Amancio
Amancio in 1971
Personal information
Full name Amancio Amaro Varela
Date of birth (1939-10-16)16 October 1939
Place of birth A Coruña, Spain
Date of death 21 February 2023(2023-02-21) (aged 83)
Place of death Madrid, Spain
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Outside right
Youth career
1954–1958 Victoria
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1958–1962 Deportivo La Coruña 92 (54)
1962–1976 Real Madrid 344 (119)
Total 436 (173)
International career
1962–1974 Spain 42 (11)
Managerial career
1976–1977 Real Madrid (youth)
1982–1984 Castilla
1984–1985 Real Madrid
Medal record
Representing  Spain
European Nations' Cup
Winner1964 Spain
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Amancio in 1973

Amancio Amaro Varela (16 October 1939 – 21 February 2023), commonly known simply as Amancio, was a Spanish football player. Nicknamed El Brujo (The Wizard) he played outside right for Deportivo de La Coruña, Real Madrid, and the Spain national team.

Club career

Early career

Amancio began his career aged 15 at local side Victoria CF, in the district of Falperra–Santa Lucía. In the 1958–59 season, he joined Deportivo de La Coruña, which at that time was in the Spanish second division. When Deportivo were promoted to first division, Amancio started to attract the attention of the scouts for major teams, such as Real Madrid.

Real Madrid

Amancio depicted on a 1968 Ajman stamp

The signing of Amancio by Real Madrid almost did not happen; had it not been for Santiago Bernabéu Yeste’s insistence in signing the player, his astronomical signing-fee would have spoiled the negotiations.

Along with the signing of Amancio by Real Madrid in June 1962, players such as Ignacio Zoco, Lucien Muller, and Yanko Daucik also arrived. During this time the team was in a transitional phase, since in earlier years the team had swept the competition both in Spain and outside its borders. Amancio made his debut in European competition opposite Anderlecht (3–3 result in the Santiago Bernabéu); and in the league against Real Betis in Seville with a 5–2 win for Real Madrid.

During the 1963–64 season, Amancio and Real Madrid reached the final of the European Cup, only to be beaten by Inter Milan by 3–1. The following season brought more heartache, with Benfica eliminating the youthful Madrid side in the quarterfinals. The ensuing season brought success for Madrid, as Miguel Muñoz added young players such as Pirri, Velázquez, Sanchís and Grosso. This was known as the "Yé-Yé" team. Strong at the back, and devastating going forward, Madrid fought their way to another final, this time against FK Partizan. The venue was Heysel Stadium in Brussels, and on 11 May 1966, Amancio stepped out on to the pitch for his second and last European Cup final. FK Partizan's Velibor Vasović scored the first goal of the match. Amancio drew level twenty minutes from the end, after collecting a signature pass, faking out a defender and skillfully booting the ball past the Yugoslav keeper Milutin Šoškić. Five minutes later, a thunderous shot by teammate Serena from 30 metres out settled the game. It was Amancio's first and only European Cup winner's medal. In his first six seasons in Madrid, he won a six La Liga titles. He would then go on to win another three. He also took the title of Pichichi on back to back occasions, 1969 and 1970.

As a Real Madrid player, Amancio's reputation reached such international fame, that he had the honour of being called for a world team, promoted by FIFA.

Amancio retired in 1976 and joined the coaching staff of Real Madrid. After the death of Francisco "Paco" Gento, he was appointed the honorary president of the club in 2022.[1]

International career

Amancio wore the Spain national team's jersey on 42 occasions, debuting before Romania. With the team, he was a participant of one of its greatest achievements: winning the 1964 European Football Championship by a 2–1 score against the defending champions, the Soviet Union.

Managerial career

Upon retiring, Amancio began coaching the junior teams of Real Madrid. After one season, he decided to dedicate himself to his businesses. In 1982, he was readmitted by Luis de Carlos, who had just won the club's presidential elections.

Amancio once again took charge of Castilla CF, with which he won the Segunda División in his second season. The team included the legendary Quinta del Buitre, made up of Butragueño, Míchel, Sanchis, Martín Vázquez, and Pardeza.

In the 1984–85 season, Amancio took charge of the first team. However, the outcome was not as good as expected, and he left his post. After a time as a consultant, Amancio left Real Madrid to join the sports company Kelme, becoming a representative responsible for the Madrid area.

In July 2000, Amancio was elected as a member of the board of directors of Real Madrid. From this position, he favored the incorporation of former Real players in different positions of responsibility of the club. The board of directors agreed that Amancio would be in charge of the 100th anniversary of Real Madrid.

In 2022, he was appointed to the position of the honorary president of the club.[2]

Death

Amancio died in Madrid on 21 February 2023, at the age of 83.[3]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[4]
Club Season League Copa del Generalísimo Europe[lower-alpha 1] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Deportivo de La Coruña 1958–59 Segunda División 11364——177
1959–60 261045——3015
1960–61 291644——3320
1961–62 262522——2827
Total 92541615——10869
Real Madrid 1962–63 La Liga 28148120—3815
1963–64 2463183—3510
1964–65 2290056—2715
1965–66 25800752[lower-alpha 2]03413
1966–67 2575040—347
1967–68 28108474—4318
1968–69 29141021—3215
1969–70 29169631—4123
1970–71 196209[lower-alpha 3]0—306
1971–72 286603[lower-alpha 4]1—377
1972–73 2582071—349
1973–74 268301[lower-alpha 4]0—308
1974–75 173712[lower-alpha 3]0—264
1975–76 1942070—284
Total 3441195613672220469154
Career total 4361737228672220577223
  1. ↑ All appearances in European Cup, unless otherwise noted
  2. ↑ Appearance(s) in Intercontinental Cup
  3. 1 2 Appearance(s) in European Cup Winners' Cup
  4. 1 2 Appearance(s) in UEFA Cup

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[4]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Spain 196210
196331
196443
196631
196740
196863
196952
197040
197160
197231
197320
197410
Total4211
Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Amancio goal.
List of international goals scored by Amancio
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
130 May 1963San Mamés, Bilbao, Spain Northern Ireland1–01–11964 European Nations' Cup qualifying
211 March 1964Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain Republic of Ireland1–05–11964 European Nations' Cup qualifying
33–1
417 June 1964Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain Hungary2–12–11964 European Nations' Cup
515 July 1966Hillsborough, Sheffield, England  Switzerland2–12–11966 FIFA World Cup
628 February 1968Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain Sweden1–02–0Friendly
72–0
88 May 1968Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain England1–01–2UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying
930 April 1969Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain Yugoslavia2–02–21970 FIFA World Cup qualification
1015 October 1969José Antonio, La Línea, Spain Finland5–06–01970 World Cup qualification
1119 October 1972Insular, Las Palmas, Spain Yugoslavia1–02–21974 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Player

Deportivo

Real Madrid

Spain

Individual

Manager

Castilla

References

  1. ↑ The president and Amancio visited Real Madrid City
  2. ↑ The president and Amancio visited Real Madrid City
  3. ↑ "Muere Amancio Amaro, leyenda del Real Madrid". ABC. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Spain – Amancio". Besoccer. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Amancia: The 'Galician' Wizard". Real Madrid CF. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "1964 team of the tournament". Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  7. ↑ FIFA XI´s Matches - Full Info
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