Full name Rafael Moreno Aranzadi Name Rafael Aranzadi Place of birth Bilbao, Spain Role Footballer | Place of death Bilbao, Spain Height 1.54 m Playing position Position Forward | |
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Date of birth (1892-05-23)23 May 1892 Date of death 1 March 1922(1922-03-01) (aged 29) Died March 1, 1922, Bilbao, Spain Parents Dalmacia Aranzadi y Unamuno, Joaquin Moreno Goni | ||
Athletic fundacion pichichi 2 min
Rafael Moreno Aranzadi (23 May 1892 – 1 March 1922), known as Pichichi, was a Spanish footballer who played as a forward.
Contents
- Athletic fundacion pichichi 2 min
- Rafael moreno aranzadi el primer pichichi
- Club career
- International career
- Personal life
- Club
- International
- References
He played for Athletic Bilbao during the 1910s and 1920s.
Rafael moreno aranzadi el primer pichichi
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 0–1 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 new ground; he received his nickname because of his frail build.
Easily identifiable on the pitch due to a white cloth he tied to his head, 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. He died on 2 March 1922 at the age of only 29, victim of a sudden attack of typhus. He scored a total of 83 goals in 89 games for the club.
International career
In 1920, Pichichi was a member of the very first Spain national team that played at the Summer Olympic Games in Belgium. He earned five senior caps during one month, his debut coming on 28 August in a 1–0 win against Denmark.
Personal life
Pichichi's father was mayor of Bilbao, and he was Miguel de Unamuno's nephew. Both he and his future wife were immortalised in a painting by Aurelio Arteta.
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. Despite concerns that it might not be accommodated at Athletic's new ground, a suitable spot was identified at the entrance to the players' tunnel, allowing the tradition to continue at the new location from 2013 onwards.
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.