Cipriano Prada

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Cipriano Prada

| image = Real Madrid CF in the season 1907-08.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Prada (seated, first from right) in 1908

| full_name = Cipriano Prada Amedo

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1887|09|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = Haro, La Rioja, Spain

| death_date = unknown

| death_place = Spain

| height =

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1905–1908 | clubs1 = Pontevedra SC | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 1908 | clubs2 = Real Madrid | caps2 = | goals2 =

| years3 = 1908–1918 | clubs3 = Pontevedra SC | caps3 = | goals3 =

| years4 = 1918 | clubs4 = {{ill|Pontevedra Athletic Club|gl}} | caps4 = | goals4 =

| totalcaps = | totalgoals =

| nationalteam1 = Spain (unofficial)

| nationalyears1 = 1913

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| medaltemplates =

}}

Cipriano Prada Amedo (26 September 1887 – unknown) was a Spanish footballer who played as a midfielder for Real Madrid in Spain.

Early life

Cipriano Prada was born on 26 September 1887 in Haro, La Rioja, as the son of parents from San Vicente de la Sonsierra, La Rioja, and Samaniego, Álava.{{cite web |url=https://www.cuadernosdefutbol.com/2021/03/25-de-mayo-de-1913-el-primer-partido-de-la-seleccion-espanola-de-futbol/ |title=El primer partido de la Selección Española de Fútbol |trans-title=The first game of the Spanish Soccer Team |language=es |website=www.cuadernosdefutbol.com |publisher=CIHEFE |date=14 February 2021 |accessdate=18 March 2025 |archive-date=7 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207201558/https://www.cuadernosdefutbol.com/2021/03/25-de-mayo-de-1913-el-primer-partido-de-la-seleccion-espanola-de-futbol/ |url-status=live }} He was raised between Haro and Bilbao, before settling in Pontevedra, where his family ran the Hotel Méndez Núñez.

Career

Prada began playing football in his hometown club Pontevedra SC, which was the very first club that played football in the city of Pontevedra, where he coincided with his brother Benito and Edmundo Novoa.{{cite web |url=https://biblioteca.galiciana.gal/es/catalogo_imagenes/grupo.do?path=1220507&posicion=2&presentacion=pagina |title=Apuntes noticieros |trans-title=Sports news |language=es |website=biblioteca.galiciana.gal |publisher=Diario de Pontevedra |page=2 |date=18 March 1908 |access-date=18 March 2025 }} The fame of Prada and Novoa caused Madrid FC to invite them to the capital to reinforce them in the upcoming 1908 Copa del Rey in April, but they arrived there a month earlier, in March, when the Merengue club was still competing in the Centro regional championship, so Prada made his debut for Madrid on 19 March, scoring the opening goal of a 3–0 victory over Atlético Madrid; there are no records about the next two championship matches, both against Español de Madrid, but it is likely that Novoa started in both as Madrid won the title and thus qualified for the Copa del Rey.{{cite web |url=http://www.leyendablanca.galeon.com/tempo08.htm |title=Temporada 1907-08 |trans-title=1907-08 season |language=es |website=www.leyendablanca.galeon.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819152027/http://www.leyendablanca.galeon.com/tempo08.htm |access-date=18 March 2025 |archive-date=19 August 2019 }} On 12 April, both he and Novoa started in the 1908 Copa del Rey final against Vigo FC, helping their side to a 2–1 victory.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancup1908.html |title=Spain - Cup 1908 |publisher=RSSSF |date=3 March 2000 |accessdate=18 March 2025 }} In total, he played three known matches for Madrid.{{cite web |url=https://www.realmadrid.com/es-ES/el-club/historia/leyendas-futbol/cipriano-prada-arnedo |title=Prada |language=es |website=www.realmadrid.com |accessdate=18 March 2025 }}

The following year, in February 1909, he was a member of one of the first versions of a Spanish national team, which consisted of the best players of clubs from northern Spain, particularly Irún, Fortuna, and Pontevedra, which faced a team of the best players from southern France at the Pont Jumeaux stadium in Toulouse. Prada then continued playing with Pontevedra for several years, serving as captain,{{cite web |url=https://biblioteca.galiciana.gal/es/catalogo_imagenes/grupo.do?path=1207852&posicion=1&presentacion=pagina |title=De Sport |language=es |website=biblioteca.galiciana.gal |publisher=El Progreso |page=1 |date=23 November 1912 |access-date=18 March 2025 }} and on 25 May 1913, he went down in history as one of the eleven footballers who played in the very first unofficial game of the Spanish national team at Estadio de Amute in Hondarribia. The Spanish team faced a French national side represented by the USFSA; it ended in a 1–1 draw.{{cite web |url=https://www.marca.com/primera-plana/2021/03/27/60577784268e3e1a708b45bb.html |title=¿Cuántos años tiene de verdad La Roja? |trans-title=How old is La Roja really? |language=es |website=www.marca.com |publisher=Marca |date=28 March 2021 |accessdate=18 March 2025 |archive-date=7 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207212133/https://www.marca.com/primera-plana/2021/03/27/60577784268e3e1a708b45bb.html |url-status=live }}

In November 1918, Pontevedra SC merged with CD Pontevedra to form {{ill|Pontevedra Athletic Club|gl}}, of which Prada was the first captain and coach.{{cite web |url=https://biblioteca.galiciana.gal/es/catalogo_imagenes/grupo.do?path=1209676&posicion=1&presentacion=pagina |title=El Pontevedra Club |language=es |website=biblioteca.galiciana.gal |publisher=El Progreso |page=1 |date=26 November 1918 |access-date=1 April 2025 }} After retiring, he became a prominent referee.