Pichichi (footballer)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Pichichi

| image = Rafael Moreno.jpg

| caption =

| full_name = Rafael Moreno Aranzadi

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1892|5|23|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Bilbao, Spain

| death_date = {{death date and age|1922|3|1|1892|8|8|df=yes}}

| death_place = Bilbao, Spain

| height = 1.54 m {{cite web |title=¿Por qué "Pichichi"? |url=https://rfef.es/es/noticias/por-que-pichichi |website=RFEF |access-date=26 February 2025}}

| position = Forward

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Escolapios

| years1 = 1910–1911 | clubs1 = Bilbao FC{{cite web|url=http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/match-statistics/1_2370/1910-11_athletic-club_bilbao.html|title=Athletic 4–1 Bilbao FC|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|access-date=23 September 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://memoriasdelfutbolvasco.wordpress.com/tag/futbol-club-bilbao/|title=La General, la mítica grada de San Mamés (1924)|trans-title=The General, the mythical stand of San Mamés (1924)|publisher=Memorias del Fútbol Vasco|language=es|date=8 June 2014|access-date=23 September 2017}} | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 1911–1922 | clubs2 = Athletic Bilbao | caps2 = 89| goals2 = 83{{cite web|url=http://www.athletic-club.eus/en/players/334/pichichi.html|title=Pichichi|publisher=Athletic Bilbao|access-date=14 March 2017}}

| nationalyears1 = 1920 | nationalteam1 = Spain | nationalcaps1 = 5 | nationalgoals1 = 1

| medaltemplates-expand = yes

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}

{{MedalCountry|{{fb|Spain|1785}}}}

}}

Rafael Moreno Aranzadi (23 May 1892 – 1 March 1922), known as Pichichi, was a Spanish footballer who played as a forward. He is known for the Pichichi Trophy named in his honour.

He played for Athletic Bilbao during the 1910s and 1920s.{{cite web|url=http://www.espangol.com/pichichi/#history|title=A LITTLE HISTORY: Rafael Moreno Aranzadi 'Pichichi'|publisher=Espangol|date=4 February 2011|access-date=17 March 2013}} He received his nickname because of his frail build.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/blogs/ni-mas-ni-menos/2016/02/06/rafael-moreno-aranzadi-mas-conocido-por.html|title=Rafael Moreno Aranzadi, más conocido por Pichichi|trans-title=Rafael Moreno Aranzadi, better known as Pichichi|newspaper=Marca|first=Jesús|last=Ramos|language=es|date=6 February 2016|access-date=24 May 2016}}

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 1–0 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 ground;{{cite news|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2013/08/21/paisvasco/1377102106.html|title=El viejo San Mamés cumpliría hoy cien años|trans-title=Old San Mamés would be 100 years old today|newspaper=El Mundo|language=es|date=21 August 2013|access-date=22 March 2017}} two months later, he also scored the first goal at Real Sociedad's new Atotxa Stadium in the opening fixture for that venue.{{cite news|url=http://real-sociedad.diariovasco.com/noticias/2013-10-12/535561-viejo-atocha-abrio-puertas-hace.html|title=El viejo Atocha abrió sus puertas hace un siglo|trans-title=Old Atocha opened its doors a century ago|newspaper=El Diario Vasco|first=Fernando|last=Becerril|language=es|date=12 October 2013|access-date=14 December 2017}}

Easily identifiable on the pitch due to a white cloth he tied to his head,{{cite web|url=https://orgulloathleticzale.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/un-poco-de-historia-rafael-moreno-aranzadi-pichichi/|title=Un poco de historia… Rafael Moreno Aranzadi "Pichichi"|trans-title=A little bit of history… Rafael Moreno Aranzadi "Pichichi"|publisher=Orgullo Athleticzale|language=es|date=12 May 2013|access-date=24 May 2016}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2016/03/01/mas_futbol/1456810156_008782.html|title=Rafael Moreno, Pichichi, se convierte en mito (1922)|trans-title=Rafael Moreno, Pichichi, becomes a myth (1922)|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Alfredo|last=Relaño|language=es|date=1 March 2016|access-date=24 May 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancup1915.html|title=Spain – Cup 1915|publisher=RSSSF|first=José Vicente|last=Tejedor Carnicero|access-date=24 May 2016}} After returning from the 1920 Olympics, some supporters felt that his performances were no longer measuring up to his 'star' status, and this criticism caused him to abruptly quit playing altogether in order to become a referee.{{cite news|url=https://www.deia.eus/cultura/2016/07/25/mr-pichichi-ahonda-cara-humana-5020993.html|title='Mr. Pichichi' ahonda en la cara más humana de dos grandes figuras del Athletic|trans-title='Mr. Pichichi' delves deeper into most human side of two great Athletic figures|newspaper=Deia|first=Leyre|last=Eguskiza|language=es|date=25 July 2016|access-date=26 July 2022}}

Pichichi died on 2 March 1922 at age 29 from a sudden attack of typhus,{{cite news|url=http://athletic.elcorreo.com/leyendas/pichichi.html|title=Leyendas del Athletic Club de Bilbao – 'Pichichi'|trans-title=Athletic Club de Bilbao legends – 'Pichichi'|newspaper=El Correo|language=es|access-date=23 May 2016}} with the grief among the fans at the shock news heightened with regret for the acrimonious manner in which their hero had departed the club. He scored a total of 83 goals in 89 games for his only team.{{cite news|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/deportes/20150509/54431147779/aduriz-suma-ya-83-goles-con-el-athletic-y-alcanza-a-pichichi.html|title=Aduriz suma ya 83 goles con el Athletic y alcanza a Pichichi|trans-title=Aduriz totals already 83 goals with Athletic and equals Pichichi|newspaper=La Vanguardia|language=es|date=9 May 2015|access-date=26 July 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://as.com/futbol/2022/03/02/reportajes/1646204428_118930.html|title=Cien años de la muerte de Pichichi, el origen del mito|trans-title=100th anniversary of death of Pichichi, the origin of the myth|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Marta|last=Griñán|language=es|date=2 March 2022|access-date=26 July 2022}}

International career

In 1920, Pichichi was a member of the very first Spain national team that played at the Summer Olympic Games in Belgium.{{Olympedia|24923}} He earned five senior caps in one month, his debut coming on 28 August in a 1–0 win against Denmark.

Personal life

File:Busto a Pichichi en San Mamés.JPG

Pichichi's father was mayor of Bilbao, and he was Miguel de Unamuno's nephew.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/es-mx/news/4947/f%C3%BAtbol-internacional/2014/09/02/5079391/opini%C3%B3n-pichichi-de-hugo-a-chicharito|title=OPINIÓN: 'Pichichi', de Hugo a Chicharito|trans-title=OPINION: 'Pichichi', from Hugo to Chicharito|publisher=Goal|first=José Ramón|last=Fernández G. De Quevedo|language=es|date=2 September 2014|access-date=24 May 2016}} Both he and his future wife were immortalised in a painting by Aurelio Arteta (although it is said that the image originally depicted teammate José María Belauste, and came to be known as a representation of Pichichi and his fiancée following his death{{Citation needed|date=November 2022|reason=Belauste is not mentioned in the references provided}}).{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2006/05/31/mas_futbol/1149026424_850215.html|title=El Athletic comunica la baja a Felipe, Bordas y Escalona|trans-title=Athletic tell Felipe, Bordas and Escalona of decision to release them|newspaper=Diario AS|language=es|date=31 May 2006|access-date=24 May 2016}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.sanmames.org/ofrendapichichi.htm|title= Ofrenda a Pichichi|trans-title=Offering to Pichichi|publisher=San Mamés.org|language=es|access-date=7 August 2017}} Despite concerns that it might not be accommodated at Athletic's new ground,{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.es/deportes/futbol/20130910/abci-mames-preparado-201309101353.html|title=El busto de Pichichi no encuentra su sitio en el nuevo San Mamés|trans-title=Pichichi's bust can not find its place at the new San Mamés|newspaper=ABC|first=Iván|last=Gurrea|language=es|date=11 September 2013|access-date=24 May 2016}} a suitable spot was identified at the entrance to the players' tunnel, allowing the tradition to continue at the new location from 2013 onwards.{{cite news|url=http://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/201611/03/genk-homenajea-pichichi-20161103190856.html|title=El Genk homenajea a Pichichi|trans-title=Genk pay homage to Pichichi|newspaper=El Correo|language=es|date=3 November 2016|access-date=19 March 2017}}

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.{{cite news|url=http://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/201510/08/pichichi-reune-goleadores-rojiblancos-20151008210636.html|title=Los discípulos de Pichichi|trans-title=Pichichi's disciples|newspaper=El Correo|first=Javier|last=Ortiz de Lazcano|language=es|date=9 October 2015|access-date=11 February 2016}}

Honours

Athletic Bilbao

Copa del Rey: 1914, 1915, 1916, 1921
Northern/Vizcayan Regional Championship: 1913–14, 1914–15, 1915–16, 1919–20, 1920–21

Spain

Summer Olympic Games: Silver medal 1920{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1920f-det.html|title=VII. Olympiad Antwerp 1920 Football Tournament|publisher=RSSSF|first=Karel|last=Stokkermans|access-date=14 March 2017}}