Ramón Torralba
{{short description|Spanish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ramón Torralba
| image =Ramón Torralba - Catalunya Gràfica.jpg
| caption = Catalunya Gràfica, 1922
| fullname = Ramón Torralba Larraz
| birth_date = {{birth date|1895|8|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Ardisa, Aragon, Spain
| height =
| death_date = {{death date and age|1986|6|6|1895|8|13|df=y}}
| death_place = León, México
| position = Midfielder
| years1 = 1912–1914
| clubs1 = FC International
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 1914–1928
| clubs2 = FC Barcelona
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| totalcaps =
| totalgoals =
| nationalyears1 = 1913–1924
| nationalteam1 = Catalonia
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Team|{{fb|CAT}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|1923-24 Prince of Asturias Cup}}
{{MedalGold|1926 Prince of Asturias Cup|Team}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cihefe.es/cuadernosdefutbol/2009/09/la-copa-principe-de-asturias/ |title=La Copa Príncipe de Asturias |trans-title=The Prince of Asturias Cup |language=es |publisher=CIHEFE |author=Vicente Martínez Calatrava |date=17 August 2009 |accessdate=23 June 2022 |archive-date=14 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414023118/http://www.cihefe.es/cuadernosdefutbol/2009/09/la-copa-principe-de-asturias/ |url-status=live }}
}}
Ramon Torralba Larraz (13 August 1895 – 6 June 1986) is a famous figure in the history of FC Barcelona.{{cite web |url=https://arxiu.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/club/historia/jugadors_de_llegenda/torralba.html |title=Ramón Torralba |website=Fcbarcelona.com |accessdate=23 June 2022}} He was popularly known as la Vella ('the Old One') because of his long career with Barça.
Club career
Despite being born in Aragon, he moved to Catalonia at just six months old, and there he began playing football at FC International in 1912, before joining Barcelona two years later, with whom he played for the next 15 seasons, earning the nickname 'la Vella' (the Old One).
He played as a holding midfield and was known for his strength and sacrifices. He formed a partnership with Agustín Sancho and Josep Samitier on the midfield. He was a regular in the starting line-ups from the 1914/15 season until the 1925/26 season. With Barcelona he won 10 Catalan championships, along with four Copa del Rey titles in 1920, 1922, 1925 and 1926, with Torralba scoring the opening goal in the 1922 final which ended in a 5-1 win over Real Unión.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spancup1922.html |title=Spain - Cup 1922 |date=12 February 2001 |website=RSSSF |accessdate=24 June 2022 }}
On 4 February 1917, he become the first player in the history of Barcelona to be granted a testimonial match, which took place at the Camp de la Indústria when he was still an active player.{{cite web |url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1917/02/06/pagina-4/611309/pdf.html |title=Edición del Tuesday 6 February 1917, Página 4 |trans-title=Edition of Tuesday 6 February 1917, Page 4 |language=es |publisher=Hemeroteca |website=hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com |date=6 February 1917 |accessdate=23 June 2022 }} He retired on 1 July 1928, at the Camp de Les Corts, after a second tribute match.{{cite web |url=http://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/preview/2010/12/03/pagina-16/33207099/pdf.html |title=Edición del domingo, 01 julio 1928, página 16 |trans-title=Sunday's edition, 1 July 1928, page 16 |language=es |publisher=Hemeroteca |website=hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com |date=1 July 1928 |accessdate=23 June 2022 }}
Honours
=Club=
Catalan football championship:
- Champions (10): 1915-16, 1918-19, 1919-20, 1920-21, 1921-22, 1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27 and in 1927–28
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Torralba, Ramon}}
Category:People from Cinco Villas, Aragon
Category:Footballers from the Province of Zaragoza
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Spanish men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Catalonia
Category:Catalonia men's international footballers
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