Francisco Lesmes Explained

Francisco Lesmes
Fullname:Francisco Lesmes Bobed
Birth Date:4 March 1924
Birth Place:Ceuta, Spain
Height:1.82 m
Position:Defender
Youthclubs1:Imperio de Ceuta
Youthclubs2:África Ceutí
Years1:1943–1947
Caps1:35
Goals1:4
Years2:1947–1949
Caps2:50
Goals2:1
Years3:1949–1961
Caps3:279
Goals3:2
Totalcaps:364
Totalgoals:7
Nationalyears1:1954
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:1961–1962
Managerclubs1:Valladolid
Manageryears2:1963–1964
Managerclubs2:Valladolid

Francisco Lesmes Bobed (4 March 1924 – 11 August 2005) was a Spanish footballer who played as a defender.

Club career

Born in Ceuta, Lesmes started out as a senior at SD Ceuta and Granada CF, signing with Real Valladolid in 1949 and going on to play the remainder of his career with the Castile and León side. Eleven of his 12 seasons were spent in La Liga.[1]

Lesmes retired in 1961 at the age of 37, appearing in 316 competitive matches with his main club and scoring three goals.[2] As he was still part of the squad in 1960–61 he started working as a manager with the team,[3] being in charge for seven games (four wins) as the campaign ended in top-tier relegation.[4]

Lesmes also managed Valladolid in 1963–64, meeting the same fate. He was in charge of the Estadio Nuevo José Zorrilla stadium's maintenance from 1988 to 1996.[5]

International career

On 6 January 1954, Lesmes earned his only cap with the Spain national team, in a 4–1 home victory against Turkey for the 1954 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[6]

Personal life and death

Lesmes' younger brother, Rafael, was also a footballer and a defender. Often referred to as Lesmes II as he played in Valladolid with his sibling for four seasons, he represented mainly Real Madrid and was also an international.[2] [7]

Francisco, also known as Paco during his playing days,[2] died on 11 August 2005 at the age of 81.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Los futbolistas que fueron leyenda en el Real Valladolid. Footballers who were legends at Real Valladolid. El Norte de Castilla. Spanish. 3 September 2019. 29 April 2022.
  2. News: Leyendas del Real Valladolid C. F. – Lesmes I. Real Valladolid C. F. legends – Lesmes I. El Norte de Castilla. Spanish. 18 October 2012.
  3. News: Lesmes, jugador y entrenador del Valladolid. Lesmes, Valladolid player and coach. Mundo Deportivo. Nivardo. Pina. Spanish. 24 March 1961. 2 February 2021.
  4. News: El deseado ‘efecto rebote’ del Pucela. Pucela's wanted 'rebound effect'. Diario de Valladolid. Arturo. Alvarado. Spanish. 13 June 2021. 29 April 2022.
  5. News: La muerte de Paco Lesmes viste de luto a la familia blanquivioleta. Death of Paco Lesmes puts blanquivioleta family in mourning. ABC. Spanish. 13 August 2005. 21 October 2012.
  6. News: España, 4 – Turquía, 1. Spain, 4 – Turkey, 1. Mundo Deportivo. José Luis. Lasplazas. Spanish. 7 January 1954. 7 April 2017.
  7. News: Rafa Lesmes, muere la última leyenda. Rafa Lesmes, the last legend dies. El Diario Montañés. Spanish. 9 October 2012. 21 October 2012.