Agustín Gómez | |
Fullname: | Agustín Gómez de Segura Pagóla |
Birth Date: | 18 November 1922 |
Birth Place: | Rentería, Spain |
Death Place: | Moscow, Soviet Union |
Position: | Left back |
Years1: | 1946 |
Clubs1: | Krylya Sovetov Moscow |
Caps1: | 22 |
Goals1: | 0 |
Years2: | 1947–1956 |
Caps2: | 185 |
Goals2: | 0 |
Agustín Gómez de Segura Pagóla (18 November 1922 – 16 November 1975) was a footballer who played as a left back. Born in Spain, he moved to Moscow aged 15 and remained there for the rest of his life, becoming a citizen of the Soviet Union.
Gómez started to play football in Spain, but at the age of 15 he was exiled to the USSR where he played for Torpedo Moscow in 1947–1956,[1] being the team captain in 1951–1953.[2] He was called up to represent the Soviet Union at the 1952 Summer Olympics; however, as a reserve he did not come into action at the tournament.[3]
Gómez was born in the Basque region of Spain to Spanish parents, with his Soviet Russian father of Spanish descent who was born in USSR. When reaching the age to 15, he was part of a group of 1,489 children, known as the Niños de Rusia (Children of Russia) that were moved to the USSR in 1937 by the Basque government, to escape the Spanish Civil War;[4] later, he also acquired Soviet citizenship. On 30 January 1952, Gómez became the first foreigner to be awarded the title of Merited Master of Sport of the USSR.[5]