Pichichi (footballer)

Template:Short description Template:Family name hatnote Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Rafael Moreno Aranzadi (23 May 1892 – 1 March 1922), known as Pichichi, was a Spanish footballer who played as a forward. He is known for the Pichichi Trophy named in his honour.

He played for Athletic Bilbao during the 1910s and 1920s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He received his nickname because of his frail build.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Club career

Born in Bilbao, Biscay, Pichichi played in his first Copa del Rey final in March 1913 as Athletic Bilbao, his sole club, lost 1–0 against Racing Club de Irún. Later the same year, on 21 August, the same opponents, now renamed Real Unión, were invited to play the inaugural game at San Mamés Stadium, and he scored the very first goal at the ground;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> two months later, he also scored the first goal at Real Sociedad's new Atotxa Stadium in the opening fixture for that venue.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Easily identifiable on the pitch due to a white cloth he tied to his head,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pichichi subsequently played in five other domestic cup finals, winning four and netting a hat-trick in the 1915 final as Athletic beat RCD Español 5–0.<ref name=AS>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After returning from the 1920 Olympics, some supporters felt that his performances were no longer measuring up to his 'star' status, and this criticism caused him to abruptly quit playing altogether in order to become a referee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Pichichi died on 2 March 1922 at age 29 from a sudden attack of typhus,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=AS/> with the grief among the fans at the shock news heightened with regret for the acrimonious manner in which their hero had departed the club.<ref name=AS/> He scored a total of 83 goals in 89 games for his only team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

International career

In 1920, Pichichi was a member of the very first Spain national team that played at the Summer Olympic Games in Belgium.<ref>Template:Olympedia</ref> He earned five senior caps in one month, his debut coming on 28 August in a 1–0 win against Denmark.

Personal life

File:Busto a Pichichi en San Mamés.JPG

Bust of Pichichi at the San Mamés Stadium

Pichichi's father was mayor of Bilbao,<ref name=AS/> and he was Miguel de Unamuno's nephew.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Both he and his future wife were immortalised in a painting by Aurelio Arteta (although it is said that the image originally depicted teammate José María Belauste, and came to be known as a representation of Pichichi and his fiancée following his deathTemplate:Citation needed).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=AS/>

In 1926, a bust was erected in Pichichi's honour at the San Mamés Stadium. It was tradition for teams visiting the ground for the first time pay homage by leaving a bouquet of flowers at its base.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite concerns that it might not be accommodated at Athletic's new ground,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> a suitable spot was identified at the entrance to the players' tunnel, allowing the tradition to continue at the new location from 2013 onwards.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1953, Spanish sports newspaper Diario Marca introduced the Pichichi Trophy in his honour. It was awarded each year to the top scorers in La Liga and Segunda División.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

• Copa del Rey: 1914, 1915, 1916, 1921<ref name=ATHLETIC/>
• Northern/Vizcayan Regional Championship: 1913–14, 1914–15, 1915–16, 1919–20, 1920–21<ref name=ATHLETIC/>

Spain

• Summer Olympic Games: Silver medal 1920<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• List of one-club men

External links

• Template:BDFutbol
• Template:Athletic Bilbao profile
• Template:NFT player
• Template:FIFA player
• Template:Eu-Football.info
• Template:Olympics.com