Emilio Aldecoa
FullnameEmilio Aldecoa Gómez
Birth date30 November 1922
Birth placeBilbao, Spain
Death date4 September 1999 (aged 76)
Death placeLloret de Mar, Spain
PositionInside forward
Youthclubs 1English Electric Co.
Years 11943–1945
Years 21945–1947
Years 31947–1949
Years 41949–1950
Years 51950–1953
Years 61953–1954
Clubs 1Wolverhampton Wanderers
Clubs 2Coventry City
Clubs 3Athletic Bilbao
Clubs 4Valladolid
Clubs 5Barcelona
Clubs 6Sporting de Gijón
Caps 10
Goals 10
Caps 229
Goals 20
Caps 345
Goals 39
Caps 449
Goals 411
Caps 523
Goals 52
Caps 63
Goals 60
Nationalyears 11948
Nationalteam 1Spain
Nationalcaps 11
Nationalgoals 10
Manageryears 11954–1955
Manageryears 21955–1957
Manageryears 31957–1969
Manageryears 41959–1960
Manageryears 51966–1967
Manageryears 61967–1968
Manageryears 71972–1973
Manageryears 81974–1976
Manageryears 91979–1980
Manageryears 101982
Managerclubs 1Hércules
Managerclubs 2Gerona
Managerclubs 3CD Condal
Managerclubs 4Gerona
Managerclubs 5Valladolid
Managerclubs 6Gerona
Managerclubs 7Llodio
Managerclubs 8Gerona
Managerclubs 9Figueras
Managerclubs 10Gerona

Emilio Aldecoa Gómez (30 November 1922 – 4 September 1999) was a Spanish professional footballer who played in the English and Spanish football leagues and later managed in Spain and England. He made one appearance for the Spain national team, as a substitute in a 2–1 win against Ireland in May 1948 at the Montjuic Stadium, Barcelona.

Career

Refugee in England

Aldecoa was born in the Zorroza neighbourhood of Bilbao, Biscay.

He arrived in England as a Spanish Civil War refugee in 1937. Some of the other refugees also became footballers, including Raimundo Pérez Lezama, José Gallego and Sabino Barinaga.[1][2][3]

Aldecoa began his football career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, joining them in 1943 from a Staffordshire electrical works team. His first team debut came in September that year, a 2–1 victory away to Crewe Alexandra and he finished the season as Wolves’ leading scorer with 11 goals in 30 games.

He moved to Coventry City in August 1945 and scored on his first team debut, a 3–1 win at home to Portsmouth. The following season, as league football resumed after World War II, he played 29 times for Coventry, failing to score. During his spell he was noted for his practical skills, helping to repair the Highfield Road stadium as well as the home of the local family with whom he was living.[1]

Return to Spain

Aldecoa returned to Spain in 1947, joining Atlético Bilbao and making his debut on 21 September 1947 in a 5–1 defeat away to Celta Vigo. Winning his sole international cap during his stint in his native region, he scored 9 times in 45 games before moving to Real Valladolid in 1949 where he scored 11 times in 49 games.

He joined Barcelona in 1951. In his first season he scored twice in 19 games as Barcelona won the Spanish Championship. He also played in the final of the Copa Latina in 1952, a 1–0 victory over OGC Nice at the Parc des Princes in Paris. Barcelona retained the title the following season, but Aldecoa played only 4 times.

Later years and coaching

He moved to Sporting de Gijón in 1953, playing just 3 times, and then to Girona FC in 1954 where he subsequently became manager. He was assistant manager of Birmingham City between 1960 and 1962, making use of his knowledge of the English language and game, and later managed CD Condal and Real Valladolid (from 1966–67).

References

  1. ^ "A Spanish refugee boy 78 years ago blazed the trail for David Silva and Cesc Fabregas". The Independent. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  2. ^ "First foreign footballers: Spain's Emilio Aldecoa". Football365. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Into the ether: When football welcomed refugees". Amnesty International. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2018.