Marcos Alonso (footballer, born 1959) explained

Marcos Alonso
Fullname:Marcos Alonso Peña
Birth Date:1 October 1959
Birth Place:Santander, Spain
Death Place:Madrid, Spain
Height:1.76 m
Position:Winger
Youthclubs1:San Agustín
Youthclubs2:Real Madrid
Years1:1977–1979
Caps1:51
Goals1:5
Years2:1979–1982
Caps2:90
Goals2:10
Years3:1982–1987
Caps3:124
Goals3:28
Years4:1987–1989
Caps4:29
Goals4:2
Years5:1990
Caps5:8
Goals5:1
Years6:1991
Caps6:7
Goals6:3
Totalcaps:309
Totalgoals:49
Nationalyears1:1978
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1979
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:1979
Nationalcaps3:3
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:1978
Nationalcaps4:3
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:1980–1982
Nationalcaps5:2
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalyears6:1979–1983
Nationalcaps6:9
Nationalgoals6:1
Nationalyears7:1980
Nationalcaps7:3
Nationalgoals7:0
Nationalyears8:1981–1985
Nationalcaps8:22
Nationalgoals8:1
Manageryears1:1995–1996
Managerclubs1:Rayo Vallecano
Manageryears2:1996–1998
Managerclubs2:Racing Santander
Manageryears3:1998–2000
Managerclubs3:Sevilla
Manageryears4:2000–2001
Managerclubs4:Atlético Madrid
Manageryears5:2002
Managerclubs5:Zaragoza
Manageryears6:2005–2006
Managerclubs6:Valladolid
Manageryears7:2006
Managerclubs7:Málaga
Manageryears8:2008
Managerclubs8:Granada 74

Marcos Alonso Peña (1 October 1959 – 9 February 2023) was a Spanish football player and manager.

Known simply as Marcos in his playing days, he played mainly as a right winger but also as a forward. He amassed La Liga totals of 302 games and 46 goals over 13 seasons, with five being spent at Atlético Madrid and five at Barcelona.[1]

A Spain international during the 1980s, Marcos represented the nation at Euro 1984, helping it to finish second. He later worked as a coach.

Club career

Marcos was born in Santander, Cantabria.[2] Following an unsuccessful spell in Real Madrid's academy,[2] he made his La Liga debut aged 17 with his hometown side Racing de Santander. He was first choice in his position during his second professional season, which ended in relegation.[3]

Marcos' reputation continued to grow at Atlético Madrid, and he was at the time the country's most expensive signing when FC Barcelona paid 150 million pesetas for his services in 1982.[4] In his first year he scored six goals in 30 matches in the league, and also an injury time header against Real Madrid in that campaign's Copa del Rey final, which ended with a 2–1 win.[5]

However, Marcos was also one of four Barça players who failed to find the net in the final of the 1985–86 European Cup against FC Steaua București, in a penalty shootout loss, as goalkeeper Helmuth Duckadam saved all taken attempts.[6] He retired in 1991 after a return to Atlético Madrid, marred by a serious knee injury,[7] and after helping his first club Racing to return to the Segunda División.[8] [9]

Subsequently, Alonso became a coach. In his first experience he led lowly Rayo Vallecano to a first-ever victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (2–1),[10] managing Racing[11] and Sevilla FC afterwards (one top-flight promotion with the latter followed by immediate relegation).[12]

In the 2000s, Alonso was in charge of Atlético Madrid – second tier, no promotion[13]Real Zaragoza, Real Valladolid, Málaga CF and Granada 74 CF.[14] [15]

International career

Alonso earned 22 caps for Spain,[4] the first coming on 25 March 1981 in a 2–1 friendly win in England.[16] He represented the nation at UEFA Euro 1984, being an unused squad member in an eventual runner-up finish.[17]

Personal life and death

Alonso's father, Marcos Alonso Imaz, was also a footballer, who represented Real Madrid in the 1950s and 1960s. His son Marcos Alonso Mendoza also played in the club's youth system and with Spain.[18] [19]

Alonso died on 9 February 2023 at age 63,[20] due to cancer.[21]

Career statistics

Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Alonso goal.

Honours

Barcelona

1984–85[20]

1982–83; runner-up 1983–84, 1985–86[20]

1983; runner-up 1985[20]

1983[20]

Racing Santander

1990–91[23]

Spain

Notes and References

  1. Web site: When Bryan Robson tamed Barca. BBC Sport. Jonathan. Stevenson. Chris. Bevan. 22 April 2008. 24 April 2014.
  2. News: Marcos Alonso, el Pichón de una saga de futbolistas. Marcos Alonso, the Pichón of a saga of footballers. El Español. Gerard. Mateo. es. 9 February 2023. 9 February 2023.
  3. Web site: HISTORIA / Cap. 10 El Racing, equipo ascensor. HISTORY / Chap. 10 Racing, a lift team. Racing Santander. es. 9 February 2023.
  4. News: El destino persigue a Marcos Alonso. Destiny chases Marcos Alonso. La Vanguardia. David. Ruiz. es. 13 December 2009. 9 February 2023.
  5. News: 2–1: ¡Que final!. 2–1: What a final!. Mundo Deportivo. Juan José. Castillo. es. 5 June 1983. 24 April 2014.
  6. Web site: Duckadam inspires Steaua. UEFA. 18 April 2006. 12 April 2020.
  7. News: La trayectoria de Marcos Alonso. Marcos Alonso's career. Diario AS. es. 9 February 2023. 9 February 2023.
  8. News: Marcos y su volver a empezar. Marcos starting all over. Mundo Deportivo. Rogelio. Román. es. 13 April 1991. 20 July 2017.
  9. News: Adiós al Pichón. Farewell to Pichón. El Diario Montañés. Aser. Falagán. es. 9 February 2023. 9 February 2023.
  10. News: Marcos Alonso: "La clave para ganar al Real Madrid fue jugar de tú a tú". Marcos Alonso: "The key to defeat Real Madrid was playing them as their equal". La Vanguardia. es. 28 March 2014. 9 February 2023.
  11. News: Marcos Alonso cae en el Racing. Marcos Alonso falls at Racing. El País. Mauro. Muriendas. es. 10 March 1998. 9 February 2023.
  12. News: Logró un ascenso e hizo debutar a Reyes: el Sevilla despide a Marcos Alonso. He won a promotion and handed Reyes his debut: Sevilla say goodbye to Marcos Alonso. Estadio Deportivo. Fernando. Ruiz. es. 9 February 2023. 9 February 2023.
  13. News: "El Atlético ha sido un manicomio desde que llegó Gil". "Atlético has been a bedlam since Gil arrived". Diario AS. Francisco Javier. Díaz. es. 1 July 2003. 9 February 2023.
  14. News: Marcos Alonso, destituido. Marcos Alonso, dismissed. Mundo Deportivo. J.C.. Barbado. es. 30 October 2006. 12 November 2015.
  15. News: Destituye a Tapia y ficha a Marcos Alonso. They dismiss Tapia and sign Marcos Alonso. El Diario Vasco. es. 23 April 2008. 9 February 2023.
  16. News: Primera victoria de España en Wembley. First win for Spain at Wembley. El País. Julian. García Candau. es. 26 March 1981. 9 February 2023.
  17. News: 1984: Los 'bleus' se coronan tras el error de Arconada. 1984: 'Bleus' crowned after Arconada's mistake. Mundo Deportivo. Imma. Mentruit. es. 13 April 2016. 9 February 2023.
  18. Web site: Spain unveil provisional party. UEFA. Paul. Bryan. 30 June 2009. 26 April 2010.
  19. News: From grandfather, to father to son: Chelsea's Marcos Alonso makes football history with Spain debut. London Evening Standard. Vaishali. Bhardwaj. 27 March 2018. 28 March 2018.
  20. Web site: Fallece Marcos Alonso Peña. Death of Marcos Alonso Peña. FC Barcelona. es. 9 February 2023. 9 February 2023.
  21. Web site: El Racing llora la muerte de Marcos Alonso, jugador verdiblanco en dos etapas y técnico entre 1996 y 1998. Racing mourn death of Marcos Alonso, green-and-white player in two spells and manager between 1996 and 1998. Cadena COPE. es. 9 February 2023. 9 February 2023.
  22. News: 1–2: España cortó el bacalao. 1–2: Spain got job done. Mundo Deportivo. Javier. Díez Serrat. es. 13 June 1985. 3 February 2015.
  23. Web site: La celebración del ascenso de 1991. The celebration of the 1991 promotion. Racinguismo. es. 15 June 2016. 9 February 2023.