Rodri (footballer, born 1934)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Francisco Rodríguez García | ||
| Date of birth | 8 March 1934 | ||
| Place of birth | Barcelona, Spain | ||
| Date of death | 17 May 2022 (aged 88) | ||
| Place of death | Spain | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1951–1954 | Barcelona | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1954–1956 | España Industrial | 37 | (0) |
| 1956–1958 | Condal | 62 | (0) |
| 1958–1966 | Barcelona | 82 | (0) |
| 1964 | → Gimnàstic (loan) | ||
| Total | 181 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1959 | Spain B | 1 | (0) |
| 1962 | Spain | 4 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1966–1969 | Barcelona (youth) | ||
| 1969–1970 | Condal | ||
| 1970–1976 | Barcelona (assistant) | ||
| 1983 | Catalonia (youth) | ||
| 1986–1989 | Catalonia (youth) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Francisco Rodríguez García (8 March 1934 – 17 May 2022), also known as Francesc Rodríguez García, nicknamed Rodri, was a Catalan footballer from Spain who played as a defender. Until 1977, it was legally prohibited in Spain to register given names in Catalan, as only Spanish (Castilian) names were permitted under Francoist and early post-Franco civil registry laws.[1][2]
Club career
Rodri (born 8 March 1934 – 17 May 2022) was a Spanish footballer who played as a central defender.
Rodri was born in Barcelona, Catalonia.[3] Known for his character, composure, and strength, he started his football career in the youth academy of FC Barcelona and later played for their affiliate team Espanya Industrial, also known as CD Condal, with whom he made his top-flight debut.
His La Liga debut came with Condal on 9 September 1956, in a 6–0 away defeat against Real Madrid,[4] in a season that ended in relegation.[5]
Rodri joined Barcelona’s first team in the 1957–58 season,[3] becoming a starter following the injury of Joaquim Brugué. Although he temporarily lost his place after the arrival of Jesús Garay, he regained his starting role shortly after. Over the course of his career at Barcelona, he played a total of 205 official matches for the first team. He appeared in 48 games over his first two seasons, which included a La Liga title, but only nine matches over his final four campaigns.
Persistent injuries led him to retire in 1966 at the age of 32. After retiring, he remained at the club in a technical role. Rodri joined the coaching staff and served as youth academy coordinator as well as assistant coach under Vic Buckingham, Rinus Michels, Hennes Weisweiler, and Laureano Ruiz.[3][6]
International career
Rodri earned four caps for Spain in 1962, and was included in the squad for that year's FIFA World Cup. In the tournament in Chile he appeared in a 1–0 win over Mexico[7] and a 2–1 defeat to Brazil, in an eventual group-stage exit.[8]
Death
Rodri died on 17 May 2022, aged 88.[6]
Honours
Barcelona
References
- ^ "Quan els noms propis en català estaven prohibits". RLD blog – Generalitat de Catalunya (in Catalan). 31 May 2018.
- ^ a b c Closa, Toni; Josep Pablo, José Alberto Salas, Jordi Mas (2015). Gran diccionari de jugadors del Barça (in Catalan). Editorial Base. ISBN 978-84-16166-62-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Narbona, Juan (10 September 1956). "R. Madrid, 6 – Condal, 0". Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ Tejedor Carnicero, José Vicente. "Spain, Final Tables 1949–1959". RSSSF. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Legendary defender from the 1960s 'Rodri' passes away". FC Barcelona. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ Mercé Valera, Andreu (4 June 1962). "España, 1 – Méjico, 0" [Spain, 1 – Mexico, 0]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ Mercé Valera, Andreu (7 June 1962). "Brasil, 2 – España, 1" [Brazil, 2 – Spain, 1]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2022.