Francisco Lesmes

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Francisco Lesmes

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Francisco Lesmes Bobed

| birth_date = {{birth date|1924|3|4|df=y}}

| birth_place = Ceuta, Spain

| death_date = {{death date and age|2005|8|11|1924|3|4|df=y}}

| death_place =

| height =

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Imperio de Ceuta

| youthyears2 = | youthclubs2 = África Ceutí

| years1 = 1943–1947 | clubs1 = SD Ceuta | caps1 = 35 | goals1 = 4

| years2 = 1947–1949 | clubs2 = Granada | caps2 = 50 | goals2 = 1

| years3 = 1949–1961 | clubs3 = Valladolid | caps3 = 279 | goals3 = 2

| totalcaps = 364 | totalgoals = 7

| nationalyears1 = 1954 | nationalteam1 = Spain | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 1961–1962 | managerclubs1 = Valladolid

| manageryears2 = 1963–1964 | managerclubs2 = Valladolid

}}

Francisco Lesmes Bobed (4 March 1924 – 11 August 2005) was a Spanish footballer who played as a defender.

Club career

Born in Ceuta, Lesmes started out as a senior at SD Ceuta and Granada CF, signing with Real Valladolid in 1949 and going on to play the remainder of his career with the Castile and León side. Eleven of his 12 seasons were spent in La Liga.{{cite news|url=https://www.elnortedecastilla.es/realvalladolid/futbolistas-leyenda-real-20190903134045-nt.html|title=Los futbolistas que fueron leyenda en el Real Valladolid|trans-title=Footballers who were legends at Real Valladolid|newspaper=El Norte de Castilla|language=Spanish|date=3 September 2019|accessdate=29 April 2022}}

Lesmes retired in 1961 at the age of 37, appearing in 316 competitive matches with his main club and scoring three goals.{{cite news|url=http://realvalladolid.elnortedecastilla.es/leyendas/lesmes.html|title=Leyendas del Real Valladolid C. F. – Lesmes I|trans-title=Real Valladolid C. F. legends – Lesmes I|newspaper=El Norte de Castilla|language=Spanish|accessdate=18 October 2012}} As he was still part of the squad in 1960–61 he started working as a manager with the team,{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1961/03/24/pagina-5/649615/pdf.html#&mode=fullScreen|title=Lesmes, jugador y entrenador del Valladolid|trans-title=Lesmes, Valladolid player and coach|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Nivardo|last=Pina|language=Spanish|date=24 March 1961|accessdate=2 February 2021}} being in charge for seven games (four wins) as the campaign ended in top-tier relegation.{{cite news|url=https://diariodevalladolid.elmundo.es/articulo/deportes/deseado-efecto-rebote-pucela/20210613231522400539.html|title=El deseado 'efecto rebote' del Pucela|trans-title=Pucela's wanted 'rebound effect'|newspaper=Diario de Valladolid|first=Arturo|last=Alvarado|language=Spanish|date=13 June 2021|accessdate=29 April 2022}}

Lesmes also managed Valladolid in 1963–64, meeting the same fate. He was in charge of the Estadio Nuevo José Zorrilla stadium's maintenance from 1988 to 1996.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.es/hemeroteca/historico-13-08-2005/abc/CastillaLeon/la-muerte-de-paco-lesmes-viste-de-luto-a-la-familia-blanquivioleta_61146321822.html|title=La muerte de Paco Lesmes viste de luto a la familia blanquivioleta|trans-title=Death of Paco Lesmes puts blanquivioleta family in mourning|newspaper=ABC|language=Spanish|date=13 August 2005|accessdate=21 October 2012}}

International career

On 6 January 1954, Lesmes earned his only cap with the Spain national team, in a 4–1 home victory against Turkey for the 1954 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1954/01/07/pagina-3/638044/pdf.html|title=España, 4 – Turquía, 1|trans-title=Spain, 4 – Turkey, 1|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=José Luis|last=Lasplazas|language=Spanish|date=7 January 1954|accessdate=7 April 2017}}

Personal life and death

Lesmes' younger brother, Rafael, was also a footballer and a defender. Often referred to as Lesmes II as he played in Valladolid with his sibling for four seasons, he represented mainly Real Madrid and was also an international.{{cite news|url=http://www.eldiariomontanes.es/agencias/20121009/deportes/futbol/rafa-lesmes-muere-ultima-leyenda_201210091341.html|title=Rafa Lesmes, muere la última leyenda|trans-title=Rafa Lesmes, the last legend dies|newspaper=El Diario Montañés|language=Spanish|date=9 October 2012|accessdate=21 October 2012}}

Francisco, also known as Paco during his playing days, died on 11 August 2005 at the age of 81.