Isidro Lángara
Encyclopedia
Isidro Lángara Galarraga (25 May 1912 in Pasaia
, Guipúzcoa — 21 August 1992 in Andoain
) was a Spanish
football striker. He played 12 times for Spain
, scoring 17 goals.
, Mexican sides Asturias
and Real Club España
and Argentinian
side San Lorenzo
.
He was signed by Oviedo in 1930 and remained with the club until July 1936 when the civil war
led to the league
being suspended. At Oviedo he was the figurehead of the celebrated "Delanteros Electricas", a forward line of lightning quick youthful talent that steam-rolled teams with high tempo highly skilled play; but for the onset of war the team would have surely improved upon the two third places in the seasons that preceded the war.
He was the winner of the Pichichi Trophy, awarded to the top scorer in the Spanish League, in the three seasons before the war, with 27 goals in 1933-34
, 26 goals in 1934-35
and 27 goals in 1935-36
.
With the onset of war he emigrated to Mexico (aged 24) never to add to the 17 goals in 12 matches for Spain. (Overseas players weren't considered for selection; even so currently he is in 9th place of Spanish international goalscorers.)
Playing for Real Club España
de Mexico he was top scorer in successive seasons in Mexico with 27 and 38 goals respectively.
His debut for San Lorenzo in 1939 was against perennial league champions River Plate and he scored 4 goals in a 4–2 victory, after arriving to Argentina in the morning of the same day.
In 1940 Langara was the joint top scorer in the Argentine Primera
with 33 goals in 34 games (his record in Argentina playing for San Lorenzo - 110 goals in 121 matches). He also holds the record of scoring most goals in a match in Argentina - 7 - that still stands today.
With Langara San Lorenzo broke the River Plate monopoly and won the Argentinian league title; the team then went on to a tour of Spain and Portugal that was one of the highlights of the club's history. After losing to Real Madrid, it went on to defeat Barcelona and both the Spanish and Portuguese national teams; the Spanish press acclaimed San Lorenzo as "the best team in the world".
Langara was San Lorenzo's star player alongside René Pontoni (courted by Barcelona but remained in Argentina) and Reinaldo Martino (who would later become a star with Juventus).
He is the only player to be top scorer in major leagues on three different continents; only the great Alfredo Di Stefano
and Romário
have matched the feat of being top scorer in three separate countries.
In 1946 he was awarded CONCACAF player of the year – the top player in all the northern and Central American leagues.
His record In Mexico with Real Club España (2 + 4 seasons) and Asturias (1 season) was 282 goals in 210 matches.
Langara was offered the chance of returning to Spain to play for Real Oviedo, again. The following season, 1946-47
and back in Spain, he scored a respectable 18 goals for the team. This tally left him fourth, behind Zarra, Pruden and Calvo for the Pichichi Trophy, proving that at 34 years of age he could still perform at the highest level. At the end of the season Langara stunned Oviedo by announcing his retirement and emigrating back to live in Mexico.
His managerial career is sketchy but his achievements are as follows:
He managed Club de Deportes Unión Española in 1951 winning the Chilean league title.
He managed Puebla F.C. in 1952-53 winning the Mexican Cup Final.
Pasaia
Pasaia is a town and municipality located in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Autonomous Community of northern Spain. It is a fishing community, commercial port and the birth place of the fighting admiral Blas de Lezo. Pasaia lies approximately 5 km east of Donostia's centre, lying at the...
, Guipúzcoa — 21 August 1992 in Andoain
Andoain
Andoain is a town located in the province of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, in the north of Spain. Nowadays it has a population above 13,000 inhabitants, which has been decreasing since 1981....
) was a Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
football striker. He played 12 times for Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
, scoring 17 goals.
Biography
He played for a number of clubs, including Real OviedoReal Oviedo
Real Oviedo is a Spanish football club based in Oviedo, in the autonomous community of Asturias. Founded on 26 March 1926, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 2....
, Mexican sides Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
and Real Club España
Real Club España
Real España Club was a football club from Mexico City team that played in Mexican first division. España was one of the most popular teams at the time Romántica of Mexican football. During the Amateur era they won 14 League titles and 4 Mexican Cups...
and Argentinian
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
side San Lorenzo
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro is an Argentine sports club based in Boedo neighbourhood, Buenos Aires, mostly known because of its football team....
.
He was signed by Oviedo in 1930 and remained with the club until July 1936 when the civil war
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
led to the league
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
being suspended. At Oviedo he was the figurehead of the celebrated "Delanteros Electricas", a forward line of lightning quick youthful talent that steam-rolled teams with high tempo highly skilled play; but for the onset of war the team would have surely improved upon the two third places in the seasons that preceded the war.
He was the winner of the Pichichi Trophy, awarded to the top scorer in the Spanish League, in the three seasons before the war, with 27 goals in 1933-34
La Liga 1933-34
La Liga 1933-34 season started November 5, 1933 and finished March 4, 1934.La Liga 1933–34 season was composed of the following clubs:-Final table:-Results table:...
, 26 goals in 1934-35
La Liga 1934-35
La Liga 1934-35 season started December 2, 1934 and finished April 28, 1935.La Liga 1934–35 season was composed of the following clubs:-Final table:-Results table:...
and 27 goals in 1935-36
La Liga 1935-36
La Liga 1935-36 season started November 10, 1935 and finished April 19, 1936.La Liga 1935–36 season was composed of the following clubs:-Final table:-Results table:...
.
With the onset of war he emigrated to Mexico (aged 24) never to add to the 17 goals in 12 matches for Spain. (Overseas players weren't considered for selection; even so currently he is in 9th place of Spanish international goalscorers.)
Playing for Real Club España
Real Club España
Real España Club was a football club from Mexico City team that played in Mexican first division. España was one of the most popular teams at the time Romántica of Mexican football. During the Amateur era they won 14 League titles and 4 Mexican Cups...
de Mexico he was top scorer in successive seasons in Mexico with 27 and 38 goals respectively.
His debut for San Lorenzo in 1939 was against perennial league champions River Plate and he scored 4 goals in a 4–2 victory, after arriving to Argentina in the morning of the same day.
In 1940 Langara was the joint top scorer in the Argentine Primera
Primera División Argentina
The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs...
with 33 goals in 34 games (his record in Argentina playing for San Lorenzo - 110 goals in 121 matches). He also holds the record of scoring most goals in a match in Argentina - 7 - that still stands today.
With Langara San Lorenzo broke the River Plate monopoly and won the Argentinian league title; the team then went on to a tour of Spain and Portugal that was one of the highlights of the club's history. After losing to Real Madrid, it went on to defeat Barcelona and both the Spanish and Portuguese national teams; the Spanish press acclaimed San Lorenzo as "the best team in the world".
Langara was San Lorenzo's star player alongside René Pontoni (courted by Barcelona but remained in Argentina) and Reinaldo Martino (who would later become a star with Juventus).
He is the only player to be top scorer in major leagues on three different continents; only the great Alfredo Di Stefano
Alfredo Di Stéfano
Alfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé, born into a family of Italian immigrants from Capri, is a former Argentinian footballer and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time...
and Romário
Romário
Romário de Souza Faria , better known simply as Romário , is a former footballer who played striker,manager and current politician where is currently running for a mayor like position in his hometown...
have matched the feat of being top scorer in three separate countries.
In 1946 he was awarded CONCACAF player of the year – the top player in all the northern and Central American leagues.
His record In Mexico with Real Club España (2 + 4 seasons) and Asturias (1 season) was 282 goals in 210 matches.
Langara was offered the chance of returning to Spain to play for Real Oviedo, again. The following season, 1946-47
La Liga 1946-47
Statistics of La Liga in season 1946/1947.La Liga 1946-47 season was composed of the following clubs:- Final table :-References:...
and back in Spain, he scored a respectable 18 goals for the team. This tally left him fourth, behind Zarra, Pruden and Calvo for the Pichichi Trophy, proving that at 34 years of age he could still perform at the highest level. At the end of the season Langara stunned Oviedo by announcing his retirement and emigrating back to live in Mexico.
Retirement
After retirement he spent the majority of his years in South America returning to his home region in Spain in his late seventies where he died in 1992.His managerial career is sketchy but his achievements are as follows:
He managed Club de Deportes Unión Española in 1951 winning the Chilean league title.
He managed Puebla F.C. in 1952-53 winning the Mexican Cup Final.