I start this new thread with the intention of “finding out” who have been the best Spanish footballers in history. While in the thread The best Spanish footballers in history I will continue to put press clippings and books with a more general timing, in this other I plan to do a much more complete project that covers all the seasons since 1920. I will use all the sources to which I have access, mainly on paper, although I will also use information online. I will take into account, as a general rule, the football season between August 1 and July 31 of the following year, although with the logical exceptions such as a football tournament of the Olympic Games or a final of the Intercontinental Cup . I will start with the 1959-60 season and then continue with the 1958-59 until 1920, as long as the thread is interesting. Then he would resume the 1960-61 season and continue to the present. The lists will be completely open, and can be modified or expanded if there are enough arguments for them or with the possibility that we can handle new information. I will appreciate all the suggestions and contributions that are made. The scoring system that I am going to use will reward the longevity and consistency of the players. I do not contemplate that there are players who occupy too high a place because of having one or two very outstanding seasons. As in the thread I am referring to above, footballers born outside of Spain who came to this country to play football and subsequently nationalized will not be included in these rankings. Therefore, Di Stéfano, Puskas, Kubala, Santamaría, Eulogio Martínez, Diego Costa, Marcos Senna and others, will not be eligible. The project is very extensive and therefore it will take me several years; I'm not in a hurry, I want to do research and read extensively enough that the work makes sense. The final ranking of the century will be the sum of the annual rankings. I will use 3 cumulative criteria each year: 1st Classes (inspired by what they do in Kicker), 2nd Best in detail, 3rd ideal XI. In the 1st category, 50 points will be awarded to those who are considered to be World Class, 30 to those who have International Class and 15 to those awarded National Class. In the 2nd category, 35 points will be awarded to the 1st, 30 to the 2nd, 25 to the 3rd, 20 to the 4th, 18 to the 5th and from there to the last player on the list 17, 16, 15, etc. There will not be a specific number of players on this list, it will depend on who really stood out the most in that season. In the third category, an XI will be proposed based on some of the tactics used in the season. Each of the players included in that ideal team will add 15 points. In this way, the maximum score of a player in a season would be 100 points. The merits that can be taken in each season are: - Individual performances throughout the season; the regularity throughout it will have more specific weight than specific exhibitions. - Collective achievements. - Presence in rankings, awards and mentions throughout the season.
1959-60 The season (or preseason) began with an exciting Real Madrid - Barcelona contesting the prestigious Ramón de Carranza tournament. After beating Milan 6 to 3, with 4 goals from Di Stéfano, Madrid is planted in the final against Barcelona (who won 4 - 3 at Standard de Liege). In the final match, Real Madrid beat Barcelona 4 - 3 with a stellar Gento. “Marca” also gave Segarra an outstanding mark. However, Luis Suárez is rated with failure. Days later, Madrid played a friendly against Hambugo in Germany, with a Spanish victory by 2 to 3. There are two splendid individual plays by Gento, in their purest style, that end in a goal. Exhibition of Real Madrid in England, where they beat Manchester United 1-6 (Di Stefano, 2 goals; Puskas another 2; Gento, one goal). The British press raves about Madrid, with special mention to Di Stefano. Months later, Manchester travels to Madrid, losing to Madrid, full of substitutes (6 - 5). Manolín Bueno, Gento's reserve, scored 4 goals. Anyway, Gregg scored a dozen goals in two games ... Once the season in Europe was over, Barcelona beat Santos by 4 to 3 after taking a 4 - 0 lead. In this match, Luis Suárez scored 2 goals and Kubala 1. People write about Ramallets' sensational performance. Pepe (2) and Pelé scored those of Santos. This match was the object, of course, of an extensive report in the magazine "Barça", where they talk about the magnificent performance of Luis Suárez, who is given a 9. LEAGUE After an exciting league tournament, marked by a clear superiority of the two great teams of the moment, both Real Madrid and Barcelona win every game they play on their own pitch. They reach the last league game tied on points. By coefficient of goals, Barcelona was winning by a slight margin; Should the tie persist, Madrid needed a great win to win the league, just beating Las Palmas, while Barcelona thrashed Zaragoza 5-0. Basic Suárez's formidable performance in 3 to 1 against Real Madrid, a few days after finishing the league. Barcelona had a large and competitive squad. Many outstanding men, starting with his goalkeeper Ramallets; in defense, the most regular was Siegfried Gracia. Later, it had a great middle line, where Segarra, Gensana and Vergés took turns, occupying, on occasions, one side or the other indistinctly (in some game, Gensana played as a center-back). But the strongest point of Barcelona was the forward. Above all of them, surely Luis Suárez was, who, however, and despite his good numbers in goals and assists, was not very well scored in “Marca”. Magnificent the Spanish nationalized Paraguayan Eulogio Martínez. Evaristo was more irregular throughout the season, although he had great performances. Villaverde was not bad at all. Kocsis was injured for much of the season, while his compatriot Czibor alternated great games with other disappointing ones, which combined with an 8-game penalty, does not earn him any special attention this season. The strangest case was that of Kubala. Despite continuing to have an extraordinary quality, its presence in the field is very scarce; Much was said about his incompatibility with Suárez, about his pressure on the club to improve his contract ... The fact is that when he played, he almost always made a difference. The chronicler of "Mundo Deportivo", at the end of each game named the three most outstanding players of Barcelona; the most mentioned was the left back Gracia (13 times), closely followed by Ramallets (10). Kubala, despite playing only 12 games, is highlighted in 8 of them, while Luis Suárez is only highlighted among the best 3 on 8 occasions, and everything indicates that Luis Suárez left the best for international matches, both with Barcelona as with the national team. Real Madrid had Puskas and Gento their best players. The former was the league's top scorer and gave a high number of goal assists (at least 12, since sometimes the chronicler did not specify whose last pass was). Gento made an impressive first part of the league (the one corresponding to 1959); then he dropped somewhat, but his overall level was splendid. Santamaría was improving as the championship progressed, but finally he is also one of the most outstanding. Di Stefano has some memorable performances, but, making a general synthesis, it seems that he was below his three companions and his level of past years. Also very prominent is the league he performs at Atlético de Bilbao (that was his name then), which ends in 3rd position, with a forward scorer and a defense with Carmelo in good shape and an extraordinary Jesús Garay who would sign for Barcelona at the end of the season. season. Very good also the midfielder Mauri. Arieta finishes as the national top scorer. Sevilla finished 4th with an essential Chus Pereda in their attack. A little further behind, the 5th, Atlético de Madrid, with some disappointing results and where it is difficult to highlight some of their players over others. Perhaps the regularity of Rivilla's right-back and Joaquín Peiró's streaks of good form. Of the rest, we would highlight, judging by the ratings offered by "Marca", Bartolí, the central defender of Español, and Yarza, the Zaragoza goalkeeper (even in the 5-0 against the last game he is awarded an outstanding). Luis del Sol doesn't seem to have a good season at Betis at all. He was placed, many times out of place, most of the left end, and except in very few occasions, he did not shine. He played little and badly. However, he continued to monopolize a great class that made people talk about him (Kubala even said that he was the best footballer in Spain) and that ended in an outing for Real Madrid. I want to believe that the points that are awarded to him in the Ballon d'Or is mainly due to the first part of the 1960-61 season and, above all, to the fact that the vote is that of the Spanish elector. I leave some summary tables with ratings, goals and assists. It is very possible that he has made some mistakes as a result of adding game to game, but as a reference, I think it's worth it.
EUROPEAN CUP ROUND 1 IDA CDNA Sofía 2 - Barcelona 2. Although Suárez missed a penalty, he gave both passes, the first to Segarra. ROUND 1 VUELTA Barcelona 6 - CDNA Sofía 2. Superb performance by Kubala and Evaristo with 3 goals per head. EIGHTH OF FINAL IDA Real Madrid 7 - Jeunesse 0. Puskas scores 3 goals and gives an assist; Di Stefano, 1. Gento gave an assist. Milan 0 - Barcelona 2. Vergés scores the first goal. Luis Suárez gets the second goal from Vergés' pass. EIGHTH OF THE FINAL VUELTA Jeunesse 2 - Real Madrid 5. A Real Madrid with many substitutes. Di Stefano and Puskas score one goal each. Barcelona 5 - Milan 1. Kubala scores 2 goals, Eulogio Martínez and Segarra, one each. Czibor scored the other although I have left it out of my analysis of the season due to its irregularity. Kubala also gives an assist. CUARTOS DE FINAL IDA (I don't know how to say it in English) Nice 3 - Real Madrid 2. Puskas makes the two goal assists. Santamaría is rated with outstanding in “Marca”. Barcelona 4 - Wolverhampton 0. Villaverde scored 2 goals. He, along with Gensana, Eulogio Martínez and Luis Suárez were qualified with outstanding for “Marca”. Kubala scores a goal, Evaristo another and gives an assist and Luis Suárez gives 2 assists in the first two goals. For "Marca", Suárez did an anthology match. Of him, "Mundo Deportivo" says that we will have to stop calling him in diminutive (Luisito), to say Don Luis. FINAL ROUND QUARTERS VUELTA Real Madrid 4 - Nice 0. Santamaría is the most outstanding for “Marca” with an outstanding rating. Gento, Di Stefano and Puskas score one goal each. Di Stefano also gives two assists. Wolverhampton 2 - Barcelona 5. Kocsis scores 4 goals. The other, Villaverde. Eulogio Martínez gives two assists. Ramallets, Martínez and Suárez obtained a rating of 9 from the magazine “Barça”. Everyone agreed to relate Barcelona's exhibition against one of the best English teams of the moment: Stan Cullis, Slater and Flowers on the one hand, the prestigious journalist Gabriel Hanot on the other ... and of course, the entire English press. SEMIFINALS IDA Real Madrid 3 - Barcelona 1. The only player of those analyzed scored with outstanding was, once again, Santamaría. On the contrary, Luis Suárez is suspended. Di Stefano (2) and Puskas scored for Real Madrid; for Barcelona, Eulogio Martínez. Puskas, Gento and Suárez give an assist. SEMIFINALS VUELTA Barcelona 1 - Real Madrid 3. Real Madrid takes revenge on Barcelona for the league and clearly wins its place in the final. Outstanding Puskas and Di Stéfano and new suspense for Luis Suárez. FINAL Real Madrid 7 - Eintracht Frankfurt 3. Prodigious display of Real Madrid; Puskas (4) and Di Stéfano (3) share the 7 goals for Madrid. Together with Gento and Santamaría they play an outstanding match in the opinion of “Marca”. Gento gives an assist.
FAIR CUP CUARTOS DE FINAL VUELTA INTER MILAN 2 - BARCELONA 4. Kubala scores 2 goals and gives an assist; Eulogio Martínez scores 2 goals and Luis Suárez gives 2 assists. SEMIFINALES IDA Belgrade 1 - Barcelona 1. The extraordinary performance of Ramallets stands out. Evaristo brand. SEMIFINALS VUELTA Barcelona 3 - Belgrade 1. They mark Kubala, Evaristo and Eulogio Martínez. Assists from Suárez and Evaristo. Evaristo and Kubala stand out. FINAL ONE DAY Birmingham 0 - Barcelona 0. The chronicle of "Marca" speaks of a bland game of Barcelona but neither offers scores nor individualizes the interventions of each one. FINAL RETURN Barcelona 4 - Birmingham 1. Barcelona win the Fairs Cup with an outstanding match from Ramallets and Czibor, who also scored 2 goals. Eulogio Martínez scores a goal and gives 2 assists. Barça magazine considers Ramallets the best of the match with a 9.
SPANISH TEAM EIGHTH OF FINAL EUROCUP VUELTA. Spain 3 - Poland 0. They score Di Stefano, Gensana and Gento. Spain qualify for the quarterfinals. Its rival would be the Soviet Union, but by political decision, Spain withdrew from the competition. Kubala is the protagonist of 3 assists. Marca highlights Gracia and Di Stefano above all. However, Luis Suárez's game is censored. FRIENDLY Spain 6 - Austria 3. Di Stefano and Suárez score two goals; Eulogio Martínez, 1. Gento gives 2 assists on goal and Gensana, 1. Karl Decker highlights Gento as the best. The megazine Barça scores with a 10 to Di Stefano, Suárez and Gento. France 4 - Spain 3. Suárez, Martínez and Vergés score. Kubala and Martínez attend. Di Stefano and Kubala are judged negatively. Gracia is the one who deserves the best judgment. Spain 3 - Italy 1. Vergés, Di Stéfano and Eulogio Martínez were the authors of the goals. Di Stéfano and Suárez gave the assists. Surely, the best criticism of the Spanish performance was for Garay, also speaking of Suárez's bursts. The Italian press praises Suárez. Spain 3 - England 0. Eulogio Martínez (2) and Peiró, a pass from Gento, are the authors of the goals. Marca values Ramallets and Martinez with 3 and Garay and Segarra with 2. Worse marks given by “Barça”, although well above the rest, Ramallets, with a 9. Peru 1 - Spain 3. Marcan Suárez (2) and Di Stefano. Peiró gives an assist. Collar plays as a left winger on the South American tour after Gento was injured in the Generalisimo Cup Final. Chile 0 - Spain 4. Marcan Di Stefano (2), Collar and Eulogio Martínez. Luis Suárez gives two assists. Chile 1 - Spain 4. Marcan Di Stefano (2), with assists from Suárez and Peiró, Pereda and Peiró to pass from Suárez. Segarra stands out very positively. Argentina 2 - Spain 0. Two goals from Sanfilippo end Spain's streak. Santamaría and Ramallets stand out, and Segarra's failures in Argentine goals.
GENERALÍSIMO CUP Until reaching the semifinals, the highlight was Atlético de Bilbao's impressive quarter-final second leg, which won 3-0, tracing the result of the first leg and eliminating Barcelona. SEMIFINALS IDA Atlético de Madrid 8 - Elche 0. Adelardo and Jones score 3 goals each; Peiro and Collar the other two. Peiró gives two assists and is rated outstanding. Collar, Jones and Adelardo too. Atlético de Bilbao 3 - Real Madrid 0. Arteche looks back on old times with a great game. However, Di Stefano takes a 0 from the chronicler. SEMIFINALS LAP Real Madrid 8 - Atlético de Bilbao 1. Puskas (3), Gento (2), Di Stefano (2) and Del Sol score the Real Madrid goals. The top four. Gento and Puskas give two assists each; Say Stéfano, one. Elche 2 - Atlético de Madrid 1. Adelardo scores again. FINAL Atlético de Madrid 3 - Real Madrid 1. A magnificent game by Atlético de Madrid that is surprising. Peiro (one goal) and Collar (one goal and one assist) are rated as outstanding. Puskas scores the only Madrid goal.
INTERCONTINENTAL CUP IDA Peñarol 0 - Real Madrid 0. Santamaría, Zárraga and Di Stéfano are rated excellent. However, Puskas fails. VUELTA Real Madrid 5 - Peñarol 1. Puskas (2), Di Stéfano, Chus Herrera and Gento score the goals. Almost all the team is evaluated with remarkable except Puskas (outstanding) who also gives the goal pass to Gento.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS AND MENTIONS Luis Suárez: Ballon d'Or. In the European XI of Sovjetski Sport. In Gabriel Hanot's XI for Football Magazine. Gento: 11th in the Ballon d'Or. In Eric Batty's XI. In the XI of France Football. In the European XI of Sovjetski Sport. In Gabriel Hanot's XI for Football Magazine. Ramallets: Zamora Trophy. Eric Batty XI candidate. Gabriel Hanot XI candidate for Football Magazine. Garay: Marca's Silver Ball. Eric Batty XI candidate. Gabriel Hanot XI candidate for Football Magazine. Segarra: Gabriel Hanot's XI candidate for Football Magazine.
CLASS WORLD CLASS Luis Suárez (Barcelona) Gento (Real Madrid) INTERNATIONAL CLASS Ramallets (Barcelona) Segarra (Barcelona) Garay (Atlético de Bilbao) NATIONAL CLASS Bartolí (Spanish) Yarza (Zaragoza) Carmelo (Athletic Bilbao) Gensana (Barcelona) Mauri (Athletic Bilbao) Pereda (Seville) Gracia (Barcelona) Rivilla (Atlético de Madrid) Peiró (Atlético de Madrid) Collar (Atlético de Madrid) PARTIAL RANKING 1.- Luis Suarez 2.- Gento 3.- Ramallets 4.- Garay 5.- Segarra 6.- Gensana 7.- Bartolí 8.- Pereda 9.- Gracia 10.- Mauri 11.- Peiro 12.- Yarza 13.- Carmelo 14.- Rivilla 15.- Collar IDEAL XI Ramallets; Rivilla, Garay, Gracia; Segarra, Gensana; Pereda, Luis Suárez, Arieta, Peiró, Gento. As a note of clarification, there were several left interiors that stood out this season. I left Peiró in his position and led Luis Suárez and Pereda to a position that they already occupied with Spain. Here is the final ranking of the season.
Yeah, I was thinking the same. Maybe even for a different appropriate thread, leaving this one for discussion of just the Spanish players, if Titanlux likes. The Big Soccer Members players of the year thread would be one example that would be fitting enough probably. Also the ones considered for Batty's XI could be interesting to see - notable that as far as the Spanish players go this year he's agreeing a lot with Hanot anyway (maybe with other players factored in that won't be the case so much)! I'm not sure I saw the France Football XI selections either, so might like to see those too for years where they were available.
No problem. I will share that information with you as I have been doing so far. I didn't want to put it in this thread so as not to mix. My intention is to put it in the thread that ariaga is using for the 23 best of each season, but I would prefer to wait for her to publish her ranking for that year (1959-60) to be able to compare. I also have my own ranking, but I will wait for Ariaga to put his own compared to Tom Stevens' to be able to make an interesting comparison.
1958-59 FRIENDLY Friendly matches, although less important than the official ones, sometimes offer interesting information, as they can serve as a thermometer to compare the football level between teams that do not compete in the same official tournament. This is the case of those who celebrate this season, with the American tour of Real Madrid and the visit to Spain of the great Brazilian teams with Pelé, Garrincha, Didi, etc, etc, in their ranks. Real Madrid embarks on a tour of South America. In it, River Plate is defeated, with a great game from Gento. A few days later, he also beats San Lorenzo de Almagro (2-3) with an outstanding performance by Di Stefano. The tour ends in Uruguay where he ties with Nacional, without standing out any name but the general game of the Spanish. Atlético de Bilbao manage to beat West Bromwich Albion at home. In the new year of 1959, in Oran, Stade de Reims and Real Madrid meet with their gala teams. Madrid beat 2-1, one of the goals from Di Stefano, the other from Mateos. Although the chronicle does not offer ratings, the good game of Di Stefano and Kopa is commented on. In the tribute to Miguel, Atlético de Madrid reinforced by Kubala, Walter and Joel beat the FA Cup champion, Nottingham Forest, 6-1. Atlético de Bilbao also beat Nottingham Forest (3 - 0). Del Sol reinforces Atlético de Madrid in a game that they lose 4 to 5 against Vasco de Gama. In the tribute to Miguel Muñoz, Real Madrid defeated Santos 5-3 with 3 goals from Mateos, Puskas and Gento. There is talk of the slowness of the Brazilians. Gaínza and Del Sol reinforced Madrid. To highlight the 4 assists of Di Stefano. Botafogo beat Atlético de Madrid 4 to 6. There is talk of Garrincha's great performance and Didi's 3 goals. Atlético lacked Chuzo, Callejo, Peiró and Collar, but was reinforced with Puskas, who ended up being the best of his team. Santos beat Barcelona 5 to 1 although most of Barça's starters were playing with Spain against Poland. There is talk of Coutinho's exhibition, with only 16 years old.
LEAGUE Barcelona wins the league with 24 victories in 30 games and full of victories at home. He got 96 goals for only 26 against. Surely Evaristo (21 goals) would have been the top scorer in the championship had he not been injured with several days remaining before the end of the league. Magnificent Tejada who finished with 18 goals and 11 assists. I also mention in capital letters Segarra with a great championship and author of several fundamental goals and the goalkeeper Ramallets, who also won the Zamora Trophy the goalkeeper with the least thrashing. Olivella, Gensana and Gracia performed with good regularity. With less regularity, but with brilliance in many games, Kubala (with too many absences in the second part of the season and not only in this competition; he was accused of indiscipline by the board) and Luis Suárez (14 goals and 10 assists). Little presence of Kocsis and very irregular Czibor. Real Madrid finishes the league in 2nd place, 4 points behind Barcelona; He already gave up the league in the penultimate match in which he lost 4 to 1 against Atlético Bilbao by putting an eleven full of reserves. Di Stefano was the league's top scorer with 23 goals. Puskas was close with 21 goals and 19 assists (own count). Rial (8 goals and 11 assists) and Kopa (10 goals and 11 assists) were also good, especially in the first part of the league; later, Di Stefano monopolized all the protagonism. Santamaría also had a remarkable season. Gento and Santisteban, acceptable. Far from the first two, 3rd, Atlético de Bilbao, although they have a good championship. He had an incredible winning streak in which he scored 33 goals in 4 games. In the absence of Garay, Etura played a brilliant role in the center of defense. With the return of that one, Etura returned to the position of middle left, sometimes occupying the position of Maguregui, who made a perfect tandem with Mauri in the middle of the field. Very well the goalkeeper Carmelo and the defender Oué. Impressive Mauri, with 14 goals, a truly extraordinary amount for a midfielder. I would also highlight the merit of Gaínza, in what would be the last season of the very veteran and fantastic left winger. Valencia finished 4th with a good season for Quincoces II, nephew of the mythical Jacinto Quincoces, although he suffered an injury that deprived him of playing the last part of it, and the interior Third. Atlético de Madrid does not meet expectations in the league and can only get 5th place. Surely, his good run in the European Cup meant fatigue and untimely injuries that made a dent in the league. Vavá, brand new signing of the "colchoneros" scores 16 goals, the majority in the first part of the league; it does not give what was expected. Within a fairly medium season, Callejo, some phases of Peiró and Collar stand out and, perhaps, above them, the veteran right winger Miguel (4 goals and 10 assists). Good season for newcomer Rivilla, who plays mainly in midfield positions. Luis del Sol was the main architect of the good season for Betis, which finished 6th thanks, among others, to “Siete Pulmones” who played as a left winger that season. Español, with more defeats than victories, ended the Spanish, in which the central defender Bartolí performed prominently. Another player I want to highlight was Ansola, Real Sociedad central defender, whose team finished 10th, but was the third team with the least thrashing thanks to him and goalkeeper Araquistain. Ansola was the player with the best average in Marca's ratings.
EUROPEAN CUP 1ª RONDA IDA Atlético de Madrid 8 - Dumcondra 0. Peiró, Vavá, Collar and Mendonça score two goals each. Collar and Vavá are rated with outstanding. 2 assists from Vavá and Peiró and Miguel. 1ª RONDA VUELTA Dumcondra 1 - Atlético de Madrid 5. Marcan Peiró (2), Vavá and Collar. Peiró is rated outstanding (3). Collar two assists and another Vavá. 1 / 8 IDA Atlético de Madrid 2 - CDNA Sofia 1. Marcan Vavá and Peiró. Outstanding Callejo; Miguel remarkable from the right side. Assisted by Vavá. Real Madrid 2- Besiktas 0. Santisteban and Kopa scored. Gento is rated outstanding. Di Stefano is expelled and suspended. 1 / 8 VUELTA CDNA Sofia 1 - Atlético de Madrid 0. The best, Rivilla and Mendonça (3), with notable, Callejo and Chuzo. Besiktas 1 - Real Madrid 1. The goal is scored by Santisteban. 1 / 8 DESEMPATE Atlético de Madrid 3 - CDNA Sofia 1. Marcaron Vavá (2) and Callejo. An assist from Collar. Great match of Collar. 1 / 4 IDA Atlético de Madrid 3 - Schalke 04 0. Very good marks for the Atlético players. Outstanding for Chuzo; notable for Rivilla, Callejo, Miguel and Vava. They mark Vava, Miguel and Peiró. Peiró gives an assist. Wiener 0 - Real Madrid 0. There are no ratings but it is said that Di Stefano was the best followed by Rial. 1 / 4 VUELTA Real Madrid 7 - Wiener 1. There are no ratings. They score: Di Stefano (4), Mateos, Rial and Gento. Kopa gives two assists and Gento one. Schalke 04 1 - Atlético de Madrid 1. Chuzo and Peiró outstanding. Notable Rivilla and Vavá. Mark Vavá and Peiro attends. SEMIFINALS IDA Real Madrid 2 - Atlético de Madrid 1. Excellent for Di Stefano. Suspensions for Puskas and Gento. Rial and Puskas scored for Madrid and Chuzo for Atlético. SEMIFINALS VUELTA Atlético de Madrid 1 - Real Madrid 0. Outstanding Chuzo, Collar, Di Stefano and Santamaría. The goal is scored by Collar. SEMIFINALS TIE-OFF Real Madrid 2 - Atlético de Madrid 1. Outstanding Kopa, Puskas, Chuzo, Peiró and Collar. The goals were scored by Di Stefano, Puskas and Collar FINAL Real Madrid 2 - Stade de Reims 0. Di Stefano and Mateos scored. Outstanding for Santamaría, notables Di Stefano, Rial and Gento. For Reims, the best Piantoni and Jonquet; Fontaine suspense. Comments: Although Chuzo did not have an outstanding rating in the league, his ratings in the European Cup were splendid. Vavá performed well in the European Cup with 8 goals. Both Peiró (6 goals) and Collar (5 goals) managed to play brilliant matches in this competition. Very good Callejo. Everything indicates that the best Real Madrid player in the European Cup was Di Stefano, with Puskas, Kopa and Santamaría also doing a remarkable tournament.
FAIR CUP 1ª RONDA IDA Basel 1 - Barcelona 2. Evaristo and Gensana scored. 1ª RONDA VUELTA Barcelona 5 - Basel 2. Barcelona full of substitutes. Czibor took the opportunity to show off. Evaristo scored a goal. ROUND 2 IDA Barcelona 4 - Inter 0. Segarra outstanding. Eulogio Martínez and Segarra score. COPA DEL GENERALÍSIMO Of note is the round of 16 duel between Real Madrid and Atlético de Bilbao, in whose first leg the first winners were imposed by 4 to 1, with two goals from Di Stefano and an outstanding mark for Marca. Del Sol's outstanding games, although his team is eliminated in the quarterfinals after conceding a 0-6 from Barcelona. Atlético de Madrid is eliminated in the quarterfinals by Valencia. SEMIFINALS IDA Real Madrid 2 - Barcelona 4. Puskas scores for Madrid, the other Mateos; Di Stefano and Gento the assistants. With a 2-0 at halftime, Barcelona scored 4 goals in the 2nd half. 2 Kocsis and 2 Suárez score for Barcelona. The assists, 2 from Tejada, Suárez and Segarra. Outstanding for Santamaría, Segarra, Gensana, Tejada and Suárez. SEMIFINALS VUELTA Barcelona 3 - Real Madrid 1. Suárez returns to get two goals and is rated with outstanding. Santamaría also achieves that qualification. Gento scored the goal for Madrid. FINAL Barcelona 4 - Granada 1. Marcan Martínez, Kocsis (2) and Tejada. Outstanding Tejada and Suárez. He did not play Kubala. Once again, Suárez is detached.
SPANISH SELECTION (in parentheses, Marca ratings) Eurocup: First round (first leg): Poland 2 - Spain 4: Ramallets; Olivella, Garay, Gracia (debut); Segarra, Gensana; Tejada, Mateos, Di Stéfano, Suárez and Gento. There were no ratings on Marca. Others called: Carmelo, Rodri, Del Sol, Peiró and Collar. They scored: Suárez (2) and Di Stéfano (2) Friendlies: Spain 6 - Northern Ireland 2: Alonso (1) (debut); Quincoces II (1), Santamaría (2) (debut), Lesmes II (0); Santisteban (0), Zárraga (1); Tejada (3), Kubala (3), Di Stéfano (3), Suárez (3) and Gento (1). Others summoned: Carmelo, Segarra, Sendra, Miguel, Rial and Marsal. They score Tejada (4), Kubala and Suárez. Assists: Di Stefano (2) and Suárez. For Northern Ireland they played among others: Blanchflower, Bingham, McParland and McIlroy. Italy 1 - Spain 1: Alonso; Quincoces II, Santamaría, Segarra; Santisteban, Gensana; Tejada, Kubala, Di Stéfano, Suárez and Gento. No ratings are offered but Di Stefano is said to have been the best and Suárez the worst. Others summoned: Carmelo, Gracia, Zárraga, Miguel and Tercero. Di Stéfano marca goal. Kubala's assistance. For Italy they played among others: Buffon, Ghiggia, Lojacono and Montuori. Summary: 3 games; 2 wins and 1 draw. 11 goals for and 5 against. Matches: Ramallets: 1; Alonso: 2. Olivella: 1. Garay: 1. Santamaría: 2. Grace: 1. Segarra: 2 Gensana: 2; Luis Suárez: 3.Kubala: 2. Di Stéfano: 3. Gento: 3. Tejada: 3. Mateos: 1. Quincoces II: 2; Lesmes II: 1; Zárraga: 1 Scorers: Tejada: 4; Di Stefano: 3; Luis Suarez: 3; Kubala: 1 SPAIN B 3 - ITALY B 1: Araquistain (2); Olivella (1), Gensana (3), Mestre (1); Vergés (1), Chuzo (3); Antoniet (0), Marsal (1), Martínez (0), Peiró (3), Collar (1). Peiró scores all 3 goals. Collar and Martínez give an assist per head. SPAIN B 2 - TURKEY 0: Araquistáin (1); Sastre (2), Rodri (3), Mestre (1); Del Sol (2), Ruiz Sosa (3); Torres (1) Peiró (2), Pepillo (1), Ribelles (1), Collar (0) Marcan Peiró and Pepillo; Del Sol and Peiró assist.
CLASES CLASE MUNDIAL Luis Suárez (Barcelona) CLASE INTERNACIONAL Gento (Real Madrid) Ramallets (Barcelona) Segarra (Barcelona) CLASE NACIONAL Bartolí (Español) Ansola (Real Sociedad) Carmelo (Atlético de Bilbao) Gensana (Barcelona) Mauri (Atlético de Bilbao) Gracia (Barcelona) Rivilla (Atlético de Madrid) Peiró (Atlético de Madrid) Collar (Atlético de Madrid) Etura (Atlético de Bilbao) Del Sol (Betis) Gaínza (Atlético de Bilbao) Quincoces II (Valencia) Tercero (Valencia) Callejo (Atlético de Madrid) Tejada (Barcelona) Miguel (Atlético de Madrid) Olivella (Barcelona) Chuzo (Atlético de Madrid) Maguregui (Atlético de Bilbao) Orué (Atlético de Bilbao) RÁNKING PARCIAL 1.- Luis Suárez (Barcelona) 2.- Segarra (Barcelona) 3.- Gento (Real Madrid) 4.- Ramallets (Barcelona) 5.- Del Sol (Betis) 6.- Tejada (Barcelona) 7.- Mauri (Atlético de Bilbao) 8.- Callejo (Atlético de Madrid) 9.- Collar (Atlético de Madrid) 10.- Ansola (Real Sociedad) 11.- Peiró (Atlético de Madrid) 12.- Etura (Atlético de Bilbao) 13.- Miguel (Atlético de Madrid) 14.- Gracia (Barcelona) 15.- Maguregui (Atlético de Bilbao) 16.- Tercero (Valencia) 17.- Gensana (Barcelona) 18.- Orué (Atlético de Bilbao) 19.- Rivilla (Atlético de Madrid) 20.- Carmelo (Atlético de Bilbao) 21.- Olivella (Barcelona) 22.- Chuzo (Atlético de Madrid) 23.- Bartolí (Español) 24.- Quincoces II (Valencia) 25.- Gaínza (Atlético de Bilbao) XI IDEAL Ramallets; Orué, Callejo, Gracia; Mauri, Segarra; Tejada, Del Sol, Peiró, Luis Suárez, Gento. I will place Segarra on the left, a place that is not unknown to him, and thus be able to include Mauri, who held that position with Atlético de Bilbao, in the ideal eleven. I will reward Del Sol's superb season by putting him as a right inside, even though he shined as a left winger. As there are no national center forwards likely to be included in this eleven, I will be inclined to include Peiró despite having played as a left inside.
@Titanlux , what is your view of Marti Verges? He comes off very good in early World Soccer issues, and might earn a high rank. Zarraga is another one I'm interested in. He stood out in the NT-games he played, but earned precious few caps. Actually, would love to hear if you have any strong opinions on any Spanish defenders and halves of the late-50s in general, before I make my final rankings for that era.
Hello mate, precisely at this time I had just sent a comment to your post in the top 23. I try to answer the questions you ask me. For some weeks now, I have been analyzing the seasons in Spain and in the rest of the world with all the care that my free time allows me. I started with 1959-60, I continued through 1958-59 and in the last 10 days, I am "struggling" with the 1957-58 season, coinciding with your post. I start with Vergés. In none of the seasons that I have analyzed so far, I get the impression that this player stands out especially on the national scene. I think that precisely in 1960-61 there was more talk about him. I get the feeling that, since Segarra began to play more frequently in midfield, Vergés came in at specific times to replace him or Gensana. Frankly, I would not include him in a top list, although it is possible that he had some outstanding streaks. I think I remember that in his first eleven year, Eric Batty included him, which surprised me quite a bit. I should dig through my archive to see if in the early part of the 1960-61 season he did anything that might justify that inclusion. At this time, it is a surprising fact that I do not explain. Regarding Zárraga, it did not seem appropriate to include him at the end of the 1950s; at this point I am wondering if I could include him among the "national class" Spaniards for the 1957-58 season. He formed a couple, both in Real Madrid and in the Spanish team, with Santisteban, although the impression he gives me is that while Santisteban was more talented, Zárraga used himself more hard and with "heart". Undoubtedly, his participation in the first European Cups of Real Madrid, gave him a fame, which possibly "inflated" his individual category more than real. In any case, this one could be a more serious candidate than Vergés to be in a top 100 Spanish of all time. You also ask me about a general impression of defenders and midfielders in the 50s. As I have told you, in order to make a much more accurate comment, I have to focus more on reading the sports press and bibliography of this period. However, I think Garay would stand out among defenders, with some good times from Biosca. Among the midfielders, surely Puchades and Gonzalvo III. Panizo played indoors, but I think it is fair to recognize him a little more than he is recognized (surely all the fame went to Zarra and Gainza) Perhaps, the data that I am putting on the best Spaniards of each season can serve you. As I go "gutting" my file, I will be able to give you more information about these two players, but I think I am not misguided about what I have told you.
Verges wasn't just a favorite of Batty, but also a lock among readers. Yeah, it could be he had an amazing autumn or a high-profile moment right before the votes, and it was a quiet time for wing-halves (the other choice Zanetic doesn't seem first tier level, either). It'll be good if I don't have to include any Spanish halves, because that area is crowded in the late-50s.
1957-58 Friendlies At the level of unofficial matches, these abound throughout the season, although, without a doubt, the most interesting was the double encounter between Wolverhampton and Real Madrid. The first of them was played in England and ended with a victory for the Wolves (without Wright) by 3 to 2, although Madrid's great game stands out. Months later, the British return visit and tie at 2, this time with Wright. According to the chronicles, on this occasion, Real Madrid disappoints, in particular Alfredo Di Stéfano. LEAGUE Real Madrid win in relative comfort and with key victories against direct rivals. Although Di Stefano lowers his level somewhat, he is still a basic player in the team, although this year, Frenchman Raymond Kopa, who is elected at the end of the Golden Ball season, steals the spot. Gento continues to score at a high level and with him, Santisteban. The signing of Santamaría would be a great success as his great season shows. Rial achieves the important figure of 17 goals and is a fixed player in the team. Another interior, Marsal stood out on several occasions and in 20 games, he scored 12 goals. The other club from Madrid, Atletico de Madrid has had a very good season and fights for the title against its great rival. In this season, Peiró and Miguel had a great role, the first with 17 goals and 7 assists, and the second with 11 goals and 9 assists. Other highlights in the team were Callejo and the very young Chuzo, a youth who since he made his debut with the team had brilliant performances. Barcelona finished 3rd, but had several rather disappointing games. Without a doubt, his best man was Kubala who, in 18 games, scored 9 goals and gave 7 assists. Sanctions and injuries weighed heavily on the season for Luis Suárez, who only stood out in a few loose games. Segarra, without having a spectacular season, was quite regular. Of the rest, I would mention Basora, the veteran winger, who in his last season made a gap between the enormous competition in the team and finished the league with 6 goals and as many assists. In Valencia, who finished in 4th position, his main element was defender Quincoces. For Athletic Bilbao (6th) I would highlight mainly 3 players: Carmelo, Garay (central defender, who curiously was placed in some games as a left winger) and José Luis Arteche who scored 14 goals and gave 7 assists. From the rest of the teams, I could distinguish some goalkeepers, mainly Araquistáin from Real Sociedad and the veteran Ignacio Eizaguirre (37 years old). Another young man, Ruiz Sosa is another focus of attention in the fields of Spain.
EUROPEAN CUP 1st PHASE Benfica 0 - Sevilla 0 Ruiz Sosa was the best. 1/8 Seville 4 - Aarhus 0 Excellent Ruiz Sosa. Antwerp 1 - Real Madrid 2 Goals: Di Stefano (2) Assistance: Kopa. Real Madrid 6 - Antwerp 0: Goals: Rial (3), Marsal, Kopa and Gento. Assists: Kopa (3) and Di Stefano (2) Aarhus 2 - Seville 0 1/4 Real Madrid 8 - Sevilla 0: Goals: Di Stefano (4), Kopa (2), Marsal and Gento. Assists: Rial (2) and Gento. Ratings: Zárraga approved. Santamaría, Kopa and Marsal remarkable. Santisteban, Di Stéfano, Rial and Gento outstanding. Sevilla 2 - Real Madrid 2: The best Santamaría and Di Stefano. Qualifications: Santamaría (7), Zárraga (6), Kopa (6), Di Stefano (9). SEMIFINALS Real Madrid 4 - Vasas 0 Goals: Di Stefano 3 and Marsal. Rial and Gento attend. Qualifications: Santamaría (6), Santisteban (9), Zárraga (7), Kopa (6), Marsal (7), Di Stefano (9), Rial (9), Gento (7). Vasas 2 - Real Madrid 0 Marsal fine. FINAL Real Madrid 3 - Milan 2 Goals: Di Stefano, Rial and Gento. 2 assists from Kopa. Di Stefano stressed. Real Madrid win the European Cup again, with a stellar performance by Di Stefano, very well accompanied by Kopa, Rial, Santisteban, Gento and Santamaría. Sevilla eliminate the Portuguese and Danish champions, but are unlucky enough to find Real Madrid, who beat them at the Bernabéu. The Andalusians, who neglected enough the league to face the European championship, are eliminated in the quarterfinals, standing out above all of them, the midfielder Ruiz Sosa.
FAIR CUP SEMIFINALS Birmingham 4 - Barcelona 3 -. Tejada scores one of the goals. Barcelona 1 - Birmingham 0 Kubala goal in great play. Barcelona 2 - Birmingham 1. Goal at the end of Kubala that was the figure. Magnificent Kubala FINAL London 2 - Barcelona 2. 1 goal from Tejada. Barcelona 6 - London 0 Suárez 2 goals, Evaristo another 2. 3 assists from Basora. Barcelona wins the Fairs Cup that had started almost 3 years earlier. Kubala's participation during the semifinals was sensational. Suárez reached the last game where he played a great game. Very regular and prominent was Basora.