La Liga old rankings (Marca & Mundo Deportivo)

Some time ago I found a great website, Arefepedia, about spanish football, there is it posted links to old newspapers and magazines including Don Balon, Marca, Mundo Deportivo and others. I've been excited to find old reports with match grades to players in local and international competition with spanish sides taking part on it.

In case of Marca, they had a great recognition among contemporaries and was arguably the first one spanish media to rating players week in week out. The scale was from 0-3:
3 - Outstanding
2 - Notable
1 - Sufficient
0 - Fail

Check the equivalent to academic grading with a scale from 0-10. There's also a note (-) when a player had injury at the start of the match, being useless for the rest of the game (in a no-substitution era).

Well, I can't see the season resume, so it was a hard work to get the resume of the season. Maybe somebody could provide help to complete other seasons.

 

Season 1961-62 (Marca ratings)

Nº - Player---Role----Club---Country---Games---Rating

01) ZOCO, Ignacio -------------- RM --- Osasuna --- Spain -- 28 -- 2,07
02) RIVILLA, Feliciano --------- RB - Atletico M. -- Spain -- 25 -- 2,04
03) CAMPANAL; M.Vaquero - CB ---- Sevilla ---- Spain -- 24 -- 2,00
04) SANTAMARIA, José E. ---- CB -- Real Ma. --- Spain* - 26 -- 1,96
05) IBORRA, Vicente ------------ CB ----- Elche ----- Spain -- 25 -- 1,92
06) DI STEFANO, Alfredo ----- CF --- Real Ma. --- Spain* - 23 -- 1,91
07) CARMELO Cedrún -------- GK -- Athletic B. -- Spain -- 30 -- 1,90
08) INDIO; Aluizio da Luz ---- CF ---- Español --- Brazil -- 27 -- 1,89
09) ITURRIAGA, Pedro ------- LM -- Athletic B. -- Spain -- 30 -- 1,87
10) SERENA, Fernando -------- RW --- Osasuna --- Spain -- 26 -- 1,85

11) RÉ, Cayetano ----------- CF ----- Elche -- Paraguay -- 23 -- 1,83
12) TONI Cuervo ----------- RB ---- Oviedo --- Spain ---- 23 -- 1,83
13) SANTAMARÍA, Fco. - CB -- Santander -- Spain --- 30 -- 1,77
14) CORRAL, José María - GK ----- Betis ----- Spain ---- 22 -- 1,77
15) REIJA, Severino -------- LB -- Zaragoza --- Spain ---- 29 -- 1,76
16) CORREA, Carlos ------ CB --- Tenerife - Uruguay -- 29 -- 1,76
17) COLO; Julio Santaella - RB --- Tenerife --- Spain ---- 24 -- 1,75
18) RIBADA, Luis ----------- LW -- Osasuna --- Spain ---- 30 -- 1,73
19) ACHÚCARRO, Ignacio - LM --- Sevilla - Paraguay -- 25 -- 1,72
20) ECHEBERRIA, Luis ----- CB -- Athletic B. -- Spain --- 29 -- 1,72

21) PAQUITO; Fco. García ---- LM ---- Oviedo --- Spain --- 29 -- 1,72
22) ZAMORA, Ricardo ---------- GK --- Mallorca -- Spain --- 24 -- 1,71
23) PACHIN; Enrique Pérez --- LM --- Real Ma. -- Spain --- 25 -- 1,68
24) RECAMAN, Décio ---------- LM --- Valencia --- Brazil -- 25 -- 1,68
25) GUILLAMÓN, Fernando --- RB ---- Mallorca -- Spain -- 28 -- 1,68
26) SEGARRA, Juan ---------- LM/RM - Barcelona - Spain -- 19 -- 1,68
27) PAUET; Vicente Pascual ---- LW ------ Elche ---- Spain -- 23 -- 1,65
28) EVARISTO de Macedo --- CF/IL -- Barcelona -- Brazil -- 22 -- 1,64
29) ARAQUISTAIN, José ------- GK ----- Real Ma. --- Spain -- 25 -- 1,64
30) IGUARÁN, Miguel --------- RM ----- Oviedo ---- Spain -- 28 -- 1,64

31) CALLEJO, Alberto ---------- CB -- Atletico M. -- Spain --- 24 -- 1,63
32) JOANET, Benito ------------- GK ---- Español --- Spain --- 19 -- 1,63
33) ROMERO, Juan Ángel ------ IL ------- Elche -- Paraguay - 29 -- 1,62
34) DEL SOL, Luis ---------------- IR ----- Real Ma. --- Spain --- 26 -- 1,62
35) CALLEJA, Isacio ------------- LB --- Atletico M. -- Spain -- 26 -- 1,62
36) YARZA, Enrique ------------- GK ---- Zaragoza --- Spain -- 26 -- 1,62
37) GENSANA, Enrique ----- CB/LM - Barcelona --- Spain -- 21 -- 1,62
38) ADELARDO Rodríguez ---- IR ---- Atletico M. -- Spain -- 23 -- 1,61
39) GRACIA, Sigfrido ----------- LB ----- Barcelona --- Spain -- 30 -- 1,60
40) RUIZ SOSA, Manuel ------- RM ------- Sevilla ---- Spain -- 20 -- 1,60

41) MIGUEL González ------- RW --- Zaragoza ----- Spain --- 29 -- 1,59
42) AGUIRRE I, Koldo --------- IR --- Athletic B. ---- Spain --- 29 -- 1,59
43) BOSCH, Andrés ----------- LM ------- Betis -------- Spain --- 22 -- 1,59
44) QUIRANT, Miguel -------- LB ------- Elche -------- Spain --- 26 -- 1,58
45) ORUE, José María ---------- RB ---- Athletic B. ---- Spain --- 24 -- 1,58
46) JONES, Miguel --------- RW/CF - Atletico M. - Guinea Ec - 19 -- 1,58
47) SEMINARIO, Juan --------- IL ------ Zaragoza ------ Perú ---- 30 -- 1,57
48) PAQUILLO; Fco. Vega --- RW ----- Tenerife ------ Spain --- 28 -- 1,57
49) VILLAVERDE, Ramón - IL/LW -- Barcelona -- Uruguay -- 21 -- 1,57
50) ARQUÉ, Jaime ------------- RM ---- Mallorca ----- Spain ---- 27 -- 1,56

Bonus
SOCRATES Belenguer ---------------- CB -- Valencia --- Spain --- 18 -- 1,56
RODRI; Fco. Rodríguez Campoy -- RM ---- Elche ----- Spain --- 29 -- 1,55
MESTRE, Manuel ---------------------- LB -- Valencia ---- Spain --- 29 -- 1,55
RAMOS, Héctor ----------------------- RM - Santander - Uruguay - 22 -- 1,55
PIQUER, Vicente ---------------------- RB --- Valencia ---- Spain --- 22 -- 1,55

 

The meanings for role are: GK-goalkeeper, RB-right back, CB-centerback, LB-left back, RM-right mid, LM-left mid, RW-right winger, IR-inside right, CF-centreforward, IL-inside left, LW-left winger.

The reports were listed in a WM ordering, but at that time most clubs had playing in a 4-2-4 formation, mostly with the Left Mid as Fourth back and the Inside Right as the Second Midfielder.

Ideal team 1961-62 (Marca)
--------------- Carmelo
Rivilla ------- Campanal ------- Reija
--------- Zoco --------- Iturriaga
----- Del Sol ------------- Evaristo
Serena ------- Di Stefano ------- Ribada

 

Stars not included 1961-62

Low rating
"Paco" Gento - Real Madrid
Ferenc Puskas - Real Madrid
Sandor Kocsis - Barcelona
Enrique Collar - Atlético Madrid
Joaquín Peiró - Atlético Madrid
Edgardo Madinabeytia - Atlético Madrid
Marcelino Martínez - Zaragoza
Juan B.Agüero - Sevilla
Waldo Machado - Valencia
Helmut Senekowitsch - Betis
Agne Simonsson - R.Sociedad

Less than 18 matches
Rogelio Domínguez - Real Madrid
Canario - Real Madrid
Jesús Garay - Barcelona
Julio C.Benítez - Barcelona
Eulogio Martínez - Barcelona
Ferran Olivella - Barcelona
Tibor Szalay - Barcelona
"Chus" Pereda - Barcelona
Jorge Griffa - Atlético Madrid
Jorge Mendonça - Atlético Madrid
Carlos Lapetra - Zaragoza
Florencio Amarilla - Elche
Zoltan Czibor - Español
Héctor Rial - Español
Silvio Parodi - R.Santander

http://www.bdfutbol.com/t/t1961-62.html

 

The final results are similar to Don Balon for the 1976-88 era: top ratings value, number of players increasing when the rating value is decreasing and so on.

Maybe somebody considered a high amount of matches such as 80% (24 matches) or something like that as the minimun to be included. I traced the line in 60% (18/30 matches), since in this era, no substitutions were allowed (excluding keepers), injuries were harder to heal and for monthly ratings I saw, more often in other rankings, include players with >2 games per month and playing >60% of matches that month.

Another thing is the eventual bias or error when rating players (Big Soccer posters had their different opinions for the WC2014 for example), since the scale is small (0-3) it can be taken as a deviation the 10% of matches rated, in this case the list included players with 18 to 30 matches, so the error will be for 2 or 3 matches observed.

For example, José Santamaría has 1,96 in 26 matches, but with a deviation of +/- 3 points, his max rating could be 2,08
His competition for CB role, Campanal has 2,00 in 24 matches, with a deviation of +/- 2 points, his min rating could be 1,92

So, even when raw data show Campanal > Santamaría performance in the 1961-62 season, including observation error could be posible that Santamaría > Campanal performance.

Resuming, for my personal impression, any of the top 9 places could be named the Player of the Season 1961-62 in the spanish domestic league.

 

With the considerations above mentioned, I personally will made two changes: J.Santamaria x Campanal and Seminario x Ribada.

 

My impression about best players in La Liga 1961-62:

4 stars: none

3 stars: 4 players
Zoco, Rivilla, Campanal, José Santamaría & Di Stéfano

2 stars: 29 players
Iborra, Carmelo, Indio, Iturriaga, Serena, Cayetano Ré, Toni Cuervo, Francisco Santamaría, Corral, Reija, Correa, Colo, Ribada, Achúcarro, Echeberría, Paquito, R.Zamora II, Pachín, Segarra, Evaristo, Araquistáin, Romerito, Del Sol, Calleja, Adelardo, Gracia, Koldo Aguirre, Seminario & Jones.


This is based in domestic league only, maybe international competition could push some players highly this season, especially from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.

 

Season 1962-63 (Marca ratings)

Nº - Player---Role----Club---Country---Games---Rating

01) GARAY, Jesús ------------------- CB -- Barcelona --- Spain --- 28 - 2,07
02) PINI, Mario ---------------------- CB - Valladolid - Uruguay - 28 - 1,96
03) PAQUITO; Francisco García - LM -- Oviedo ---- Spain ---- 28 - 1,96
04) RAMOS, Héctor ----------------- RM ---- Elche --- Uruguay - 18 - 1,94
05) CARMELO Cedrún ------------ GK - Athletic B. -- Spain --- 28 - 1,89
06) AGUIRRE I, Koldo ------------- RM - Athletic B. -- Spain --- 25 - 1,88
07) RIVILLA, Feliciano ------------- RB - Atletico M --- Spain -- 21 - 1,86
08) SANCHÍS, Manuel ------------ LM - Valladolid --- Spain --- 29 - 1,83
09) GRIFFA, Jorge ------------------ CB - Atletico M - Argentina - 23 - 1,83
10) MINGORANCE, José --------- CB -- Córdoba ----- Spain --- 28 - 1,82

11) RAMÍREZ, Carlos ------------- RM - Valladolid --- Spain --- 26 - 1,81
12) SÁNCHEZ LAGE, José Ma. - IR ----- Oviedo - Argentina - 29 - 1,79
13) URIARTE, Fidel --------------- LM --- Athletic B. --- Spain -- 23 - 1,78
14) ENDÉRIZ, Eduardo ----------- IR --- Valladolid - Uruguay - 21 - 1,76
15) BETANCORT, Antonio ------ GK - D.La Coruña -- Spain -- 24 - 1,75
16) ARGOITIA, José María -------- IL -- Athletic B. ---- Spain --- 19 - 1,74
17) AMANCIO Amaro ------------ RW -- Real Mad ---- Spain --- 28 - 1,71
18) COLLAR, Enrique ------------- LW - Atletico M ---- Spain ---- 27 - 1,70
19) MADINABEYTIA, Edgardo - GK - Atletico M - Argentina - 27 - 1,70
20) DOMINGUEZ, José ------------ LB - D.La Coruña -- Spain --- 30 - 1,70

21) ZAMACONA, José María - CB -- Osasuna -- Spain - 30 - 1,70
22) ECHEBERRIA, Luis --------- CB - Athletic B. - Spain - 23 - 1,70
23) SANTAMARÍA, Francisco - CB - Zaragoza - Spain - 29 - 1,69
24) MESTRE, Manuel ----------- LB --- Valencia - Spain - 28 - 1,68
25) GUERRICA, Antonio ------ GK -- Osasuna -- Spain - 25 - 1,68
26) SIGI; Sigifredo Martínez ---- IL - Zaragoza -- Perú -- 18 - 1,67
27) CHICAO; Fco. dos Santos - LM - Valencia - Brazil - 24 - 1,67
28) GRAU, Francesc ------------- RB ----- Betis ---- Spain - 21 - 1,67
29) MULLER, Lucien ----------- RM - Real Mad - France - 26 - 1,65
30) LASA, León ---------------- LM/IL -- Betis ---- Spain - 26 - 1,65

31) RUIZ, Félix --------------------- IR -- Real Mad -- Spain - 23 - 1,65
32) QUINCOCES, Juan Carlos - CB -- Valencia --- Spain - 23 - 1,65
33) AMERICO Canas ----------- GK ---- Málaga ---- Spain - 20 - 1,65
34) VELOSO, José L. Fidalgo - CF - D.La Coruña - Spain - 27 - 1,63
35) GLARÍA, Jesús -------------- LM -- Atletico M -- Spain - 29 - 1,62
36) GENTO, Francisco --------- LW --- Real Mad -- Spain - 23 - 1,61
37) CALLEJA, Isacio ------------ LB -- Atletico M -- Spain - 18 - 1,61
38) CORRAL, José María ------ GK ----- Betis ------ Spain - 18 - 1,61
39) ARANGUREN, Jesús ------ LB -- Athletic B. -- Spain - 18 - 1,61
40) BENEGAS, Juan ------------ GK --- Córdoba --- Spain - 30 - 1,60

41) TONI Cuervo -------------------- RB --- Oviedo -- Spain - 25 - 1,60
42) RODILLA, José Ma. Sánchez - IL - Valladolid - Spain - 25 - 1,60
43) CALVO, Pedro ----------------- GK - Valladolid - Spain - 27 - 1,59
44) ADELARDO Rodríguez ------ IR - Atletico M - Spain - 26 - 1,58
45) HORMAECHE, José ------ RM/IR - Osasuna -- Spain - 24 - 1,58
46) REIJA, Severino --------------- RB -- Zaragoza -- Spain - 19 - 1,58
47) VÁZQUEZ, Juan ------------- RW -- Córdoba --- Spain - 19 - 1,58
48) ROMERO, Juan Angel ------- IL ----- Elche - Paraguay - 30 - 1,57
49) IBORRA, Vicente ------------- CB ----- Elche --- Spain --- 28 - 1,57
50) VERDU, Juan ------------------ RB -- Valencia -- Spain -- 23 - 1,57


Bonus
MOROLLÓN, Emilio --------- CF - Valladolid ---- Spain ---- 30 - 1,57
PAZOS, Manuel --------------- GK ----- Elche ------- Spain ---- 27 - 1,56
DATZIRA, José ---------------- CB ----- Oviedo ----- Spain ---- 25 - 1,56
ARAMENDI, Héctor --------- RW - Valladolid - Argentina - 29 - 1,55
RAMIRO Rodrigues ---------- RM - Atletico M --- Brazil --- 20 - 1,55
RIVERA, Cesáreo ------------- IL/IR --- Sevilla ----- Spain --- 20 - 1,55
LAPETRA, Carlos --------------- LW -- Zaragoza --- Spain --- 28 - 1,54
CHANCHO; Santiago García - RB --- Elche ------ Spain -- 28 - 1,54

 

Reports were listed in a WM ordering, but at that time most clubs had playing in a 4-2-4 formation, mostly with the Left Mid as Fourth back and the Inside Right as the Second Midfielder.

Ideal team 1962-63 (Marca)
--------------- Carmelo
Rivilla --------- Garay --------- Calleja
-------- Ramos -------- Paquito
---- Sánchez Lage -------- Argoitia
Amancio -------- Veloso --------- Collar



I personally pick: K.Aguirre x Ramos and Sigi x Argoitia.

 

Stars not included 1962-63

Low rating
J.Santamaría, F.Puskas - Real Madrid
J.Mendoza, M.Jones - Atlético Madrid
C.Lapetra, Marcelino - Zaragoza
S.Gracia, J.Peredá, C.Ré, R.Villaverde - Barcelona
Waldo Machado, H.Núñez - Valencia
O.Montalvo - D.La Coruña
Luis Aragonés - Betis
Campanal, Canario, I.Achucarro - Sevilla
F.Serena, L.Ribada - Osasuna

Less than 18 matches
Di Stéfano, Zoco, Evaristo - Real Madrid
J.Peiró - Atlético Madrid
J.Seminario - Zaragoza
Olivella, J.Segarra, JC.Benítez, L.Cubilla, S.Kocsis - Barcelona
Eulogio Martínez - Elche
P.Iturriaga - Athletic Bilbao
H.Senekowitsch, J.Kuzsmann - Betis
Gallego, J.Agüero - Sevilla

http://www.bdfutbol.com/t/t1962-63.html

 

My own ranking about best players in La Liga 1962-63:

4 stars: none

3 stars: 3 players
Garay, M.Pini & Paquito

2 stars: 30 players
Ramos, Carmelo, Aguirre I, Rivilla, Sanchis, Griffa, Mingorance, Ramirez, Sánchez Lage, Uriarte. Enderiz, Betancort, Argoitia, Amancio, Collar, Madinabeytia, Domínguez, Zamacona, Echeberría, Fco.Santamaría, Mestre, Guerrica, Sigi, L.Muller, Glaría, Paco Gento, Calleja, Adelardo, Reija & Romerito.


btw, any of the top-6 in the 1962-63 Marca ranking could had an option to be Best Player in the season.

 

1961-62 season remarks:

- Zoco starred especially at the middle of the season.
- Rivilla and Campanal had a notable regularity playing at very good level.
- Santamaría, also a remarkable regularity, but the last months played few matches due to health problems.
- Di Stefano had a great start of the season, but the injuries affected his second half of the season.

Other famous players:
- Del Sol had a world class first half of the season, but a terrible second half of the season.
- Puskas nothing remarkably this season, I guess he played more as a poacher.
- Peiro had a very good start of the season, then decreased his level and played less, save his best for the Cup Winners' Cup, maybe?
- Gento, just a good first half of the season and then declining.
- Evaristo had an irregular season, up and down in his performances.
- Kocsis, only December as a display of the player he used to be.
- Waldo played better in the second than the first half of the season, world class in september and february.
- Seminario starred the first months and then his level decreased since he became the main focus of marking.
- Vicente just played 3 league games this season.
- Kubala had his first season as coach.
- Luis Suárez had his first season in Serie-A.

 

Here is the excel in Drive, any suggestions will be welcome.
If anyone is interested to work in other seasons, please let me know to let Edit the spreadsheet in Drive
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0lo9QT6ef9PVFV2S0pSb3VHdGM/view?usp=sharing

 

1962-63 season remarks:

- Garay played at a very high level, especially in the first half of the season. The previous season also starred, but played few matches at the start.
- Pini was very consistent and great at the back, especially the start of the season.
- Paquito also consistent and very good performances.

Other famous players:
- Di Stéfano played at great level, but missed many matches since february.
- Amancio, had a very good debut, him and Sanchís were the better rookies.
- Gento, played at his best at mid season.
- Santamaría and Puskas just regular, but ended the season playing a good level.
- Vicente was irregular, but played a great level at mid season.
- Zoco, recent signed by Real Madrid, show poor form, being out of the starting eleven.
- Peiro played a world class level and then was signed by Serie-A
- Rivilla, played better at 1962. Collar was irregular, but better at mid season.
- Seminario played from less to more, when signed by Serie-A. Then replaced by Sigi, called "peruvian sun".
- Kocsis and Cubilla, were substitutes this season.
- Evaristo only played 7 games, mostly in 1963.
- Waldo also irregular, playing better at mid season.

 

My ranking for the period 1961/63

4 stars: -

3 stars: Jesús Garay, Rivilla, Di Stéfano, Carmelo Cedrún

2 stars: Griffa, Zoco, Paquito, J.Santamaría, Iborra, Reija, F.Santamaría, H.Ramos, K.Aguirre, Echeberría, Toni, Corral, Iturriaga, Serena, Yarza, Calleja, Campanal II, Romerito, Sánchez Lage, Adelardo, Mestre, Zamora II, Collar, Guerrica, J.Seminario, Glaría, Quincocés II, Iguarán, Cayetano Ré, C.Lapetra, Gento, Marcelino, Waldo, Gracia, Madinabeytía, Achúcarro. Orué, Senekowitsch and Bosch.

1 star: Puskas, Pachín, Villaverde, Jones, Mendoça, ...


< 36 matches: Vicente, Canario, Segarra, Evaristo, Eulogio Martínez, JC.Benítez, Kocsis, Agüero, Fusté, Indio, Czibor, Rial, Simonsson, Correa, Pini, Sanchís, Amancio and L.Muller

Abroad: L.Suárez, Del Sol and Peiró

 

Replacing the excel with a google spreadsheet.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...1qgQrdoBV5mPSKv9rh3p_kaBfk/edit#gid=181060761

 

Yeah, you're right.
I've been surprised to see the low rating for Puskas who was the main goalscorer.

From the non-rated players in the 1962-63 season, Di Stefano had a 1,92 in 13 matches.