the match was a nail-bitter as Mirandes smelled the opportunity & knew that one more goal would make Club History. Mirandes attacked & missed some vital occasions to seal things, while Espanyol kept them at bay. Then, as everyone thought Espanyol was through to the semis, a cross from Infante found the head of CANEDA in the +90th min to score the winner, a semi-final birth & create Club History. 

The final whistle, a pitch invasion of fans with happiness flowing everywhere. A beautiful Spanish Football & Cup story that Mirandes hopes never ends. For now enjoy the moment.
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