Vicenç Martínez Alama (12 January 1925 — 2 October 2018) was a Spanish footballer who played as a left back.

Vicenç Martínez
Personal information
Full name Vicenç Martínez Alama
Date of birth (1925-01-12)12 January 1925
Place of birth Barcelona, Spain
Date of death 2 October 2018(2018-10-02) (aged 93)
Place of death Barcelona, Spain
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
Penya Acció Catòlica
Racing de Sants
Barcelona
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1941–1945 Barcelona 7 (0)
1942–1944Sabadell (loan) 21 (1)
1945–1949 Gimnàstic 38 (0)
1949–1950 Linense 26 (0)
1950–1951 Igualada ? (?)
1951–1952 Sant Andreu 27 (1)
1952–1953 Gimnàstic 3 (0)
1953 Santboià
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Martínez began his career playing youth football for local L'Hospitalet club Penya Acció Catòlica. Martínez later joined Racing de Sants, before signing for FC Barcelona.[1] On 19 October 1941, at the age of 16 years, 10 months and 5 days, Martínez became Barcelona's youngest ever player, starting in a 4–3 loss against Real Madrid in El Clásico at Real Madrid's Estadio Chamartín.[a] Martínez made six further appearances for Barcelona in the 1941–42 La Liga season, before being loaned out to Sabadell in 1942 for two years. Upon his return to Barcelona, manager Josep Samitier rejected an offer from Valencia for Martínez, before a meniscus injury halted Martínez's progression at the club.[4]

In 1945, Martínez signed for Gimnàstic, making 38 league appearances for the club over the course of four seasons. In 1949, Martínez left Catalonia to sign for Linense in southern Andalucía. Martínez stayed with the club for one season, playing 26 times.[5] In 1950, Martínez returned to Catalonia, joining Igualada, before signing for Sant Andreu the following year. In 1952, Martínez re-signed for Gimnàstic, making three appearances, before retiring in 1953 at the age of 28 due to injury, after a spell at Santboià.[4]

Personal life

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Due to the language policies of Francoist Spain, Martínez was also referred to as Vicente, as well as the Catalan name of Vicenç.[5] On 2 October 2018, Martínez died, survived by his two sons Vicenç and Lluís.[6]

Notes

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  1. ^ The record stood for 82 years until 28 October 2023, with Lamine Yamal breaking the record, aged 16 years and 107 days.[2] Ansu Fati was the second youngest ever player only in 2019 at 16 years, 10 months and 23 days old.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Un emblema del Nàstic, récord de precocidad en el Barça" [A Nàstic emblem, youth record at Barça] (in Spanish). Diari de Tarragona. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Lamine Yamal, youngest player to feature in a Clásico". FC Barcelona. 28 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Teenager Fati makes Barcelona history in debut La Liga game". Goal.com. 25 August 2019. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019. Fati is just 16 years and 298 days old. The youngest player ever to represent the Blaugrana is Vicenc Martinez, who was 16 years and 280 days old when he made his bow in 1941.
  4. ^ a b "El Barcelona guarda un minuto de silencio por las víctimas de Mallorca… y el ex balono Vicenç Martínez Alama" (in Spanish). La Calle Real. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Martínez, Vicente Martínez Alama". BDFutbol. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Martínez Alama: Un debutante precoz" (in Spanish). Sport. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.