Victorio Unamuno Explained

Victorio Unamuno
Fullname:Victorio Unamuno Ibarzabal
Birth Date:21 May 1909
Birth Place:Bergara, Spain
Death Place:Durango, Spain
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:1924–1927
Youthclubs1:Aurrerá Bergara
Years1:1927–1928
Clubs1:Alavés
Years2:1928–1933
Clubs2:Athletic Bilbao
Caps2:45
Goals2:36
Years3:1933–1936
Clubs3:Betis
Caps3:55
Goals3:29
Years4:1939–1942
Clubs4:Athletic Bilbao
Caps4:44
Goals4:36
Totalcaps:144
Totalgoals:101

Victorio Unamuno Ibarzabal (21 May 1909 – 20 May 1988), also known as Unamuno I, was a Spanish footballer who played as a forward.

He amassed La Liga totals of 144 games and 101 goals, with Athletic Bilbao and Betis.[1]

Career

Unamuno was born in Bergara, Gipuzkoa. After helping Deportivo Alavés to the semi-finals of the 1928 Copa del Rey he was signed by neighbouring Athletic Bilbao to be part of their team in the newly-formed national league. He went on win two La Liga titles and four consecutive domestic cups, notably forming an attacking partnership with Bata, Guillermo Gorostiza, José Iraragorri, Chirri II and Lafuente.[2] [3] [4] [5]

In the summer of 1933, Unamuno joined Real Betis. In the 1934–35 season he scored a team-best 13 goals, and the club won its first and only national championship.[6]

After leaving Seville, Unamuno's career was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War, and he subsequently returned to Athletic. In the 1939–40 campaign he netted 20 times – and Gorostiza added 16 – en route to being crowned the competition's Pichichi, helping the side to third place;[7] he retired in 1942, aged 33.

Personal life

Unamuno's younger brother, Vicente (1917–1988, known as Unamuno II), was also a footballer and a forward. The siblings were teammates at Athletic Bilbao during 1939–40 even though the latter did not appear in the league, but the pair did help the club win the Biscay Championship in that year; the former died in Durango, Biscay, one day before his 79th birthday.

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

1929–30, 1930–31

1930, 1931, 1932, 1933

1928–29, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1939–40

Betis

Individual

1939–40[8]

Notes and References

  1. News: Yo jugué en el Real Betis: Victorio Unamuno. I played for Real Betis: Victorio Unamuno. Vavel. es. 22 October 2016. 7 April 2017.
  2. Web site: Las tres grandes delanteras que hubo en la historia el Athletic . The three great forward lines in the history of Athletic . es . . 2 March 2016 . 4 November 2018.
  3. Web site: History: 1928-1937 . . 4 November 2018.
  4. Web site: El 'Abecedario' del fútbol: Guillermo Gorostiza, la bala roja de San Mamés . The 'ABC' of football: Guillermo Gorostiza, the red bullet of San Mamés . es . Fútbol Primera . 12 March 2012 . 4 November 2018.
  5. Web site: The history of Athletic Bilbao 1898-1936. Radnedge. Keir. World Soccer (via In Bed With Maradona). 1 August 1977. 4 November 2018.
  6. News: Feliz aniversario, campeón. Happy anniversary, champion. El Desmarque. es. 28 April 2015. 7 April 2017.
  7. News: Victorio Unamuno, un goleador de verdad. Victorio Unamuno, a true scorer. Marca. es. 22 October 2016. 7 April 2017.
  8. Web site: Spain – List of Topscorers ("Pichichi") 1929–2015. RSSSF. 7 April 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084634/http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/spantops.html. 4 March 2016.