Manuel Velázquez

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Manuel Velázquez

| image = Manuel Velázquez (1973).jpg

| caption = Velázquez in 1973

| fullname = Manuel Velázquez Villaverde

| birth_date = {{birth date|1943|1|24|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Madrid, Spanish State

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|1|15|1943|1|24|df=yes}}

| death_place = Fuengirola, Spain

| height = 1.75 m

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1958–1962

| youthclubs1 = Real Madrid

| years1 = 1962–1977

| clubs1 = Real Madrid

| caps1 = 301

| goals1 = 48

| years2 = 1962–1963

| clubs2 = → Rayo Vallecano (loan)

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 1963–1965

| clubs3 = → Málaga (loan)

| caps3 = 46

| goals3 = 14

| years4 = 1978

| clubs4 = Toronto Metros-Croatia

| caps4 = 16

| goals4 = 1

| totalcaps = 363

| totalgoals = 63

| nationalyears1 = 1967–1975

| nationalteam1 = Spain

| nationalcaps1 = 10

| nationalgoals1 = 2

}}

Manuel Velázquez Villaverde (24 January 1943 – 15 January 2016) was a Spanish footballer who played as a central midfielder.

Club career

Born in Madrid, Velázquez spent all of his 12 years in La Liga with Real Madrid. After three seasons on loan, to Rayo Vallecano and CD Málaga, helping the latter promote from Segunda División in 1965,{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1977/08/21/deportes/240962405_850215.html|title=El próximo miércoles, homenaje a Velázquez|trans-title=Next Wednesday, Velázquez gets honoured|newspaper=El País|first=Alfredo|last=Relaño|language=es|date=20 August 1977|access-date=19 January 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/deportes/20160115/301439160969/el-malaga-expresa-mas-sentido-pesame-a-familia-y-amigos-de-velazquez.html|title=El Málaga expresa "más sentido pésame a familia y amigos de Velázquez"|trans-title=Málaga expresses "deepest condolences to family and friends of Velázquez"|newspaper=La Vanguardia|language=es|date=15 January 2016|access-date=19 January 2022}} he went on to appear in 402 competitive games for his main club whilst scoring 59 goals, winning six national championships, three Copa del Rey trophies and the 1965–66 edition of the European Cup,{{cite web|url=http://www.realmadrid.com/sobre-el-real-madrid/historia/jugadores-de-leyenda-futbol/manuel-velazquez-villaverde|title=Intelligent football|publisher=Real Madrid CF|access-date=20 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929124932/http://www.realmadrid.com/sobre-el-real-madrid/historia/jugadores-de-leyenda-futbol/manuel-velazquez-villaverde|archive-date=29 September 2014|df=dmy-all}} where he was featured in the final against FK Partizan.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/62104--real-madrid-vs-partizan/ |title=Real Madrid 2–1 Partizan|publisher=UEFA|date=11 May 1966|access-date=18 January 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103134449/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season%3D1965/matches/round%3D944/match%3D62104/postmatch/lineups/index.html|archive-date=3 November 2013}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/realmadrid-in-ec.html|title=Real Madrid CF – All the players in European Cups|publisher=RSSSF|first=Emilio|last=Pla Díaz|access-date=18 January 2016}}

In the 1967–68 campaign, Velázquez netted a career-best ten goals from 28 appearances – including a hat-trick in a 9–1 home rout of Real Sociedad{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1967/09/17/pagina-30/934191/pdf.html|title=9–1: Los campeones golearon a un "Segunda División" – Velázquez máxima figura|trans-title=9–1: Champions routed Second Division side – Velázquez excelled|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Nivardo|last=Pina|language=es|date=17 September 1967|access-date=18 January 2016}}– conquering the second of his domestic leagues. He ended his career at the age of 35, after six months in the North American Soccer League with Toronto Metros-Croatia.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/V/Velazquez.Manuel.htm|title=Manuel Velazquez|publisher=NASL Jerseys|access-date=8 April 2011}}

International career

Velázquez earned ten caps for the Spain national team in eight years. He made his debut on 1 February 1967, in a 0–0 away draw in Turkey for the UEFA Euro 1968 qualifiers.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1967/02/02/pagina-3/942980/pdf.html|title=Turquia, 0 – España, 0|trans-title=Turkey, 0 – Spain, 0|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Luis|last=Lainz|language=es|date=2 February 1967|access-date=18 January 2016}}

Death

Velázquez died on 15 January 2016 in Fuengirola, Andalusia. He was 72 years old.{{cite news|url=http://www.elmundo.es/deportes/2016/01/15/569949ec22601de9258b461e.html|title=Muere Manolo Velázquez, 'el Cerebro' del Real Madrid ye-yé|trans-title=Manolo Velázquez, 'the Brain' of ye-yé Real Madrid, dies|newspaper=El Mundo|first=Carlos|last=Toro|language=es|date=15 January 2016|access-date=18 January 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/futbol/real-madrid/2016/01/15/56994b1c22601df5248b4626.html|title=Fallece Velázquez, leyenda del Madrid 'Yé-yé'|trans-title=Velázquez, legend of 'Yé-yé' Madrid, dies|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=15 January 2016|access-date=18 January 2016}}