Alejandro Rodríguez Apolinario (1 October 1892 - 28 October 1972) was a Spanish footballer who played as a forward for FC Barcelona.[1][2] The highlight of his career was winning the treble with Barcelona in the 1912–13 season (Catalan championship, Copa del Rey and Pyrenees Cup), in which he contributed with the winning goal of the 1913 UECF Copa del Rey Final against Real Sociedad.[3]

Apolinario Rodríguez
Personal information
Full name Antonio Morales Veloso
Date of birth (1892-10-01)1 October 1892
Place of birth Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
Date of death 28 October 1972(1972-10-28) (aged 80)
Place of death Madrid, Spain
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1911–1912 Sociedad Gimnástica
1912–1913 FC Barcelona
1913–1914 Universitary SC
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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He began his career in 1911 with Sociedad Gimnástica, featuring alongside the likes of José Carruana, José Manuel Kindelán and Sócrates Quintana, and forming a dynamic attacking partnership with Antonio Morales,[4] however, the latter was signed by FC Barcelona in the middle of the 1911–12 season, in February, which was a great setback for the club, but despite his partner's departure, Apolinario was still able to help Gimnástica reach the 1912 Copa del Rey Final, which still is the club's only cup final appearance, and interestingly, it was Barça who they faced, and in the end, it was Morales' side who won (2–0).[5][6] The silver lining was that his performance in the final impressed the Catalan club enough for them to sign him in the summer, replacing none other than Morales, who had been signed by RCD Espanyol.

In his only season at Barcelona (1912–13), Apolinario won all the titles at stake: The Catalan championship, Copa del Rey and Pyrenees Cup. He was fundamental in Barça's triumph in the Copa del Rey Final, netting two goals against Real Sociedad in the final, one in the first leg as they tied at 2, and then the winning goal in the replay to secure the title with a 2–1 win (the other goal was scored by José Berdié).[3] He then moved to University SC, finishing his career at the end of the season.

Retirement

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During the Second Spanish Republic, he was a candidate in the elections of February 1936 for the center party in the province of Las Palmas, but he was not elected.[7]

Honours

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Sociedad Gimnástica

Barcelona

References

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  1. ^ "Apolinario, Alejandro Rodríguez Apolinario - Footballer". www.bdfutbol.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Alejandro Rodríguez Apolinario". players.fcbarcelona.com. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Spain - Cups 1913". RSSSF. 13 January 2000. Archived from the original on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Squad of Gimnástica 1911–12 Clasificación a la Copa del Rey". www.bdfutbol.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Spain - Cup 1912". RSSSF. 13 January 2000. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  6. ^ "El match final" [The final match] (in Spanish). MundoDeportivo. 11 April 1912. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Las Palmas" (in Spanish). ABC. 10 February 1935. Archived from the original on 1 June 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2022.