José Villalonga

José Villalonga
Personal information
Full name	José Villalonga Llorente
Date of birth	12 December 1919
Place of birth	Córdoba,Spain
Date of death	7 August 1973 (aged 53)
Place of death	Madrid,Spain
Managerial career
Years	Team
1954–1957	Real Madrid
1959–1962	Atlético Madrid
1962–1966	Spain
Medal record
RepresentingSpain(as manager)
European Nations' Cup

José"Pepe"Villalonga Llorente(12 December 1919 – 7 August 1973) was a Spanishfootballmanager during the 1950s and 1960s. He coachedReal Madrid,Atlético Madrid, and theSpain national team,winning major trophies with all three.

Managerial career

Real Madrid

Villalonga was appointed manager ofReal Madridduring the middle of the 1954–55 season and subsequently coached a team that includedAlfredo Di Stéfano,Francisco Gento,Miguel Muñoz,Hector Rialand later,Raymond Kopa.During his first season they achieved adouble,winning bothLa Ligaand theLatin Cup.In 1956, Villalonga became the first manager to win theEuropean Cup.At 36 years and 184 days at the time, he also remains to date the youngest manager to win the title. During his final season at Real he guided the team to atreble:La Liga/Copa Latina/European Cup.

Atlético Madrid

In 1959, Villalonga became manager at Atlético Madrid. With Villalonga in charge and with a team that includedEnrique Collar,Miguel JonesandAdelardo,Atlético defeated Real in two successiveCopa del Generalísimofinals in 1960 and 1961. They finished as runners-up in1961 La Liga.In 1962, they won theEuropean Cup Winners Cup,beatingFiorentina3–0 after a replay.

Spain

In 1962, Villalonga was appointed manager ofSpain.In 1964, the team won theEuropean Championshiptitle. With a squad that includedLuis Suárez,Francisco Gento,Josep Maria FustéandJosé Ángel Iribar,Spain beatRomania,Northern Irelandand theRepublic of Irelandin the qualifying rounds before hosting the semi-finals and final. In the semi-final, Spain beatHungary2–1. In the final, Spain successfully contested theUSSR2–1 in front of a crowd of 125,000 at theBernabéu.Chus Peredaput Spain ahead after six minutes but a lateMarcelino Martínezheader was needed to win afterGalimzian Khusainovequalised with a free-kick.

Villalonga took Spain to a less successful1966 World Cupin England. Two consecutive defeats toGermanyandArgentinaafter a 2–1 win overSwitzerlandleft Spain and Villalonga to an early return home. The loss to Germany was his last of 22 games in charge of Spain.

Villalonga devoted his time to teaching at the technical level. In 1967, he was appointed director of the National Coaches School, a position he held until his death in 1973, and was the first Teacher of Football in the INEF Madrid.^{[citation needed]}

He died in Madrid, as a result of amyocardial infarctionon 7 August 1973, at the age of 53.

Managerial honours

Club

Real Madrid

European Cup:
- 1955–56,1956–57
Spanish Championship:
- 1954–55,1956–57
Latin Cup:
- 1955,1957

Atlético Madrid

Copa del Generalísimo:
- 1959–60,1960–61
Spanish Championship:
- Runners-up 1960–61
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup:
- 1961–62

International

Spain

European Championship:
- 1964

External links