Name Joaquin Perona | Role Footballer | |
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Died November 6, 2002, Barbastro, Spain | ||
Joaquín Navarro Perona (2 August 1921 – 6 November 2002) was a Spanish professional footballer who played as a defender.
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Club career
Born in Gavà, Barcelona, Catalonia, Navarro moved to local and La Liga giants FC Barcelona in 1941, from hometown club CF Gavà. In his only season at the Camp Nou he won the Copa del Generalísimo, but appeared sparingly in the league albeit scoring three goals.
Subsequently Navarro joined neighbouring CE Sabadell FC in Segunda División, promoting in his first year. In the following six seasons he suffered two top flight relegations with the club, and netted a career-best five goals in 21 games in the 1947–48 campaign as the Arlequinats finished in 12th position, narrowly avoiding another drop.
In the 1949 summer Navarro signed for Real Madrid, playing in 21 matches (one goal) in his first season. During his eight-year spell with the Merengues he appeared in 272 official contests and won six major titles, including three leagues and two European Cups, contributing with three appearances in the 1955–56 edition of the latter competition.
Navarro retired in 1957 at the age of 36, playing in 288 top level games over the course of 14 seasons. He died on 6 November 2002 in Barbastro, Aragon, aged 81.
International career
Navarro played five times for Spain during slightly less than one year. He made his debut on 7 December 1952 in a 0–1 friendly loss with Argentina, in Madrid.
Additionally, Navarro was the first Spanish player to be selected to a World XI FIFA team, appearing in a 4–4 draw against England at Wembley on 21 October 1953 and being subsequently nicknamed El Fifo.
Personal life
Navarro's younger brother, Alfonso (born 8 April 1929), was also a footballer. A forward, he too played for Barcelona (1946–50, 1954–56) and Real Madrid (1950–51), also representing Real Valladolid, CA Osasuna and CD Condal in an 11-year professional career.
Navarro II died on 10 August 1969 at the age of only 40, after a long battle with illness.