Pepín (footballer)
Encyclopedia
José Casas Gris, aka Pepín (born 16 November 1931 in Valencia - died 12 October 2010 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
, Canary Islands
), was a Spanish
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
as a youth - finishing his formation with UD Alzira
and Alicante CF
- Pepín joined UD Las Palmas
in La Liga
in 1951, making his competition debuts in the 1951–52 season, still not aged 20, appearing in 14 games in a relegation-ending campaign.
The Canary Islands
outfit returned to the top level in 1954, and he continued to be first-choice until his departure to Real Betis
six years later, as Las Palmas were again relegated. Pepín played five years in Andalusia
, only managing to start in two seasons, and returned to his previous club, retiring in 1967 at the age of 35. In 14 first division seasons, he appeared in 259 games.
He died in the Doctor Negrín Hospital in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
on 12 October 2010, one month shy of his 79th birthday.
, his debut coming on 3 October 1963, in a 1964 European Nations' Cup match against Northern Ireland
at Windsor Park
, his displays in the 1–0 win (2–1 on aggregate) earning him the nickname
The hero of Belfast
. The national team eventually qualified for the finals which were held on home soil, going on to win the tournament.
On 1 December 1963, Pepín earned his second and last cap
, appearing in a friendly with Belgium in his hometown of Valencia.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria commonly known as Las Palmas is the political capital, jointly with Santa Cruz, the most populous city in the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands and the ninth largest city in Spain, with a population of 383,308 in 2010. Nearly half of the people of the island...
, Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
), was a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
Club career
After playing in several clubs in the Valencian CommunityValencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
as a youth - finishing his formation with UD Alzira
UD Alzira
Unión Deportiva Alzira is a Spanish football team based in Alzira, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1946, it plays in Tercera División – Group 6, holding home games at Estadio Luis Suñer Picó, with a capacity of 8,000 seats.-Background:...
and Alicante CF
Alicante CF
Alicante Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Alicante, in the autonomous community of Valencia. Founded in 1918, it plays in Tercera División – Group 6, holding home matches at Ciudad Deportiva Villafranqueza.-History:...
- Pepín joined UD Las Palmas
UD Las Palmas
Unión Deportiva Las Palmas, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the autonomous community of Canary Islands...
in La Liga
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...
in 1951, making his competition debuts in the 1951–52 season, still not aged 20, appearing in 14 games in a relegation-ending campaign.
The Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
outfit returned to the top level in 1954, and he continued to be first-choice until his departure to Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
six years later, as Las Palmas were again relegated. Pepín played five years in Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
, only managing to start in two seasons, and returned to his previous club, retiring in 1967 at the age of 35. In 14 first division seasons, he appeared in 259 games.
He died in the Doctor Negrín Hospital in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria commonly known as Las Palmas is the political capital, jointly with Santa Cruz, the most populous city in the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands and the ninth largest city in Spain, with a population of 383,308 in 2010. Nearly half of the people of the island...
on 12 October 2010, one month shy of his 79th birthday.
International career
Pepín played twice for SpainSpain 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...
, his debut coming on 3 October 1963, in a 1964 European Nations' Cup match against Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
at Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
, his displays in the 1–0 win (2–1 on aggregate) earning him the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
The hero of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. The national team eventually qualified for the finals which were held on home soil, going on to win the tournament.
On 1 December 1963, Pepín earned his second and last cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
, appearing in a friendly with Belgium in his hometown of Valencia.